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February 27, 2005
First baby arrives
Of course the one morning we don't go right outside is the morning Ma kids. It was snowing and 9 degrees. We went up the hill with our weekly supply of hay that Gary just picked up, and found Ma running around looking like she obviously just kidded.
But no kid.
I ran up to the shed, Gary ran to the Port-a-hut. She was in the hut. One ear was frozen and her back legs were too. This girl was in trouble. I wrapped her in my coat and we ran down to the basement. I set her up on some towels and Gary came down with Ma. But she would have nothing to do with her baby. I massaged her ears and her legs. I worked to get the doe to accept the kid, but this doe had never kidded before and she kept "bipping" at the baby like she was afraid, like the sounds goats make when they see dogs.
So I have a bottle baby on my hands, our first. She is walking now and her ears are fine. I am milking the mama and giving the milk to baby. This little one looks like she will grow up to be quite a big girl. Her feet are huge and her legs are solid. Her ma is a registered percentage doe and her sire, Tucker, is 63/64 although not registered. Tucker is a Norman kid.
We are due for a huge snowstorm tomorrow. We moved some of the mamas into the barn in preparation. Goats always like to kid when the weather is bad. Ma is in the barn too while baby is inside.
Posted by roosterh at February 27, 2005 8:45 PM
Comments
I have a bottle baby too. Her mother died during childbirth she had five and this is the only one that survived. yes you are right the does will allways wait until bad weather to kid.....
Posted by: Angie Evans at February 25, 2007 12:49 AM
Posted to Goats