Jay - Salut right back at you! An excellent toast. Couldn't have said it better.
Bud Light counts, but I LOVE Riesling! And Gewurtztraminer, which if you like Riesling, you will love Gewurtz.
I didn't know the unwritten kidding/lambing rule and am confounded by it. I brought the other goats into the Wick building today. They're staying there until they kid! Or else!
Wake Under Rock
Isn't that always the way grownut?!
And another toast to Thumper, my dear bunny who died a few years ago at the ripe old age of 14. May she always hop about with glee where she is now, just as she did when she was with me. She was a precious little soul.
My ewes always would lamb nice and early in the am. You know, so you have time to call into work and say,"My ewe is in labor and I'm not leaving until she's done!" I was lucky to have a very understanding boss-although she would never step into a barn herself!
Grownut just watch out for the dog's noise his is longer than yours and I have to hide it from him.
Here's to Thumper. I'm sure she is frolicking w/ my daughter's bunny as well.
The very first one delivered here was delivered on the fly!! Young first-timer doe trying to run from her problems. It was the first and smallest of three and did not make it. Maybe nine degrees out in the sun, before wind chill factored in. It was all ALL of us could do to get those kids dried, warmed and on the Mom. I've spent several nights sleeping curled around kids in front of heaters. Wake every two hours to put 'em to mom...
Here's to Thumper! And so many other critters who've tried to educate us silly humans! (Got my wine, now -snapped at the dog once though...)
{{And Jay I really did like it! Just carried away AU.}}
Wow, I had no idea such things were in store for me! I am going to attempt no breeding in the months that result in Jan-Feb births. Even early March is questionable...
That's when they like to do it. {{you listening to Wytches'brew?}}
Nothing tougher than trying to get a kid/lamb warm if it's been downright chilled. We had one kid that was so cold I could hardly pry her mouth open to get some warm milk in her. Worked on her for hours....we never give up either grownut! Hairdryer to heating pad in the kitchen-she'll be four this spring!
Not always successful. We had one born too early and just when we thought it was over the hump, it went into seizures. Not anything I want to relive.
Dear me! Macbeth?! Not sure how appropriate this is....Bubble bubble toil and trouble...am I the only one?!
Azam Ali right now is playing for me.
You guys are scaring me on the lambing and kidding thing. Having just lost these two kids, I don't want to lose the next ones. We are so novice with this. We didn't even know that she was pregnant because of the due date mistake from the vendor. Now we don't know about the others. Oh good grief....
If you want to sell lambs for the Easter market, the earlier the better. We would try for late March instead of the Jan/Feb lambs. I really like having the kids in April/May. Although we've had them as late as mid-June.
Deep relaxing breath! Ok, now another! Most of the time there isn't any problems and you go into the barn and hear this little cry...what was that you say....your heart leaps...you hold your breath.....there it is again!
I think the worst I ever had was the feeding tube mistake...I've saved 'em, gotten Mom to take 'em back. Traded shifts sleeping with one first, then the next. Slathered mom and baby with goat formula so everyone smells alike. And anything else I could think of... (Claire if you know WHEN they took you can confine them and do ok, I have trouble getting mine to consider mating any time but when it makes kidding hard --after all they don't really get how much we alter the way nature treats 'em. babies in time for spring greens should be a good thing...)
As I understand it, Icelandics and Nubian goats begin to cycle in October. That means generally no births before March....
The llamas are copulation-induced ovulators so no regulating that. We have one due in February.
The mini goats, as I understand it, are year-round cyclers.
have you used molassas on the kid's head so mom will keep licking it? I haven't but read it somewhere....
Sue's right. Once they get it they get it, and the one's you take good care of usually take good care of their babies. I'm just wallerin' and drinkin' whine....
Claire have you seen a doe in heat? It can be the funniest thing! I've had some that will dance around the pasture like they were kids again!
I had 3 glasses of wine so I have now switched to grape juice/lime juice blend.
I have had Nubians in heat but I don't notice it except that the wethers still go after them even though they can't seem to remember why they are there once they mount them. They get a confused look and just get down again. It would be fun to watch a dancing goat!
We had a doe that kidded twins. Well, the first one came out just jim dandy. Then the second one came and just the nose was sticking out. No progress so after checking we discovered her legs were bent so we had to push her back in and straighten out her legs. Whew, that was different! She came out lickity split after that.
I'm always hanging around in a corner with my camara when they are in labor! I've got more pictures than I can count!
One of my favorite memories is of Sandra Dee laying in the pasture, sunning herself, eyes half closed and her kid dancing on top of her trying to get her up to play!
Ooooh, Sue, do you have any pictures of early labor? Signs that we can expect? Anything to help with predicting when something is about to happen? If you do, could you email them to me?...I will dmail you my email address.
Sure! I'd post them here but I don't know how everyone else would take it! lol!
Here's to Magyk, the best buddy dog I ever had, with the greatest sense of humor, and he'd even smile for the camera. He loved full body hugs, riding in the truck, and bringing me pheasant. We covered many a mile on the trails together and he learned you should not have your mouth open when the skunk sprays! LOL H came bombing by me one day down along the Rio Grande, foaming at the mouth, dashing to the river to gargle.
Magyk always knew which kids were afraid of him and would lay down on his side, which never failed to invite them to pet him. Over and over parents would tell me how their child was so afraid of dogs, they'd never seen them want to pet one, and here they'd fallen in love with Magyk, an 80# Golden Retriever-Lab cross with the biggest sweetest smile.
He finally just got too old. I'll always remember you, buddy. Happy hunting...
Well I've got to get off here!! Thanks very much for joining me. May be back later. Glad I hit the music right.
Sorry I missed Majyk Jay. Thanks fer hangin' 'round.
Claire you have d-mail
Oh Jay, so sad to read about Majyk, but what a great life he had.
Sandy - great pics, thank you for those!
Grow - you can't leave yet!
Here is to Hilokee, who's had a heart of gold, who broke the rules when he saw I needed him when things where at the darkest after a car accident.
To Ming the Siamese cat that ruled my life for 17 years with a iron paw in a furry glove.
To Sauron the dobi who helped me get over my shyness and inferior complex.
And a special thanks to all the animal teachers that have lived and thought me through the years.
Thanks for hosting us all, Grow.
I'd better go sort out the kitchen or something...
Later
Jay
Sorry so late...I just finsihed an hour of catching up to you all with happy fingures.
Here, here for the animal teachers!
...and thought me... Ah, that's nice.
Salud! Wren
All the animals have much to teach if we slow down and open ourselves to learning. A good point to have raised. I join in that toast!
Everyone have a wonderful and relaxing night.
Listen to your soothing music and drink your favorite totty.
I will toast to that as well.
Jay he sounds like a great dog. Here's to Magyk! May he frolic in beautiful meadows to his hearts content.
Here's to the great friends on Dave's Garden. I raise my glass to you all!
Cheers!