New Visitors . . .

Things are progressing here at the farm after the birthing two weeks ago. All of the babies are doing great and have transitioned to bottle feedings well. Sucking down milk likes pros. Except Glory who still refuses to put her pretty little mouth around one. I've orderd another type to use with her, but they haven't arrived yet, expected them 3 days ago. No amount of coaxing will change her mind, she even went two feedings without eating and still wouldn't take a bottle. It's like dealing with a stubbord child, but this one you can't reason with no matter how hard you try. So she is still taking nourishment off of her mama, Sugar. That is until the new nipples arrive hopefully on Monday.

Our visitors today were Dallas and Cody, who brought their Mom and Grandmother with them. The boys wanted to see the baby goats! They arrived around noon and in time to help with the mid-day bottle feeding. Of course the two boys picked out the two bucklings to feed. Leaving the doelings for the "girls" to feed. The weather wasn't warm enough to let the kids out into their playpen to play. So the boys are coming back in warmer weather to see the goat babies kick up their heels and jump around.

Dallas feeding Pepper

Cody feeding Buckshot

Dallas holding Annabelle

But they did feed the chickens and turkeys some scratch grains. Petted the mommy goats and saw Sassie do her "teeth trick". Dallas is another horse lover in the making and enjoyed leading Sassie around the barnyard. Then up to the upper pasture for her to graze for awhile. Thanks Dallas and Cody for your help today with feeding the baby goats and helping out. Smiles were seen on all faces present and I believe they had a wonderful visit. You guys have an open invitation to come back anytime!

I decided to go ahead and start the seasonal changes in the house today. I usually wait for the first day of the month to change the flags and little decor items throughout the house. But the weather is so pretty and it just felt like time to make the swap. So all the Winter Snowman decor was packed away and Spring items were pulled out. Yes, I know we still have three more weeks left of winter but. . . . well I am ready for warmer days! It looks cheerful and reminds me that Spring is just around the corner. Despite the predicted snow for next week, I think for the most part it is really just a suggestion.

I had plans to work out in the yard and gardens today, but the wind still has quite a chilly breath. I am anxious to start digging in the dirt, but know that it will be quite a few weeks before I can plant any tender plants out. Yesterday at the feed store we bought a few more fruit trees, bushes and vines. We now have Apple & plum trees, blueberry and fig bushes, grape and blackberry vines to add to our future fruit harvest. They will need holes dug this week, so I may get the chance to satisfy my craving to dig in the dirt then. We need to get them planted soon as they need to get established before the heat of Summer arrives. Looking forward to all the beautiful Springs blooms they will put forth. The peach tree in the back yard is already showing buds swelling with the little warming trend of low 50's we have had a couple of days in a row.

Waiting to get my hands dirty,

Deborah

Separation Woes

Today began the process of separating the kids from the does. We had hoped to accomplish this at an earlier time after they had spent a couple of days with their Moms. But life doesn't always follow our plans. Does it? We decided to start milking the ladies 3 times a day to start with, as each one was quite engorged with milk. They needed some relief in a bad way! So the bottle brigade began with feedings of freshly squeezed milk, heated to a comforting level. All of the babies took to the bottles with a little coaxing except Sugar's little girl. Glory would have nothing to do with nursing from a bottle. She would go hungry first and proved in on two separate occasions. I couldn't let her get weak from hunger or she might get really sick. After all, she was a baby and this foreign object felt nothing like the warm squishy one that mom had. So we decided to let her nurse from mom till the new nipples come in. Hope it's soon!

Well, you would have thought we were committing murder down at the barn. With all of the hollering going on, which was bad. But the heartbreaking sound was when they started wailing! I could imagine what they were feeling and hated to cause them such grief. By having the babies on bottles we could get them use to human contact, necessary as they become milkers next year and monitor how much each one was taking at each feeding. Plus we need to make sure the does were being milked out, one for comfort, two to check for infection, but also to keep milk production up. The babies only nurse for about 2 months or so, then all of the milk will be used for our own consumption. We drink the milk, cook & bake with it and I plan to try my hand at cheese making this year. I've already had a few request from some friends to let them know when I have some ready.

