Ode to Butter

A perfect ball of fluff you were
The day we brought you home
So soft and bright and yellow
With your waddles and your comb

You grew into a fine young hen
Who loved to sit and talk
We always knew you laid an egg
By your incessant squawk

Alas, dear girl, your days were short
And sickness brought an end
To such a lovely chicken
And an even better friend.

Companion Planting Guide

Disbudded Babies

We disbudded the bucklings this morning.  It was wonderful to use a brand new iron instead of an old one.  My only concern is that we waited way too long to do this.  The babies are already three weeks old and because they are mostly Boer and bucklings, they are likely to have more substantial horns.

A Little Baby Goat Cuteness

Kids for Lilo

Lilo kidded this morning.  I was in between dropping two-legged kids off at school and racing over to our friends' house...but they came before I arrived.  I always try to remind myself that it's best when you don't have to help at all, when you just walk out to the barn to find new babies on the ground.  But I'm always a little disappointed when I don't get to watch.

Lilo had two healthy little bucklings.  Actually, they were very good size and both are doing well.  We've decided on "Coffee" and "Creamer" for their names.  Creamer had a little trouble getting started nursing but seems to be doing well now.  Again, I have to remind myself to give momma and baby a chance to do it on their own.  All too often our instinct is to help when they don't really need it.  Trust the momma.  Trust the momma.

Lilo's False Labor

So there was some confusion about when Lilo was actually due.  And I think in hindsight, I'd follow the gal who had her when she was bred.  But it really looked like Lilo was in labor.

And she probably was.  She would arch her back, tucking her tailbone under.  She would stand alone and stretch.  She pawed the ground, got down, got up, got down.  But she was faking.  I don't know how we would know she was faking, except that the babies didn't come for another week.  And that's a little too long for a goat to be in labor without any complications.  But she did get a lot of attention out of the whole ordeal...so maybe that was her end-game.

Preparing for Kidding

Well, it's that time of year again.  And I am already falling behind.  I thought that I'd be so on the ball this year - I mean, I've done this for awhile now.  I should remember what needs to be done.  But alas, we are three weeks away from Lilo's due date and I am just now realizing that I should've already given her several meds.

In an effort to prepare for next year (and the other goats that will kid later this year), I am going to write down all of the information on this blog.  That way, hopefully, I will be able to stay on top of things.  * A lot of this information comes from two great websites, Onion Creek Ranch and Fias Co Farms. *

6 Weeks Out
    BoSe:  2.5cc/100lbs IM injection
    Sulmet:  Day one - 1ml/5lbs, Day Two-Five - 1ml/10lbs, given orally
    Ivomec:  1ml/50lbs, given orally (even though it says it's an injectable)
    No Alfalfa:  This is to reduce the amount of calcium in the doe's diet to avoid "milk fever."
4 Weeks Out
    Covexin 8 booster:  2cc SubQ injection
3 Weeks Out
    Vitamin E:  Added to grain
2 Weeks Out
    BoSe:  2.5cc/100lbs IM injection
1 Week Out
    Shave udder and tail area
Kidding Week
After birth
    Iodine 7%:  Dip umbilical cord
    BoSe for kids:  1ml/40lbs
1 Week After
    Disbud:  Boys may be earlier than this - looking for a good horn bud to work with.
2 Weeks After
    Locking up babies at night / milking momma in the mornings
3 Weeks After
    Covexin 8:  2cc SubQ injection
4 Weeks After
    BoSe:  1ml/40lbs
    Wether boys
6 Weeks After
    Covexin 8 booster:  2cc SubQ injection
8 Weeks After
    Ivomec:  1ml/50lbs given orally