Goat Babies!

Well we have had a successful goat birthing season here on the farm. Jemma gave birth on 2 April. I had watched and watched her. I checked her progress against the books and thinking I still had several hours, I went inside for some lunch and to send a few emails. When I came back out to the barn there was a new goat kid standing and nursing off of Jemma. That’s what is called an easy birth! I wasn’t even there, everything went fine, and we ended up with a lovely little doeling.

Then on 24 April, Coco also gave birth. This time I tried to pay better attention to what was going on, but I suddenly heard over the baby monitor my oldest daughter’s voice say, “Umm, Daddy I think Coco is getting ready to have her baby.” And sure enough, by the time I got out there one hoof and the front of the nose was already just sticking out. This time though I got to be there for the birth and actually get my hands dirty. I wiped off the nose and mouth of the baby as the head came out so it could begin to breath. And since the baby was coming out with just one front leg first and the other front leg pointing backward, Coco was having a bit of a harder time pushing. So to help her out, I gently pulled on the baby as she pushed and helped ease the baby out. After a little bit of encouragement, Coco delivered a great little buckling.

So over all, our first goat birthing season went very well. No drama. No emergencies. I didn’t have to rush a goat to the 24-hour vet or any of the other doom day scenarios for which I had been prepared. Now we are just enjoying watching goat kids bounce around and around the barnyard. It’s hard to get much done when you have goat TV to watch.