Last feeding of the day was the end of a tiring and stressful day for all. The girls were still calling for their babies. We were sure the neighbor up on the hill was probably mad at the noise that had been going on all day. Going back to the house to wash bottles, process the milk and eat our own dinner at such a late hour, did me in. As the does cried outside, I was crying inside over a sink of soapy water. Lon wasn't quite sure what to do, but keep ckecking on them and letting me know they were getting a little quieter. I know it will get better with time and everyone will adjust. I am just not sure how long I can take the stress of the separations. A mom's heart will breaks at the cries of other moms and babies. Regardless of whether they are two legged or four.

Thankfully silence is all I hear for now,

Deborah

Kids at Play

. . . . on a sunny Saturday. It was warm enough to let the kids come outside with their Moms for a little fresh air and sunshine. I am sure the does appreciated getting the chance to stretch their legs by getting out of the kidding pens. The youngsters seemed to love being able to run around and do the same with the pent up energy they were spending ~ Jumping around, kicking up their heels, climbing on cement blocks, saying hello to each other and checking out the "other" Moms was a favorite activity of all under the age of 1 week . I had to watch everyone carefully, as each Mom was protective of their own, and could be rough towards ones that wasn't. (I won't name, names). Amber was great, she acted like mother hen to all of them, didn't matter to her. The other two first time moms were being a challenge in keeping peace. But it was good to see them all up moving about . . . .

Sugar's little doe, Glory with Anna's big boy Buckshot to the right.

Amber with her twins, Pepper and Cinnamon



Buckshot checking out the camera, Pepper right behind him and Cinnamon with the blue sweater has finally gotten a chance on the blocks.

Glory playing queen of the hill, with Annabelle checking out the throne.

Anna with her beautiful doe, Annabelle


In case it is confusing who goes with whom by the pictures, here are the family's genealogy~

Amber's twins are Pepper and Cinnamon ~ born February 13, 2010

Sugar's single doe is Glory ~ born Valentines Day, February 14, 2010

Anna's twins are Buckshot and Annabelle, born February 15, 2010



Watching life at play,

Deborah

We are Complete!

After an exciting weekend of babies being born, I was ready for some time with just sitting and watching the new arrivals. During morning chores I was watching Anna for any signs that her time might be near. Guess I was a little bit anxious or it could be called paranoid and didn't want to miss any subtle signs she might give me. Lon was back at work and all of the chores and care of the new families was mine to do. We were thankful that he had been home and was able to be a part of the births too. She seemed to wander around the yard and didn't want me to leave her this morning. I just figured she was missing Amber and Sugar. Maybe feeling a little lonely and left out. I kept watch as I finished putting out hay and wondered if it could possibly be more to her behavior. After all the prior false alarms with her , I didn't want her to really go into labor and not take precautions. So I put her in the corner pen between the other two does and their babies. Went back up to the house to prepare just in case and let Lon know she was acting funny.

In the meantime, I received a sad phone call to let me know that the doctors were sending my daughter-n-love to surgery. We had been thrilled to hear that she was pregnant again and were hoping that after so many loses that she would be able to carry a child to term. It was not meant to be again, she had a tubal pregnancy. My heart ached for her and my son who was trying to take care of her in his own grief. It was decided that I would pick up my granddaughter from preschool and bring her out here to the farm for a few days. Her mom would need some bed rest afterwards and daddy needed to work and take care of things at home. A quick shower and preparations to make the hour drive to be there in time to pick Leah up was made. It was then that I realized that I was probably going to miss Anna's birthing too.

I called Lon to let him in on the sad news and my change of plans for the day. Then headed back down to the barn to check progress. Lo, and behold Anna was in the process of giving birth! Her baby was partially delivered and struggling to breathe, so I quickly cleared it's face and with the next push the little spotted buck was free. She and I worked to dry him off and I kept an eye on the clock, knowing I would need to leave by two in order to be at the preschool by three. Leah is could stat till 4pm but I didn't want her to be the last one picked up. I knew she would be thrilled to be coming out to stay at the farm. It was only yesterday as they left, that she begged to stay with me. I promised her that she could come back out after Anna had her babies. Not knowing how soon it would all take place.

