There's so much excitement at
one point seven this weekend--we're welcoming three new baby goats to the family. I've looked forward to this day for years and it did not disappoint! I brought our doe Stella to visit a buck back in January (a craigslist hook-up!), but was unsure if it took until her belly started to grow and grow beyond doubt.
We knew her due date was Saturday, and goats typically deliver within 5 days of their due date, so I'd been watching her closely all week. I checked her Friday morning before my appointment in town, but didn't have any definitive reason to stay home, so off I went. Before I even reached my destination, Alex called, "There's a baby goat! What do I do?!?" I told him to help her clean it off and then I busted it for home. I was in such a hurry that a car driving ahead of me on our curvy road actually pulled over to let me pass!
I got home just before the action started up again and she delivered another. Each kid came about a half hour apart, giving mama time to clean it off, check it out, and encourage it to start nursing. I bounced her belly and felt another baby moving! I was worried when the third baby came out motionless, but after cleaning it up, it started to wriggle and we were thrilled to have three healthy baby goats. Of course Stella could have handled it all on her own, but it felt good to be there "helping".
It is truly amazing how quickly they pull themselves together. Within a few hours, the first born buckling was bouncing around ready to play. They all mastered nursing and each chose a preferred spot to curl up and snooze.
So, Milton, what do you think of the new goats?
Ole and I head out to the barn every couple hours to check on everybody. I intended to stay out of their pen as much as possible the first few days but it is simply not possible to leave them alone! They're very friendly, always tottering over to say hello and get some pets.
And a big shout-out to Stella, who is a wonderful mother. In the above photo, for example, she is just out of frame, watching intently and ready to rush in to help her babies should they need it. We're pretty cautious around mama bear, staying quiet and moving slowly. When our dog Pepper tried to come in the barn to see what was going on, Stella gave her a dirty look and snorted loudly.
Introducing Lewis, Clark, and Lena!
