Zinnia’s Twins

I moved Zinnia and her girls up north because it’s been too hot to stay in the Love Shack where there is no shade.

Zinnia with Jeanie and Barbie

Since it was empty for a couple of weeks and we had a couple of small rains, the grass has grown back, so there’s plenty to eat again.

I also put Haley up there.

Haley

Haley is Zinnia’s mom, so the three generations get along well, and I can still give Haley her sweet feed without her trying to rush the milk room door every time I walk through.

begging for sweet feed (or peanuts)

I’m really glad Zinnia had two babies because they have each other to play with.

Jeanie and Barbie. They already learned how to escape and go play in the barnyard.

They are enough younger than the June babies that they won’t play with them much, so the sisters will certainly have fun with each other.

I’m hoping to move them with the rest of the herd next week.  Zinnia is a good mom, and she’ll be able to keep track of them out in pasture, and it isn’t supposed to be quite as hot next week.

Terrific Twosomes

For some reason I got to thinking about my old ladies and how I don’t often keep both kids from twins, but two of my oldest goats are twins–Stormy and Litha, born in 2008.

Litha in 2015

They are the first set of two I kept because I just couldn’t decide which one to keep.  Then I had an epiphany and realized I could keep them both if I wanted to.  So I did.

Stormy from 2017

There are only two other sets of twins left in full:  Bonnie and Blaze (b. 2011)

Blaze and Bonnie from 2012

and Sidney and LilyAnn (although they are two of a set of triplets).  Honestly, their brother was the only nice one of the bunch.  Dang sweet boys.

Sidney, Andy and LilyAnn (front) in 2017

Anyhow.  I kept Flower and Bud (b. 2010), and Flower is still here.

Flower and Bud in 2016

Casey is here, but I just lost Cookie earlier in the fall.  They were also two of a set of three.

Casey and Cookie (b. 2011) in May 2019

I still have Coral (2011), but we lost her twin, Clover, last year.

Clover and Coral from 2011

Haley (b. 2011) lost her (triplet) sister Harley last year also.

Haley and Harley in 2012

I kept two sets who are both gone now–Maggie and Marley.

Maggie and Marley (my original “tail count” kids from 2009)

And Pistol and Vinnie.

Dolly with Pistol and Vinnie in 2010

I sometimes can’t believe how long I’ve been raising goats now.  They certainly do have a way of stealing your heart.

Cupid’s Kids

This morning, I went out to pasture and checked everyone before my work-from-home staff meeting.  All my girls due this week were just out in pasture happily eating.

Caroline, Marge in front of Cupid, Aphrodite, Joani, Zinnia, LilyAnn, Sidney, Cutie, and Milo

When I got done with my meeting, I immediately went to check on everyone. I found Cupid by herself in the barn in hard labor. Of course, I had to shut Popcorn in a pen before I could do anything without him glued to me.

Popcorn

It was only about thirty minutes later that she had two adorable  babies.  Sorry for the blurry cell phone pictures.  In keeping with the trend, she has one boy and one girl.

buck in front; doe in back

Almost as soon as they were born, Aurora was coming to check them out.

That’s why I put a panel across.  Aurora just wants to meet the kids, but new moms don’t really appreciate all the visitors right away.

Soon, Maybeline was coming in, too, because new babies are noisy.

Then it started sprinkling and the whole herd came up from pasture.

I did move the panel back so the others could at least come in the barn, but Cupid still has a big space for her and the kids to get acquainted.

I can hardly wait to see these two when they are fully dried off and out in the sun.

Cupid washing Tiger

Tansy showing off her white stripe.

I present to you Tansy and Tiger!