Within 15 minutes from the first one, Anna gave birth to a doe. Who she promptly rolled over on top of it the process of getting back to cleaning up her baby boy. I quickly scooped up the baby, sack and all onto a pad to put within reach of Anna's face. She seemed to have forgotten that she had just birthed to number two. So I wiped the little girl free from the birthing goo and placed her under her mommy's nose. While picking up the little buck out of her line of sight and finished towel drying him off. Time was 1:30 pm at this point and I didn't want to leave without seeing them nurse. So silent prayers were continually being lifted for her to gain her strength and pass the afterbirth. I had noticed from the two previous births that the does would not let their babies nurse until after doing so. My time was running out and I was needing to leave soon!! Prayers were heard and answered affirmatively as by 2:15pm all had been accomplished and I was heading back to the house to change clothes and head out. I was later than planned in picking up Leah, but she never knew and was excited to see her Nana and the new babies. News that she was going home with me to stay a few days overshadowed the questions about where her mommy and daddy were, thankfully.

Anna's baby girl~

In the midst of a loss today, I was given a glimpse of life. I may have not been there for all the births, but I was blessed to be midwife to these. Thankful and rejoicing in the 5 new faces and 3 trouble free births, with a very heavy heart for my family.

Deborah

The Waiting is Over

Finally, the waiting is over. After months and months and months of watching and waiting for the arrival of our new baby goats. THEY ARE HERE! Amber started things off yesterday when she hid herself for most of the day, causing eyebrows to be raised in wonder. By feeding time that evening she was showing signs of going into active labor and we moved her into a birthing pen. We hurried through chores and gobbled down supper in hopes of getting to see the new faces. A quick check afterwards though told us it could be a wait, but felt by morning we should have some babies. Amber has had twins twice before and we were hoping she would birth them again this time. About an hour later we went back to check on her, to find her cleaning up her first born. A beautiful spotted buck, only minutes old. Rats! I wanted to be there, so much for timing contractions.

As we ooh and ahh over this new life that had just entered the world, she began pushing and dropped a tiny baby girl practically in my hands.

I was thrilled to be a part of her delivery and quickly helped to wipe her nose clear and wipe down her warm wet body. Amber, the one we had figured to be the last to deliver, had surprised us with being the first. Lon's response was so appropriate, quoting a part of scripture. . . "and the last shall be first." We stayed with the new family for several hours, making sure there wasn't any problems with the afterbirth or the babies nursing for the first time. About midnight we decided to trudge off towards the house to celebrate our new arrivals with a slice of the Strawberry Cake I had baked for our Valentine celebration today. Oh well, seemed like a good enough reason to go ahead and cut it. After all it was midnight and technically in a few more minutes it would have been today anyway.

Jason, Brian and his family all came out to the farm to see the new arrivals today. I knew just as soon as they heard we had babies that they would be out. Leah loved seeing them and wanted them to come out of their pen to play. But settled for just touching their soft fur and floppy ears instead. While visiting with the new goat family, Sugar who we had put in another pen to keep Amber company began to show signs that her delivery time was closing in. Could we possibly have a Valentine baby? Back to the house for a bowl of homemade soup and a slice of cake for a late lunch, we visited for a little bit. Before they left, as theywanted to get home before the rain started. They were about to leave when Lon called up from the barn that we had another baby. A mad dash down to the barn was made by all to see this new baby.

Double Rats! I missed this one too. We had been concerned about Sugar giving birth as she is small framed and this would be her first birthing. No worries, she did an excellent job all by herself. But we had missed the birth of her darling little doe by about half and hour. Yea! we have a holiday baby after all.

At this point we have two down and one more mommy to go. Anna, who you will recall that we have been waiting on since Christmas eve is still quite pregnant. Looks like she will be the last of our does to deliver. Being our first time at all of this, I am very thankful that we had two easy births and 3 healthy cuties to show for all those anxious days of waiting.

