Seriously Snow?

Well, my plans for getting kids out in pasture and following their moms took a hit.  Luckily I watched the weather report Saturday evening and had time to prepare.

Maybeline on pasture at sunset

I already had Perdita shut in because she slept outside with Moxie the night before–her poor ears were nipped with frostbite. I hope they will heal without losing any of them.

We had sleet overnight that also turned into snow.

Trying to go out to pasture during a short break in the snow.

Antigone was sheltering under the picnic table, so I had to put her in with Perdita. Luckily, they are done with fighting and can get along again.

And it lasted off and on most of the day.

Casey and Maisie in the barn door.

I was too lazy to switch to a macro lens, but they were perfect snowflakes!

Seriously. I know it’s still March, but I really need the weather to cooperate for a little bit to get these kids going.  Instead I had to shut them all back in the garage overnight.

Why do I only see big goats?

And it stayed cold, so they spent most all day in there.

Nobody wants to share the buck room with Athena but kids.

I do not think the sparrows were happy with their confinement in the garage, but it’s my garage. I can shut the doors if I want to.

sparrow perched on the barn swallow nest.

I have to prepare for the next round of kidding. Go away snow.

Roger and Anita in the hay tub.

I’m also tired of feeding hay.  I still have plenty in the barn.

That’s still a nice stack before I’d have to start throwing it out of the loft.

And I think what’s in the middle will still last so I don’t have to touch what’s in the loft, but still…

I put a bale of hay out in the evening for the moms and old ladies.

I’m really ready for real spring.

Goat Herder’s Log: Thursday 3/16/23

I apologize in advance for nothing but horrible cell phone pictures, but the weather was not going to let me use my big girl camera.  I also apologize for the long post, but it was a long day.

0600:  Temperatures around 47°F. Checked goats and felt Aphrodite was in labor even though she hadn’t moved all night.  She was talking, and I just knew.

0730:  Went out to check Aphrodite.  Situation the same.  LilyAnn is doing a lot of talking, but the outside goats are headed out to pasture.

0800: Went to check Aphrodite.  She had a doe kid with her, already mostly cleaned off.  I think Athena might be in labor.  Maybe Cutie. We’ll see.

Aphrodite and her girl

0820:  Went back out and the second kid, another doe, had just been born.

Aphrodite and her second girl

0906: Temperatures around 46°F. It started raining. Onyx, Victoria, and Melba were snuggled together in the buck room.

Melba, Victoria, and Onyx

I went out to make sure LilyAnn wasn’t going to stay in pasture to give birth (like last year).  Discovered Zora stuck in the fence. What a bratopotamus!  Freed her.  The goats all came up from pasture.

Daisy and Zora leading the herd back to the barnyard.

Penelope leading the moms’ group back up.

1000: Temperature is at 45°F. Another light round of rain is moving through.  Athena is still in labor, but no hard contractions.  As all the other girls came up from pasture, LilyAnn was already in the greenhouse by herself.  Another sign she is going to kid today.

1050: Temperature is 44° F, and the rain is falling more steadily.  Athena is still standing and talking.  LilyAnn’s contractions are stronger and more frequent.  Time to take towels to the greenhouse and keep a closer watch.

1107: Made it back to the greenhouse with towels, and she was pushing hard. Pulled LilyAnn’s girl because there was a foot folded back.  Big girl.  Pulled her boy.  All are doing well.

LilyAnn and babies

1140:  Temperature is holding at 44°F.  It’s still a steady rain.  Athena is getting louder and I think I saw her have a contraction.

Athena

Penelope is in the Love Shack.  She might be in labor. We’ll see.

Penelope

1230: Temperature holding; a pause in the rain–just sprinkles.  LilyAnn’s babies are up and doing well.  Came out of the greenhouse to the sounds of a goat screaming–rushed over and helped Penelope with her big Frodo girl.  Athena is still loudly complaining.

Another girl! My first Frodo baby.

1400: Temperatures down to 38°F and intermittent rain.  I’ve lost all control. Aphrodite is trying to kill everyone.  Hilda decided to try to kill Purl.  The temperatures are quickly dropping and a wind advisory starts at 1600 hours.  Athena is still in labor.

1530:  Aphrodite is penned.  Penelope has been moved.  Hilda and Purl’s pen has been divided in half.  The vet was here for Caroline.

Aphrodite and babies

Divided Hilda and Purl’s pen

Athena and Cutie on half the garage

1600:  LilyAnn has been moved.  I noticed a seriously entropion eye.

The other half of the garage

LilyAnn’s girl–bottom lid is seriously curled under.

1620:  Mom arrived to take LilyAnn’s doe to the vet.  Athena’s labor is increasing.

1700:  I pull Athena’s babies.  She is a lunatic pawing the ground; pawing the babies; trying to kill me as I try to keep her babies safe.  She is crazy.  The winds have picked up and it’s now snowing.

Athena and her kids

Looking out the garage window

1720:  Mom is back with the baby.  Bling in place.

She really is better; my picture is just horrible.

1800:  Temperature is 31°F; snow is falling; wind advisory. Wind chill is about 18°F. Things are finally starting to calm down.  Just a few goats left to check overnight.

A Rough Start

The snow continued all afternoon and well into the evening.

goose headed into the barn

The hill is white again.

Throughout the day, when I checked the girls, I managed to catch a couple more to put on the side where we are kidding.

Athena in the greenhouse

I checked them all night, and somewhere early in the darkest part of morning, Onyx went into labor.  I came back every hour and then, when I checked her about six o’clock, I felt the baby’s bag.  It was still clear back and she wasn’t pushing, so I left her to give her a chance to push because she was not happy with me being there.  When I came back about fifteen minutes later she was lying down and pushing hard.

the next morning

I checked and the baby was head first, so I immediately went in and found the legs folded completely back, brought them in front, and pulled her.  But it was too late.  So many times, I have to wait for a vet or work for what seems like forever to get them out, but she was stuck where the umbilical cord could no longer provide for her and she wasn’t far enough out to breathe on her own, so we lost her.  I immediately went back in and pulled the second girl.

It wasn’t easy to get this one going with the cold (even in the buck room because of the strong west wind).  I finally put them in the soap room.  Sigh…

Baby was finally warm and sleeping

She and mom are finally doing well, but my heart breaks for losing the first little one.