Nubian Goat Triplets!

How moly!  Have I got news! We welcomed 3 new kids yesterday!  Ahh they are just the sweetest.

I really need to pay better attention, because according to my "calendar" I thought she was only at 130 days.  Which is 20 days too early!  It's kinda hard to tell, my goats love each other and break walls, fences etc to get to each other.  So they could have gotten together earlier than I thought!  LOL.

The kids are healthy, but I haven't been able to get in there good. I was lucky to get just these pictures.  Mama has been very moody and protective with them. I snapped this shot when she went for food. He he he.  I will most definitely keep y'all posted!

Bucklings Update

As I said in an earlier post (HERE) , we had to bottle feed the new kids.  I don't like that.  Some say it makes for a tamer goat, you bond better....  Me, I don't agree.  I think it takes away from the very important Mommy- kid bonding.  And none of my goats are "wild".  Not a one has ever tried to hurt me or head butt me. (Or the children)  They are however, stand offish.  But even when pursued by us to wrangle, they never try to hurt us.  So I'm not sure if we just lucked out or if it's their breed.  Whatever the case may be, I prefer them to feel a "family" type with thier young ones.

The first couple go arounds we did milk our dam and feed the buckings.  But I'm very glad to say that both are now nursing with Momma and perfectly content!  It's just so sweet to see.

I'm debating now whether or not to disbud them....  This is something I WILL NOT do myself or Hubby.  We would ask our vet to come out and do it.  Ours have their horns.  Just the way we bought them.  But I don't know if I had a choice, I guess I'd want them gone.  They get stuck in fences and tree limbs.  Plus if they get into fights (which they don't here) but if they did they could really hurt each other even kill.
Disbudding: When you burn off the horns as they begin to grow in. Preferably at 1" long
Age: Preferrable before the 2 week of age mark./if their adults anesthetic is mandatory
Risks: Brain damage, death, deformed horns.

Yea..... Did you see the risks???  Is it worth it?  To me no, if we weren't gonna sell them I'd leave them alone.  Just keep fighting ones apart.....  Maybe leave it up to the buyer to do as he/she pleases.

Twin Nubian Bucklings

Welcome To Our Family!!

Yesterday morning our doe began kidding. I checked in on her quite frequently, but nowhere near as much as last time. She had a very easy delivery. Labor lasted about 6 hours. And at 5:30 pm we had a newbie!! Then about 6 minutes later another one!! TWINS!! Twin bucklings. They are very cute.

Her last kidding she only had one (buck also) and what a size difference! These little guys are tiny in comparison. But healthy.

Is was such a nice day I guess Momma let the kids roam a little. We found them outta the stall and under a tree.

We did notice a little trouble. Since they were apart from Momma we wanted to make sure they were being nursed. Usually Momma and babies lay together for a few days. Usually she a lil over protective. To check if the baby is full and eating you have it stand. ( Yes at a day they can stand , not very good but still) You feel its belly, if it's squishy it needs to eat if its firm its good to go.

Both tummies were squishy. Which meant no milk. So, we watched her for a bit and she was over by the fence with a buck... So we took the buck away from her sight and right away she tried to nurse. But it seemed the kids couldn't get a hold of the nipple. Either didn't know or couldn't either way we had to step in.

Now, first off, I'd rather NOT step in and bottle feed right away. Animals are just like people. They develop bonds with their young. And I would never want to take the mommying away from a ready and willing doe. But sometimes they need interference. We milked Dora next to her kids. Two reasons. One to relieve pressure, the nipple may had been to large for the mouth. And two, to see if we could help the kids find what they should do. We gave the kids some milk, they loved it but just would latch.

So we emptied her. We got about a gallon or so from her. Between the kids and her (yes does love milk!!) we ended up keeping about half a gallon for them later to feed "in case".

All you need to bottle feed them is a nipple from a feed store, about a dollar, and a 20 oz bottle of some sort. Snap it on, thats it!

Well these little full Nubian bucklings are very cute!!  And in late March will be ready for sale!!

Countdown To Kidding!

I am soo excited, one of our goats belly has dropped!! Which means kidding time is just around the corner!  Oooh I remember last year it was Doras (one of our goats) first kid and ours too!!  We were just super excited and nervous as if we were having a baby!! This times no different.  We're on the edge every morning.  Checking on her.  So far so good.

Roughly 150days from breeding is kid time.  But, like last time it's just nature.  We were quite off.  I think 2 weeks or so.  Some of it's human error and some times its plain nature.  Your ready when your ready.  I have her marked 1st week of February.  But I don't think she'll make it much longer.  But I will, like last time, keep you all posted!!

Wooo Hoooo!!!