Full House Farm's kidding thread 2018/19... A little late.

[Fullhousefarm]

It's actually been a rough two weeks here. On Christmas day lost one of out 9 week old doeslings (one we were going to sell, but I was keeping to not have to milk at night) to bloat. We had all the right things but nothing worked fast enough. Don't even know what could have brought it on.

Then, on NYE Ruby (Lamancha 7 yr old) miscarried 16 days early. I had to have our goat mentor come over and help pull them. She wasn't dialated and babies were dead. She's recovering, but it's been slow. She didn't pass her placenta so we had that complication along with being really sore, and having a super rough time. Then Trixie went into labor at 142 days yesterday (she kidded at 143/144 last year) and we had a live girl and then another dead baby who had died before labor. She's not as bad off as Ruby and it was less traumatic, but she's always kidded very easily before just like Ruby and I had to pull the dead one. Her girl was a little wimpy for a bit, but is up now and even when she wasn't up was eating and maintaining temp so I'm guessing she's just a little early or had it rough in there. Trixie is the most patient mom ever so that helps too. We are working with our vet and I took one of the aborted babies to the state lab this morning to make sure it's nothing that can continue to cause problems. While unexplained is hard it would be better than something that keeps killing our babies. :-(

I'll have to add a picture of the cute little munchie baby for some happiness. Crossing our fingers that the other 2 Nigerians and 4 Lamancha and grade Lamancha does who are due in the next 35 days go to term and do well. Orchid (ND) is next and is at 145 on the 14th so I'd expect babies around the 16th or 17th. Glory (ND) is a few days later, then we have Ginger (LM) and Whisper (LM) at 150 on the 21 and 23.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

So sorry for the rough time! Glad you sent one out for necropsy and that you get answers.

 

[Fullhousefarm]

For good news we have Wattles twin girls

Trixie and her little doeling. She’s going to be a spoiled Diva.

Orchid and Glory gestating for two more weeks in the baby pen.

 

[promiseacres]

Sorry for the losses.
Cute kids

 

[Fullhousefarm]

So more good news Yay!
Orchid Kidded on Monday the 14th with triplets on day 145. I'm glad she listened and didn't have quads again. 2d 1 b, and they weighed more than her quads did last year. One doeling was 3# and tan, and the other two are black with white more like their mom and 4.5-4.7lb. Big for triplets! All have wattles as dam and sire (Tumnus, sky's son) both have wattles.

Then on Wednesday the 16th Glory had b/d twins at day 145. Cute little mini me babies that look like her. Her 2nd freshening udder is just lovely.

Thursday was day 149 for Ginger, almost 3 yr old FF who didn't kid last year like she was supposed to. She had a single doeling. Super flashy black and white little thing. Ginger is a little ambivalent about being a mom but isn't mean and seems to be catching on.

Next week Whisper (SecretxCruz 2 yr old) should have third generation Full House Farm babies out of our new Jr Herd Sire, Morty. Super excited as she has her Jr leg and really looks great. Then her dam Secret is due around the 30th. We will be going to the S. Fl Fair from the 24-27 so never a dull moment around here, then State fair Feb 7th. Davina (FF LM) is due the 6th. Then no one else until late Feb.

 

[Wehner Homestead]

Wonderful news on successful deliveries!

Now we need pics to evaluate how cute these kids are! Lol

 

[Fullhousefarm]

Oh, man how did I ever get so behind again. So- Whisper didn't kid, or even look super close in January, so I check my notes and she came back in three weeks later. So, she was actually due Feb 12. LOL.

Unfortunately, Queenie, a ND who was also due the end of Feb aborted. We found her with dead preemie twins on Jan 27. Other than needing to put some weight back on she's doing well. Nothing of interest came back in the necropsy, so we really think it's a selenium deficiency. We gave all the does BoSe, but maybe not soon enough to save Queenie's. It would also make sense because of the above average rain here this summer there is even less SE then our normal low FL levels in the hay and it also affected the older does more for the most part- except Orchid who was on western hay with the milkers to keep her weight up.

But, in good news... Secret (75%LM grade, 25%Saanen) had lovely twin bucks with no complications on Jan 29. Her udder is just lovely getting best Udder in breed in open at the State fair the next week and then she got BOB a week later and earned her first CH leg at The Kissimmee Valley fair. She's a 4 year old who was born here- so that's pretty special. We also have two daughters retained, Whisper and Gossip.

Davina (75% LM grade) kidded a huge polled buckling with just a little help on 2/4. She's a super good FF mom and a natural on the milk stand. Her udder isn't anything to laugh at either.

Then, we waited on Whisper. We were happy she didn't go early like everyone else has this year since she was due two days after the state fair (we live local and were home every night so she stayed home with Davina). I was checking my camera every 3 hours overnight before Feb 14 because I knew she was close. Went out and no babies, but a nice full udder that morning. Walked over to the milk room to get started milking and heard a newborn scream. Periwinkle (unregistrered Nigherain) had kidded two weeks early in the dry doe pen. One dead baby, unfortunately, but two little teenie tiny screamers dried off but a little chilly on our coldest night of the month. Warmed them up and they nursed. 1.25# boy and 2.5 lb little girl. She's a super good mom and babies are teenie but thriving. The boy does the "death sleep" several times a day just to give me a heart attack. Then, around 1 Whisper (Secret daughter) gave us a nice 7# single doeling who looks just like her. Third generation born on our farm and out of our new Jr herdsire from Ohio, Morty. Happy Valetines day to my daughter. I don't think she will be able to part with her. We even got a family Valentines day brunch in at our favorite Mom&Pop diner between the births.

Just to make live a little more hectic, I felt a funny bump on Glory's doeling that morning when giving her a bottle.( I sold her at fair and they were supposed to pick up that night). Fearing it may be a hernia, though weird she's get one at 3 weeks, I walked her into the vet and asked if he could just take a quick look. (My daughter is interning there). He immediately said it was an umbilical abscess and needed to be dealt with that day. If it ruptured she'd die. So, she stayed with my daughter there and I came back 3 hours later and watched the surgery. It was touch and go a few times, but she pulled through and now looks like she will make a full recovery. Had a little fever issue Tuesday, but we seemed to have gotten that under control now. So, she stays another two weeks to make sure she recovers well.

Whew- one more doe- Jadis due in April and that will be it until October.

We have a one day show Saturday, Nigerian show March 10th, and my daughter might go to one three ring show in March with a few goats and that will be a wrap for us until fall. Now the freezer fills up with milk and I try to stay sane during the "busy" season of milking/kidding and farm chores.

 

[Fullhousefarm]

Ginger and her doeling

Secrets boys

Davinas boy

Daughter won 1st Showmanship (out of 75 Seniors) at the State Fair and her leased doe took BIS in open and youth under judge Karen Akers Smith.

Caleb got 4th in Jr showmanship out of around 25.

Secrets udder at 1 week fresh.

Whisper and her doeling

Periwinkles itty bittys with the cat.

Secret BOB

Davinas 10 hr udder at 12 days fresh.

 

[MiniSilkys]

I especially love the picture of the little ones with the cat.