Cowboy - It Doesn't Get Better Than This!

[frustratedearthmother]

That last picture is adorable. You could just keep posting pictures of Cowboy.

I'm telling ya - I sat down on a bucket to rest from some barn cleaning and I didn't stop taking pictures for at least a half an hour! I've never had a 3 day old baby that animated and literally fearless - and Cowboy was eating it up! He loves, loves, loves the babies!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Had one of "those" births yesterday that are not good - not good at all. Third freshener Noir - Kinder doe - who has popped her babies out with absolutely no issues in the past had a not so good, very bad day yesterday. She went into labor and wasn't progressing at all. I went in to check and found two baseball bat size legs and the tip of a nose trying to exit. I let her try a couple more pushes but she was putting everything into it and making zero progress. I tried to apply some pressure and help her but it became very apparent that it was just not going to happen. I struggled to put a foot back inside to lessen the bulk that was trying to exit all at once. Finally got the foot back and still had to pull harder than I ever had to get that baby out. Things were stretching and popping and I didn't hold out much hope that I wasn't damaging the baby. While I was working on her another baby was presenting. He was all tangled up in the placenta and DOA. I've never had one happen quite like that. I weighed him before disposal and he was 9.8 lbs.

Cowboy was not happy about the situation. He was right outside the pen. He seemed to get more distressed as the doe became more distressed. Maddie tried to walk through the aisle of the barn and he was having no part of any other dog getting near "his" doe and baby. He laid into Maddie and rolled her out of the barn...geeze. I'm glad he wasn't taking it out on me! Every time I went out to check on them he was laying right next to the pen. He wasn't taking his eyes off of that baby.

The baby has a really wonky back leg - absolutely no stability at the hock and it bends every which direction like a piece of wet spaghetti. It's a bit unnerving to see it bending in the wrong direction. I put a little wrap on it to try to give it some stability-did a lousy job and need to re-do it when I have a holder. It's already tons better than it was at birth. She wasn't able to get up by herself for most of the day yesterday. Today, less than 24 hours later, she jumps up and moves pretty well.

The not-so-little troublemaker:

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Wow! Glad you were able to help along. I dare say that leg will turn out fine after some use and stretching.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Glad you were able to help, sorry about the rough kidding!

 

[B&B Happy goats]

That kid is big and very lucky to have you assist. ...congratulations . So sorry for the lost one....

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Can't get over Cowboy's devotion to this kid! He will NOT leave her side and stays as close as possible.

 

[Mike CHS]

The doe doesn't seem to mind.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

They really trust him...this is kind of a spooky doe and she doesn't want him much closer...but he will literally creep on his belly to get as close as he can, lol.

 

[Bruce]

Guess Cowboy knows she needs extra protection until her leg is strengthened up. Sorry you lost the one, that doeling sure is pretty.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Thanks @Bruce, I think she's pretty too. I set her down next to a two week old buckling this morning - she's the same size! @Baymule named her for me. She said in her best Texas drawl.. "that doeling is bigger than Dallas." I can't argue with that! So - her name is Dallas.