Loving our 2 doelings and buckling,

Deborah

Snow in the Sunny South?

A good snow was predicted for today, 3-6 inches for our neck of the woods. Lon had left to work his shift and I hurried to get morning chores done before the flurries started. I waited and waited thinking "well it past us by yet again." The weather authorities said it would be here by 10 am. The hands on the clock ticked slowly past the appointed hour with not a drop falling from the sky. Then exactly 1 hour later the snow began to fall in small flakes just like they said it would.

As I gazed out at the snow shower it dawned on me! The weather forecast said 10am and it was right on time despite the clock chiming 11am. I had failed to remember the time difference between Alabama and the Georgia time we keep on our clocks. Yes, I live in Alabama, but my husband works in Georgia. Also all my family lives in Georgia. So guess which time zone our clocks are all set for? Yep! eastern instead of central. We don't want to make the mistake and call too early or at the wrong time. So for this one time, the weather people were correct. Kinda scary, huh? So I thought I would share some pictures I took of our first real snowfall at the farm. I know it isn't much compared to most of the country right now. But it is still pretty amazing to me! I love the snow and how it changes the drab colors of winter into something sparkly and beautiful.

Bluebird house ~
Gaze out across front yard ~

Sassie waiting for her dinner~

Sunrise ~ next morning

Home Sweet Home ~ Alabama

Midnight Raid ~ Mystery Solved

Our hopes of having baby goats yesterday fizzled out as the sun went down. It was Sugar's birthday and I couldn't think of a better present to get. I went to the barn before bed about 10pm to check on Anna. Who we had penned up yet again due to the mucus discharge she was showing. Plus for some reason she was limping on her front right leg. Not sure why, no visible injury. Could have been just a case of stepping wrong to get out of Samson's way. All day I watched her. I even sat with her for a spell. Something was obviously going on as she seemed unsettled. Checking her heart rate and respiration's revealed that both were elevated. Was it due to the leg issue or did she have something else going on? Lon has already checked on her early this morning before work. She was laying there quietly enjoying her warm stall and peace and quiet. All of this breeding & birthing is new to us. We do not have any experience to pull from. So we are quite puzzled and a little concerned about her. It would be nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of or to ask question from, who have walked this road before. I need a goatie friend in the worst way!

Lon has left for the station and will be trying for an extra shift. So it could be Thursday before he is back home again. I'd hate for him to miss it all and don't cherish the idea of being alone with the deliveries. It seems things always go wrong when he is not here. A difficult birth, alone with no help, for my first time is not what I would like to see happen. But I also hope she doesn't wait till then to deliver either. By our calculations Sugar should deliver in the next 2 days on the 11th. Amber is looking quiet ready herself. I don't know which would be a better option. Each one choosing a different day - spread out over the weekend or all at once, possibly back to back. I pray that if possible Lon will be present for one of the births at least. At this point he says he is just ready for them to get done.

Rain is on the way and will be here for the next 24 hours. A sure opportunity for things to get crazy. Having supplies and hot water handy would be difficult in the muddy mess it is sure to create. . .


Evening came with no baby goats. It is now 11:26 pm and I am still hyped from my scare tonight. Making a late night trip back to the barn to check on Anna and Sugar, allowed me to be present when the most awful screaming occurred right behind the barn. Sounded like a terrified woman was being attacked! My first thought was something was attacking either Amber or Samson, who I had just checked on. Without thought and on pure adrenaline I raced back to their pen to find them wide eyed with fright too. As the sound repeated it's self I realized it was coming instead from the rooster's pen. Additional squawking confirmed that something was definitely going on in their pen. . . fighting? Hurrying through the woods to where they were with a small flash lite was difficult. Beau, the Brahma roo was frantically running inside their pen with the other rooster no where in sight. It was then that I realized that something had come into the top of the pen and attack the missing roo. Feathers were everywhere, so I looked up to see if a owl had managed to get a free meal. Spotted two glow in the dark eyes looking back at me from a tree right overhead. I hurried in to get Beau out when I found the other roo barely breathing in a heap at the base of the tree with the bandit still in it. Trying to see the culprit was hard it was so high up, but with the rounded shape and it's movement around the tree, it looked like a raccoon. I should interject that it could have been a bobcat or some other creature that could have been more dangerous. I was vulnerable and where was my shotgun? Back at the house, after all I was just going to check on 2 pregnant mommies.

