Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

Gosh, I hope it's hot here soon. While I'll gripe about the heat when it really hits, I know how to work in the heat. It is self-limiting. It feels like I haven't really been warm since last summer. Don't know when I turned into such a cold weather wuss...and it's not like I don't have some built-in insulation, lol.

Went home for lunch to feed the babies. Decided to go out back and check on English Toffee since her ligaments were pretty low this morning and her udder had blown up overnight. Got there in time to see her stringing mucous and trying to deliver outside. She didn't want to cooperate so she got a little riled up trying NOT to go back in the barn. I got her put up and stood back to let her relax a little. What is with all these does trying to deliver while standing up this year? She pushed and pushed and pushed. I could see the tip of a little foot so I did a quick check to see if everything else was where it should be. Discovered that the presentation was perfect, the head and both feet were up over the brim of the pelvis and just held up by her ...um...itty, bitty lady parts. She really needed an episiotomy - yikes! But, I've got a couple tricks up my sleeve and I used them to get that baby outta there without having to go grab a scalpel. Thank goodness....

I don't know how long she'd been pushing and the baby is a bit weak. I gave her some colostrum, some selenium gel, put a little sweater on her and headed back to work. Hope the little darlin' has things figured out by the time I get back home.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I don't do take backs! Made sure they knew that when they picked up that crazy buckling - nope - not gonna do it.

 

[baymule]

Congrats on the new baby!

 

[sumi]

Gosh, FEM, interesting lunch break you had? Hope the little one and mom is o.k.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I keep a closed flock, and have a policy of not taking anything other than newly hatched chicks or eggs onto my property. Yes, I could butcher them. But, IMO, my time is more valuable than any meat I'd get from someone else's old hens.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Gosh, FEM, interesting lunch break you had? Hope the little one and mom is o.k.

To say the least, lol!

I made sure to get as much colostrum into the little darlin' as I could. I think I got at least 6 ounces into her. I couldn't just leave her and not give her something...poor baby. She was perking up as I was leaving, but I hadn't seen her stand on her own... And of course, mama is a FF and wasn't sure about a foreign creature being held up to her belly looking for a quick meal. So, instead of worrying all afternoon I just made sure to fill her belly and give myself some peace of mind. But, that's still no guarantee.

My theory is that the baby has to do some of the work too. It's her job to get up and find that ninny. I'm getting a lot tougher on them than I've ever been in the past. I need goats that can do this thing called reproduction without too much outside help. But, I am still a softie and will probably interfere more than I should despite my "theory."

Pretty pleased with the majority of Conan's offspring. Nobody has his cruddy rear end - thank goodness! They are all growing well and the only DOA was the huge buckling that lost his lifeline inside Noir. Seven doelings and 5 bucklings (1doa). Not too shabby for a semi-ugly, crooked legged goat, lol. Might just keep him around another year.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Oh geeze dramatic lunch break alright! Hope the little one figures it out. Sounds like Conan did alright for a first year crop, glad the ugly dude is producing less ugly kids lol

 

[sumi]

Conan sounds like a keeper! You got a few lovely babies out of him this year.

I'm a softie too when it comes to my birds and animals, but sometimes you have to "tough love" them just a little bit. But heck, it's hard to help!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Well my theory of not helping went all to hell.... what else is new? The baby knows exactly what to do to get ninny....unfortunately her mother does NOT! She's not letting the baby nurse. Not being mean to her at all - just moving every time the baby gets in position. It's almost comical. Baby walks to mom, gets in position, mom reaches around to smell baby's butt and she ends up walking in a circle because when she moves, the baby moves...it's like they are walking circles around each other....except baby isn't getting anything to eat. So, I've held mom a couple of times. She doesn't fight. She will even let me milk her. Hopefully, they will get the hang of it soon because I can NOT want another bottle baby!

 

[baymule]

I had a couple of FF's like that this year. I tied them up (wild sheep rodeo) and plopped down in the sheep lot and taught lamb how to latch on and mom how to stand there and let the lambs nurse. About 3 hours, and they got it.

I love my sheep. They have their lambs, unassisted by me and raise their lambs. I don't have a camera in the sheep barn, I don't go out in the middle of the night to check on labor and delivery, and I don't want to.