On Monday, March 8, 2010, we hit a milestone at our little Five Acre Farm. My goat, Jolene, gave birth to five -- FIVE! -- kids. It was not the easiest delivery. In fact, it was quit touch and go for the last two kids, delivered over an hour after the original three had been dried, fed their colostrum, and given their Bo-Se shots. Jolene was in labor for a long time and to say she was uncomfortable is putting it rather euphemistically.
In the end, I had to soap and lube up and pull the two errant kids out, by hook or by crook, in order to save the doe. Horse showing has nothing on the kind of pressure you feel trying to grab a limp, slimy leg of a long overdue and presumed dead baby goat while feeling vainly for the still missing head, elbow deep, while your doe is screaming frantically and the vet on the phone is trying to explain to you that you are not, in fact, in trouble because goats don't have five babies. That's pressure, people. Miraculously, both kids survived my rather abrupt welcome into the world and now we have five healthy, thriving kids and one very sore, very tired goat momma (and two sleep-deprived humans). But it could have been worse, and for that I am always thankful.
Jolene will not be able to nurse all five without assistance so instead of receiving milk from my goat, I will be buying milk for my goat(s). Delicious irony, to be sure, but not as delicious as that glass of goat milk that will be a long time coming. I will need to start supplementing feeding in the next week as the kids' demand increases until they are weaned, at around three months of age. Then Jolene's milk is all mine! Mine! Muahahahaha!
Between the storm and the quintuplets, the 2010 farm season is beginning with a bang. Let's hope it gets more dull before someone gets killed, figuratively of course.
But really, all people want to see are pictures of cute goat babies, so let me wrap up the monologue and just say: Sometimes being a farmer is scary (storm, screaming doe in distress) and sometimes it is Beautiful (first suckle from the first kid born on my farm).
Jolene with all five babies.
First born - A boy!
Second born - A girl!
Third born - A boy!
Fourth born - A girl!
Fifth born - A boy!
The original three, all dried and looking for their soon to be born siblings.
House goat in a basket.
8 comments:
OH MY GOSH! Glad all are well - goat momma - kidlets and humans alike !
How do I begin acquiring said "house goat"?
... first thought through my head "well, she did want goats ...". Second though ... HOLY CRAP FIVE!
I forgot to mention ... this is the best sentence I've ever read: "Horse showing has nothing on the kind of pressure you feel trying to grab a limp, slimy leg of a long overdue and presumed dead baby goat while feeling vainly for the still missing head, elbow deep, while your doe is screaming frantically and the vet on the phone is trying to explain to you that you are not, in fact, in trouble because goats don't have five babies."
I'm SO happy everything went well for you :) EVEN WITH FIVE FTW. How CUTE they are! I wish the NPGA would allow colors like that into the registry... so, so awesome.
Are you going to keep any(all?) of them? Have you decided to do milk replacer powder, or regular whole milk, or goat milk from the store? So many damn options, lol!
CONGRATS!!! How proud do you feel knowing you got those kids out safe! I knew you'd be fine :)
Thanks everyone, what a wild ride!
Austen, it's easy to get a house goat! Procure a female goat. Send her on a date with a male goat. Simmer for five months. When ready, swoop baby goat(s) from the oven. Let cool in the house. Serve with preemie diapers and bottles. Voila!
DIJ,
Five! I know, right? We are keeping the girls and will band and rehome the boys. We will supplement with the cow's milk I buy, so organic, raw milk at $8/gallon. It scares me to think of how much milk we will need, but I can't rationalize giving them milk I wouldn't drink myself.
I do have powdered goat colostrum from Hoegger's to add to the milk for a week or so. So far, they are all suckling off Jolene fine and she is keeping up with demand. I know that will change quickly though!
Squeeeeee!
There is nothing, nothing, NOTHING sweeter than baby goats. Congrats to you and especially to Jolene!
So adorable. I would lke the first and last boys please. :) Seriously!!! June will be perfect!!
Wow! I also agree that goats are awesome, and that baby goats are the cutest babies on the planet.
A goat where I used to board my horse gave birth to 3, and rejected the last born... she is really mean to it, even now they are over 5 months old. The owners had to hold the goat by the horns so she would let the runt suckle.
No signs of Jolene rejecting any?
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