I knew it was hurt badly and contemplated how to put it out of it's misery. While distracted by the injured bird, Beau decided it was a good time to get out of dodge with the open gate before him. I turned to grab him, when the dying rooster decided to resurrect itself behind my back. Scared the life right out of me. At this point you are probably enjoying a chuckle if not a right out rolling in the floor laugh. I will tell you in was not funny at that moment, but I'm sure some day in the future when my heart returns to a normal rhythm I will probably laugh right along with you.

Okay back to my midnight raid ~ at the moment this rooster who was suppose to be on death's doorstep began running around frantically. I scooped the broken bird up and placed him in the hospital pen in the barn. Not knowing what else to do for the moment. I had to get Beau caught and put in a place of safety before the killer eyes got hold of him too. Believe it or not I found him in the darkness, but catching him was another story. Pushing him towards the barn, he finally jumped up on the fence. I couldn't believe my luck when I reached for him, securing both feet in my shaking hands. Safely tucked in a transport cage let me mind settle just a bit. It was then that I realized that the roosters haven't been fighting. We have a murderer on the premises, killing or injuring them at night. We have lost 3 all in this past week.

A double check back on the goats and I decided I have had enough excitement for a lifetime. Only to find Sassie, my horse frantically running tight circles and snorting out of fear. From the screaming, of me running around in the woods, of Beau's maneuvers in the dark, what? All I knew was I had one upset horse who no longer wanted to be in the pasture with all the activity. One who was coming very close to running into a fence and getting injured herself. I stayed with her for awhile and she stayed calm as long as she could be near me. But returned to the frighten response if I tried to go back to the house. Cold as it was I knew I shouldn't stay out all night with her. (Did I mention Lon is at work = I am all alone? Told you things go wrong when he is not here.)

I am a basket case by the time I make it back to the house to call Lon with the news. With the episode of a deer scare last week, I've decided I don't like the WILD side of farming! But if it had been for 2 pregnant does and concerns over them. I wouldn't have been at the right place at the right time to solve the mystery and at least save one rooster. I was already anxious because of an email concerning labor signs that spoke of dangers for Anna. But then to add the "banshee" screaming attack in the dark was a push over my comfort level. I guess once a mother always a mother and my natural instinct took over despite the danger I could have faced. If you would have told me that my actions would have been as I just described I don't think I would have believed you. I don't like being out in the woods, running around in the dark, by MYSELF!

At this point I'm not sure how or if I will sleep tonight,

Deborah

Roo-ville is Shrinking

The rooster population here is considerably smaller today. As I found another dead rooster in their pen this morning. I don't understand why they are fighting each other so now. They have been raised together since birth and have shown no signs of aggression towards their bunk mates at all. Could it be the few days of warmer weather has awakened their breeding instinct? Spring is right around the corner and they are reaching their one year mark. Sorting out who is top roo in hopes of taking over the harem of girls that "Big Boy" is now taking care of. It's a mystery for sure, as we always find them dead or injured during morning chores.

Lon's brother, Danny and his son, Dwight came out today to take a couple of roosters off of our hands. Dwight is in the process of starting his own mini farm and was more than delighted to have a few roosters to start things off. I had to watch them both carefully ;-) , for they kept trying to coax some of our girls into their transport boxes as well. It was fun to see them picking out their favorites among our flock of 50 birds. I even sent them home with 3 broilers from our harvest chickens as well. Both stated they wanted to come back on a warmer day, so they could really enjoy the farm. Dwight is also interested in buying one of our baby goats if we have any to sell in a few months. I also promised to let him know when we had some baby chicks hatched. He will need a few hens to go with the 2 roos. He is planning to put up fencing on his property come spring and then he will be set up to add the animals he is desiring right now.

