If you are a follower of the goat blogs in my blog circle of friends, you know it has been a tough year with many sad, sad losses. I have to say,we have been blessed these last years. We haven't had to dig any new graves under the oak in the goat pasture until this last week.
I had three girls I was waiting on to kid that had been bred with my Pygora buck Charlie. Tiny Zippy had her giant Snowflake with out a hitch. Minnie, possibly the sweetest goatie ever and also a pygora ,was to give me my first full pygora kids. It was not to be. She kidded during the night and had problems and I was not there to help her. From what I could tell the first kid was positioned wrong and was dead the second suffocated because she was too tired or inexperienced to clean off the birth sack or possible it was born dead also. Even sadder than loosing these beautiful kids was listing to Minnie cry for them for days. Last to kid was Daisy. Needless to say I was a little on edge about her kidding. The first was breech and dead before I got to it. The second one lived thankfully! A little buck. Here is George...
The Boy says George has a bad case of goatie monkey nose! He is actually light orange and if he had been a girl I would have named him Clementine! I am sure I am not the only one glad to see this kidding season behind us. It is part of it, but never easy. We have 4 kids in the nursery pen.
Buster insisted I take his picture! He is a ham! He looks like someone dropped ice cream on his head and it ran down his face..
It is funny how watching them jump and play can make you forget your sadness over the ones who didn't make it. Life bounces on after all,when you have baby goats to watch!
I had three girls I was waiting on to kid that had been bred with my Pygora buck Charlie. Tiny Zippy had her giant Snowflake with out a hitch. Minnie, possibly the sweetest goatie ever and also a pygora ,was to give me my first full pygora kids. It was not to be. She kidded during the night and had problems and I was not there to help her. From what I could tell the first kid was positioned wrong and was dead the second suffocated because she was too tired or inexperienced to clean off the birth sack or possible it was born dead also. Even sadder than loosing these beautiful kids was listing to Minnie cry for them for days. Last to kid was Daisy. Needless to say I was a little on edge about her kidding. The first was breech and dead before I got to it. The second one lived thankfully! A little buck. Here is George...
Buster insisted I take his picture! He is a ham! He looks like someone dropped ice cream on his head and it ran down his face..
It is funny how watching them jump and play can make you forget your sadness over the ones who didn't make it. Life bounces on after all,when you have baby goats to watch!
29 comments:
That is so heartbreaking for Minnie :( I'm sorry for it, but you're right, life bounces back.
oh, they are cute! i was so afraid you were going to say you lost minnie, too. glad the moms survived, even if several kids didn't.
I want to kiss George all over his face!!!!!!!!Oh that face! Brought tears to my eyes.
I'm so sorry for your losses.
George looks very sweet!
It happens and sure sorry to hear about the losses. I had my best Momma, Fainter doe, kid early with triplets. They didn't make it, not that she didn't try to encourage them. Hate that part of life/death. Buster does look like a character though. What gorgeous color he has!
Yep, time for this year to move on!
Oh goodness, this must be the hard part of owning animals. I think this is why babies must be so darn cute...they are such a miracle and sometimes we forget that.
I'm so sorry about your losses. Part of it, but never any easier.
But, George! Oh, wee George!
A miracle! (and yes, a monkey nose that's begging for a smooch!)
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!
Mimi
The Goat Borrower
I am so sorry Melodie....I think it's hardest watching the nannies. George is a sweetie and Buster cracks me up.
So sorry to hear about the losses. However, I want Buster, ice cream head & all.
Oh, gees, that is so sad! I'm with ya--I cry for these little lives lost. I can't help it.
I'm glad we have George to celebrate. How sweet he is!! Please give him a little smoochie on that little nose from Aunt Lin. :)
Hugs, pally.
there is sadness in this year surely, but there is goodness too. your new sweet baby is a love. I am sorry for all the losses.
happy weeks end.
So very sorry to hear about your losses!! Thank goodness Minnie made it through the births. George IS adorable, as is Buster!! Hope things calm down for you and the kids grow strong before the fall and winter!!
I have to say, I am right there with you on being glad the kidding season is past. It was the worst year ever. I'm so sorry you lost the little ones, but I must say the ones you've shared with us today are adorable. Here's to a much better 2013.
Those are the cutest goat pictures!
Sorry for the losses.
George is cute and of course Buster is too.
Oh, poor Minnie.
We used to rent a cottage on a sheep farm. The shepherd (on the outside anyway) had become hardened to the losses. I didn't then, and I'm not sure I ever could.
This entry made me cry. Sorry for all your losses. George is cute, I love his monkey nose.
<3 <3 <3!!!!
Aw, so sad! Poor mama Minnie! Don't they know they should do this during the day so we can help if there's trouble?
The two kids are super cute though, and yeah, goat watching can erase all kinds of sadness!
You are on my side bar and as I scroll down to see who has posted new - I see your picture of George sitting in the food/water pan!! Sooo adorable and he looks so soft! Had to make a 2nd comment!
...and so goes life on a farm...but it sure sucks sometimes. I do think you are right though, watching new babies always lifts my heart. Hugs!
george is a real sweetie!
Sad farm losses, but also beautiful gains! So sweet!
Lana
Reading about Minnie crying made me cry too. I am so sorry for your losses and I hope Minnie is feeling better by now.
Something we seldom think about is as in our life animals can have birth defects too, some may not even be visible. Hard to deal with when you think about they had made it thru 5 or more months to get here and then suffer loss the first few hours or days. But survival of the fit is a good thing because you are building a stronger herd.
So heartbreaking. I'm glad your does are doing well. Yes, the bouncing kids do make you forget.
Catching up, so sorry to hear this, But it made me laugh that your goats name is Minnie. Thats my mom's name :)
This still makes me sad... And I miss your posts.
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