Goats&moregoats: KickinUpDust Farm Journal

[goats&moregoats]

Got the additional pastured attached and hot wired top. Figure the ground is to frozen for them to dig right now, discovered later I was right on that one. Will explain that in a few.

Turned out the animals that were not expecting and the dogs were perfectly fine with them. No chasing or anything.

Later this evening was called back over because another goat was kidding. She delivered quads. However we also discovered the dogs were gone!!!

I have had the fence off for 5 full days and no attempt of escape. Tonight I turn the fence on before we leave and checked it to make sure it was operating and they escape! WTH!! They didn't jump the fence and they didn't dig, they busted through one of the pallets. I am thinking since we have not had any problem until tonight that something got way to close to the fence.

So we are out in the middle of now where, I have no weapon, it's after dark and it's my daughter and myself. No looking tonight. Will head out at first light to see what I can discover. Praying for happy safe return.

Pictures of Annabelle's babies. 3 bucks 1 doe. We took them in long enough to get them dry, warm and on their feet good then back out to momma. That was after mom cleaned them some and they nursed at least once except the girl. She just was very weak to start. Poor Annabelle couldn't get them all clean and dry fast enough.
Two of them weighed 1lb, One weighed a 11/2 and one weighed 2lbs.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats on the babies! Hope you find the dogs!!

 

[goatgurl]

how are the babies doing? so tiny. have the dogs come back home? there was a time back when i had a set of dogs that were of a similar age and would rather play with each other then guard like they were suppose to. they also had an issue with "playing" with the goats. i finally ended up penning them up in the goat pen one at a time. one loose during the day and the other loose at night. after a while they stopped their foolish ways and became a great team. granted they were younger than your dogs but you might give it a try. good luck

 

[goats&moregoats]

Ok, so we found Yukon & Tahoe about 3-4 miles from the barn. They are home safe, no injuries. They were as happy to see me as I was them. They got fed and were sleeping when I left. Closed off the back pasture again until I get more wire fencing.

All my babies are doing well, though I have a little concern over two of them. Legs aren't quite right. Will give it some time and see what takes shape.
So we have; Mavis, Jed, Jax & Percy. Now waiting on my final lady who should have kidded before these two. lol, still fooling us humans.

 

[Southern by choice]

For the legs- feed momma goat cooked up oatmeal/kelp balls.
I have the recipe somewhere on here I will see if I can find it.
Makes a big difference! Alot of people jump to Selenium but that isn't always the case. Maybe for extremely deficient areas but in many cases it is just they need strengthening. Are you in a selenium deficient area?

 

[Southern by choice]

Ok couldn't find the thread so I will try to give the recipe... I just kinda throw it together ...
But this is from one of our Old timey vets
From my other post-
A tip from one of our old timey vets... prior to lambing/kidding you can do oatmeal balls with sea kelp fed to momma. Then for the next 3-5 days after birthing feed the balls 2x daily. The kelp is 90% utilized as opposed to regular minerals where there is a 40-60% utilization. It will help with week legs.

Take 1 cup uncooked oatmeal and cook it.
Once warm and thick add
2T Molasses (not blackstrap)
1/2t-1t kelp
You can add peanut butter if you need to, roll up into golf ball size and feed.
Refrigerate unused portions and heat up when needed.

We use Source brand Kelp found in the equine section at the feedstore. You will have it for years! You can also add this to your minerals.

Glad the dogs are home!

 

[goatgurl]

so glad the dogs are home safe, no no bad dogs!. and thanks Southern thanks for the oatmeal/kelp recipe will have to put that in the file for later use.

 

[goats&moregoats]

Thank you for the recipe @Southern by choice.

 

[goats&moregoats]

Haze finally kidded on the 13th. Triplets. However we lost them all. Not at once, but within a 48 hour period. Learned a very hard and expensive lesson. No matter how friendly does are with each other never trust them around another does kids. 8am Jan 13th, aughter finds three new kids in very large kidding pen shared by long time buddies, Annabelle & Haze. Up, dry & nursing. At 12:30pm I went in to check on everyone and find one dead another very close. Third is fine, already skipping around and nursing off Haze. I take care of dead one and take the other home to see what I can do.

early am of 14th the one a took home had passed and the one in the barn was gone as well.

So either something was wrong with all three(very wrong) or Annabelle didn't like having Haze's kids in the pen. However, Haze nursed Annabelle's quads as well as her own and Annabelle nursed her own.

So as of today: I have sold three bucklings and 1 doeling as bottle babies to families that already have goats and have had experience bottle feeding.

Darling Mavis is the last of Annabelle's quads and her legs are coming along.
Cassie's doeling Bambi was purchased by my sister-in-law and is staying at the farm.

Haven't had any more issues with the dogs. Need to run hot wire on bottom of connecting pasture to ensure they do not escape again. They now eat outside the pasture and then put right back in.

We are back on track. I have an older doeling that is pending sale on Monday. If Mavis's legs straighten out and she does well, she will be sold as well.

So 9 babies born: 5 bucks & 4 does. Not the ratio I was looking for but had no problem selling either sex. The women who bought two bucklings is the one who wants the older doeling.
I think I have pictures of most of them. Didn't get pictures of Haze's two bucklings and need to get updated pictures of Mavis.
Cassie's twins born: 1-10-15 Bambi & Flower

Jax 1-11-15 Buckling
Jed (sorry bad pic) 1-11-15
Percy 1-11-15
Three of Annabelle's quads. All were black or black & white.



Haze's doeling: 1-13-15 Sissy

Black & white buckling: Loki
grayish/blue buckling: Rukus

 

[Southern by choice]

So sorry, what a sad way to lose them.
The babies all look cute as can be. Glad you could find homes for your BB's.