Baby Goats!

I woke up at 4:30 this morning and considered not getting up to check the goats. I was so tired and I've decided Mariah obviously didn't get bred first time around. But I put my work coat on over my p.j.s, grabbed my flashlight and headed for the barn. In Bluesky's stall was a just born kid, still covered in slime and struggling for it's first breath. I ran to the house to rouse my husband. "Get up, get up, she's having them", I shouted. At the barn he picked up the newborn, checking to see the sex. "it's a buck" he said trying not to sound disappointed. We dipped his navel and gave him a squirt of goat energy, and returned to the house to make coffee and wait for the next one to be born. Our Anatolian Shepherd, Turk, was acting protective, regarding us cautiously with small warning growls to which we responded with a loud "knock it off". I waited for the coffee to drip, grabbed a cup and headed back to the barn. By this time the little buck was joined by a slightly smaller twin. I couldn't wait to find out so I entered the stall and lifted the slimy baby only to find that it was another buck. After tending to the new twins and making sure they had their first drinks of colostrum, we chuckled, wouldn't you know our anxiously awaited kids after many years since we last raised goats would be bucks. Still, we are thankful and satisfied to see two large healthy boys snuggled up with their proud mom.

Waiting for Babies

I'm getting so excited for my Saanen dairy goats to give birth. I purchased one buck and two does late last summer. We raised Saanens for years when my children were babies and raised them on goat milk. Over the years we had many breeds, including pygmy goats, and when we decided to raise them again chose Saanens because they were our favorite. In case you don't know, they are large, white, Swiss breed. They are gentle and sweet, quiet, give lots of milk, and don't seem to jump out of their pens as much as other breeds. Mariah is only a yearling and her actual due date is tomorrow. Bluesky is due on Saturday. I hope they don't make me wait too long. I have a box of birthing supplies I ordered from Jeffers Livestock Supply. (They seemed to be the cheapest). Just hope we don't have to use some of it and all goes smoothly. How many will they have and what sex? I'm on pins and needles. I'll let you know when I have the answers.

Great day at Beulah Land today. A glorious 80 degrees! There's rain expected for tomorrow so instead of waiting until Good Friday to plant potatoes my husband is out planting them today. Last years potatoes were snowed in the root cellar at my daughter's house all winter so we have 500 pounds left. Yesterday we cut some of them up for seed. I also planted snow peas, lettuce, and spinach. The garden was the last place the snow left.

The farrier came this morning to trim the horses hoofs. We were unable to get to them to trim all winter so Alfie and Danny who have been foundered were really in need. The dogs loved the hooves which are their favorite treat. It's always good to visit with Craig and catching up with his life.

Later this afternoon I was able to trim the rose bushes and some dead plants from the flower gardens. The roses all survived which was a benefit of the heavy blanket of snow all winter. It's great to see the farm coming alive.