Rookie mistakes

This morning, while examining Ethel's udder, I noticed something I should have looked for the day I picked her up. There on the left side of her udder, was a supernumerary teat.

Its about half the size of her actual teat, and right up against it. Dang. That is not a desirable trait in a dairy goat! I can hope that if she kids doelings they wont have them. I can try to breed the trait out using one of Lucys boys as a Buck.

I don't honestly know how detrimental This could end up being bit I do know I don't want a whole herd of extra tested dairy goats.

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we're gettng better!

Nearly two cups the morning. I dent even strip Her out because she still has babes to feed.

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Orchid Is A Goat. Period.

Thats what I keep have into remind myself. Yesterday was Orchidsfirdtfull day outside with the herd. Well, mostly. I did bring her in for a couple hours while I went out shopping.

She did well. She's running around with the other kids an following after some of the bigger goats. She's being a goat. She even wont take crap from Zooey, my herd queen.

I check on her about 10 times a day. I don't go out to the pen
unless I can't see her ( she's small enough to fit through the fencing ). Usually I spy her from my deck lounging in the sun or hopping on the eucalyptus log that's in the pen.

She still cries when I leave after I give her a bottle, and I have to run or she'll try to follow me.

I survived my first bottle baby, and she survived me.

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beautifully farm fresh

My ducks and chickens have a free range garden, about 3 or 400 square feet. They have a XL dog vari-kennels they go in at night.

It used to be I would find the eggs randomly. Every day was an Easter egg hunt. Last week instead of getting my usual 3 eggs ( my chickies aren't laying yet ) I was getting one, or sometimes none. Being the person that I am I immediately thought someone was eggbound. But it would make no sense that all three Campbells would be bound at once.

Then today, while hanging laundry on the line, I spied a bit of peach under a long deceased lavender bush. I had FINALLY hound the nest! I gathered 12, leaving the five on the bottom there. I assume they're quite old And I want them to continue laying in that spot.

So now, my eggs are awaiting the " sink or float" test to check their goodness, or rather, their edibleness. Good eggs sink, bad eggs float..


So I'm now getting eggs regularly, milking one goat,and eating home grown greens. Orchid survived and is doing very well. Believe me, my smile is big and toothy. :-P

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it breaks my heart, but it had to be done

Orchid survived her first week. She's walking, jumping, eating and pooping all on her own now. So with that being said, she's now sleeping in the nursery with the other babies.

My heart is sad for me but happy for her! She tried to play with the other babies but they ran from her in terror. I'm only going g to put her in at night until she's big enough to deal with the others.

I can now milk Lucy to provide her feedings. In the meantime, here's an Orchid video of her being cute!

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not quite a milking stand

This is where I mills Lucy. Notice no stanchion, no leg ties. It was until the grain was gone that she began to get peeved. Butball in all she did very well!

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i milked my goat!!

Goddess Bless Youtube ( for showing me how to milk)

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the problem with bottle babies is. . .

Well, thee are many problems with bottle babies. That Darn Goat is a bottle baby and She is OBNOXIOUS.

But there are health issues too. Most recent health. Concern with Orchid is constipation. It doesn't sound like much but it can he deadly for ruminants.

Yesterday Orchid received two enemas, and another this morning. An obscene amount of stool was vacated. She's a bit happier today, but still bunches and strains at poop time.

I kicked the aggressive goats out to pasture and put Orchid I with her mama, Lucy, and Lucys kids. She walked around a bit then found a chubby to sleep. She's. Still too small to keep out there. Lucy, my tiniest goat, walked on her. So I'll keep taking her out to hang with the herd, but I've go at least a few weeks more before she can move in.

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Orchids goes outside!

Everyday is better than the day before. I'm starting to feel much more positive about her survival. I know since she is a weak kid, and not really knowing the cause of her condition, that she can take a turn for the worst at any time.

But for the time being she is doing well. She is happy and I'm happy! She gets loads of attention and affection.

So here is a video of her first romp outside at 5 days old.

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Orchids first steps

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ORCHID UPDATE: day three

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trying to help my baby.

I know you can't save them all. But having a veterinary background its really hard not to try. Orchid seems more stable. She just had Her second tube feeding.

If I help her to stand she can bare weight for about a minute now. Someone told me goats have to stand for the rumen to work. So the sling ties into a laundry basket to help hold her up. There is a hole cut out for her belly so there is no Pressure on it.

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Orchid is hanging in there

I didn't think my surprise baby would make it through the night.....but she did.

She's still incredibly weak. I got her to accept two bottles yesterday , but during the evening Ans this am should wouldn't suckle. I don't have a tube yet so I used a dropper and fed her a couple tablespoons at a time.

I thought I would be able to detach, having worked for a veterinarian for 7 years but its not proving to be so simple. If she dies I'll be devastated.

The vet opens at 8. I'll be buying a feeding tube and some LRS.

PLEASE keep little Orchid in your thoughts.

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the little goat that could?

SURPRISE!

I didn't even know she was coming!

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live and let learn

Today I learned that those mesh seed starter pod things aren't necessarily a grand idea for root crops. Granted, there is a slight chance these are those little baby mini. Carrots, but I'm thinking they aren't. Just sad, malformed veg as a result of my gardening ingnorance. This ones going down in my 'Things to NOT do next year' journal.

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the boys, day 2

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babies!!

Lucy's babies have finally arrived! 2 Big healthy boys were scampering about in the pen. They look just like their mama! Beautiful coloring. I didn't Have any afterbirth to clean up ( except That which graced little Lucys udder). I treated the umbilical cords and gave mama some grain and hay.

I'll check on them periodically to make sure their nursing.

Yay!!

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theres no such thing as climate change.

Strange and ominous weather dances on the horizon. An hour ago it was a still ,sunny day. The temps were hanging out in the high 90s. Now? The skies are dark and the wind is blowing and Mother Nature can't seem to make up her mind about which mood she's in.

Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tornados.... globally.

Yes. Climate change is a natural enviornmental process. Does it really matter whether its happening NOW because we brought it on quicker with our irresponsible ways or that its happening because it was always going to happen?

Its still damned scary.

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That Darn Goat!!

A day late, but its her fault.

As previously stated, my property isn't fenced. So- whenever I leave, or can't otherwise supervise, goats mist go back in their pen. So yesterday when is was time to pick up my oldest from school i had a goat round up. Well everyone was present and accounted for, reluctantly returning to their pen....except for one, whom I could not find.

Torn between panic and a ' good riddance ' sort of relief, I did a quick property search. No Supermodel. I called her name. I made that silly little noise I found they Come to. I shook the grain can. NOTHING. I was now running late and had to skidaddle so I said screw it and got in my car. Then as I'm driving away I see Supermodel belly crawl out from under the trucks snug top camper shell. She stared for all of two seconds before hauling ass, bleeting loudly after my car.

Crap on toast. I had to stop . I grabbed some bailing twine, which is ever so handy to keep around, and made a makeshift slip leash. Then I had to run all the way back to the pens to put her up and run back to my car.

Lucky for me my sons bus was also ten minutes late and we ended up getting there at the same time.

When I got back I had a stern talking to with that gal. I noticed she was a bit powdery and had black on her chin.

I looked her over andshe seemed otherwise fine. As it turned out, Lover had stored a couple bags of cement and a jug of old motoroil under the camper shell. When she crawled out she knocked over the bottle of oil spilling into the bag of cement she undoubt tore open. I assume she didn't ingest any since she's alive and kickin', probably plotting out little schemes to gray my hair And turn me Into a stressed out, chainsmoking, alcoholic with an addiction to Xanax, giggling wickedly to herself all the while.

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