Orphington Rooster ~ taken

Barred Rock Rooster ~ taken

Hopefully things will be quieter now and the breeding pressure on the hens will dissipate so they can use their energy into laying eggs. Instead of running from the love advances of too many roos!

Quieter on the farm,

Deborah

Harvest Day

We knew the day was coming from the very first time we laid our eyes on the fuzzy yellow balls of fluff. It was the plan all along these past 8 weeks. Ignorance is bliss and they never knew of their future as one of our meals. But led happy, healthy lives up till a few hours ago. . . .




Gathering the needed supplies for harvesting some of our fresh home grown chickens, was the final step for our first chicken harvest. We have quite a number to process and hopes were high that we could get a larger number done. Reality was that we managed to get a smaller portion done ~ 6. Lon set up in the edge of the woods for the sentencing. A work table, hatchet, a sharp knife, pot of hot water for dipping and a hanging rack was all he needed. One by one they were taken from the coop to the chopping block, dipped, plucked and gutted. Before being handed over to me to finish the cleaning process. I was the internal inspector and dresser. Making sure all feathers were removed and a through bath given before packaging in freezer bags. Work was slow as the weather was quite cool and down right freezing on wet hands. I can't imagine how the early pioneers managed to process their food without the aid of electric stoves, freezer bags and the other modern conveniences we used today. Being our first time, I thought it went very well. Though Lon has processed many a deer for our freezer in the past, so he is not without some experience.

I am sure most individuals wouldn't ever think of doing what we did today. They much rather have their meals pre-packaged sitting in the cooler case at the local grocer. Far removed from the reality of what goes into giving them something to put in the oven or on the grill. Up until we moved here, I confess I hadn't thought much about it. Other than the stray thought of who would want to work in a meat processing plant? And I was sure glad that there were those who were willing to do that for me to have ready made meats for our meals. After a day like today you can't walk away without a new perspective on your eating habits. To realize what really goes into creating a food product for our consumption. Some one had to raise the animal from birth, feed it, care for it physical needs of warmth, water, etc. Then take a tool of choice and end it's life, so it can become what it was destined to be ~ our food. We have done just that over the past 8 weeks with these now frozen bodies sitting in our freezer. I don't think I will be cooking them in the future without thinking about the once warm bodies who gathered around my feet at feeding time.



Sad truth, but reality ~

Deborah

Frosty Morn Relection

I sit here looking out onto a landscape quite white with heavy frost. So much so that it looks like a type of snow. The urge to garden surprises me given what lies outside the window. Is it the call of Spring Fever beckoning me so early? Or could it be the fact that today is the halfway point of Winter? I feel a sense of turning the corner towards warmer pursuits. To tell the truth it could be a combination or just the fact that I have been cooped up the past 5 days with a nasty case of food poisoning. I have a need to soak in the sunlight as I see the goats doing today. To gain energy from it's warmth. To find a way to lighten the heaviness my body feels right now. Rain is forecast for tomorrow, causing a stronger desire to be outside today. Porch sitting would be nice. Probably all that I am capable of for now, but should help to quench some of the desire to dig, plant and clean up brush.

All three girls are coming down to the last 2 weeks before D-day (delivery day). We have decided that Anna will probably birth near the date that I have calculated for Sugar. Which could prove to be very challenging, as one may inspire another to join in the labor game. We will none the less be very busy this month before it is over. New challenges will face us as we debud baby goats for the first time, create kid pens for outside use and erect a buck pen for Samson.

He is getting quite strong and can easily push me around if I don't guard against his macho play tactics. Respect from him will need to be learned or I won't be able to keep him. There is still so much kid in him, seen in his dependence on Anna for his comfort. He will be one year old this month, no longer considered a buckling. Though from his size you would think him older than that. Sugar also becomes one on her birthday ~ February 9th. Both of them can now be classified as yearlings and graduate from the kid label.

Watching for Spring ~

Deborah