Devonviolet's - Kidding 2017

[Devonviolet]

We need more pics!?

Okay, here ya go TAH!

Mother & son:

Here's one of Falina calling Woody, who was off exploring.

Here are some of little Woody romping in the grass for the first time:

When he started looking a bit tired, I picked him up and took him back to the hoop house. Immediately, Falina started calling to him. So, I got the leash and went to unhook her from the tie down. She actually walked up to me and lowered her head, so I could loop the rope over her head. Even just a week ago, she wouldn't come near me, let alone allow me to put the rope around her neck. Once I unhooked the chain, she led me straight to the hoop house and went right in. She has even started to let me stroke her and hug her neck.

 

[TAH]

 

[Devonviolet]

While I was out with Falina and Woody, I also had Ruby on a tie down. She and Falina both seemed to really enjoy chomping on the grass and weeds.

So, here you go, @animalmom! Here are a couple shots of your favorite Ruby!!!

 

[CntryBoy777]

Oh, okay...then 5 eat more than 3...and if ya can still make use of them, then there no sense getting rid of them, unless they are a problem with horns. The reason I say this, is, we have 3 goats and there isn't a way to separate them without one being left alone. So, tho ya will fight the "Math", as long as there is benefit to you, then I personally would not look to get rid of them. Now, that can change depending on just what Ms Ruby brings to the table too....

 

[Devonviolet]

What you say is true @CntryBoy777.

You do make a valid point about the horns. @goatgurl is pretty concerned about putting Ruby & Falina with horned goats with them being dehorned.

When it is time to put them together I will watch very carefully. Initially, I won't leave them together when I can't be there to monitor. That would mean splitting up the 2 dogs, into two paddocks. I know they won't like that.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Something else to consider is, if your Boys have never been around a doe in estrus, then ya could experience a personality change in them too. Since we have decided to go in a new direction with the goats, any that are aquired from this point on will be kept separate as different herds. I don't want to mix horned and dehorned either. But, I'll keep the Boys unless they become mean for any reason....just me and how I feel about them...my very 1st...

 

[Devonviolet]

Will you be getting a buck soon too? I am hoping to use my buck (due to be born next week) and wether to clear brush. Not so much with my girls, I'm afraid they'll get into something to make the milk taste bad!

No, I'm not planning to get a buck, at this time. I don't have anywhere to put it, for one thing, and since I will only be using a buck once a year, to freshen my does, I don't see the wisdom in feeding and caring for a buck year round. If I had a herd of, say, 10 or 20 does, then I might be able to justify having a buck. Because I'm no Spring chicken, and we don't have a lot of open land, for grazing, I will most likely never have more than 3 or 4 does -Actually, more likely no more than two does.

Since my goal is to ultimately have Mini-Manchas, I will see if I can find someone with a Nigerian Dwarf buck, that I can beg, borrow (lease) or steal, for stud services, to breed my girls.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

A bit late in the party but congrats on the kid!

 

[Devonviolet]

Our little Woody is one week old. So, we weighed him this evening. He weighs 11 lb 8 oz. That is a 3 lb 7 oz weight gain in one week. I'm not an expert on how much a kid goat should gain it's first week. But, I'm thinking that seems like a healthy gain.

 

[Devonviolet]

Ruby had TWINS!!! A doeling and a buckling!

Both are black with a little white. Actually, the buckling has a small spot of white on his forehead, and the doeling has a tiny white spot on her forehead and a white patch over her hips.

They were born this evening, while we were eating dinner. So, when I first saw them, they were both just laying there.

Once I took these pictures, I got busy tending to the little kids, and then it got dark. So I had to wait until tomorrow to take any more pics.
We have been so busy here, I haven't kept up on this thread. So, I apologize in advance, for my silence.

Ruby was actually due yesterday. So, she went one day longer. I had Ruby, Falina & Woody out in the back pasture, browsing, whille DH cleaned out the hoop hut, after we got 5.6" of rain the night before. The straw, in the hut got saturated. So, he replaced the wet straw with clean dry straw, while we were out back.

Here is a photo of Ruby, on her due date. I didn't get any good photos of Falina & Woody. So, they all got deleted.

This morning, I got Ruby up on the milk stand, so I could bounce her and feel her udder, which had gotten much bigger. When I did that,,I could feel that she was leaking Colostrum, so I knew she was close.

When I bounced her, I felt legs both back by her udder and further up near her ribcage. So, I suspected she was going to have twins.
(FYI - @Southern by choice, @Goat Whisperer, @Baymule, @animalmom, @Latestarter, @CntryBoy777, @Bruce, @Mike CHS, @goatgurl, @babsbag, @OneFineAcre, @Niki Forsyth)