More On Our Extended Goat Family

I was north of town today and got done early with my errand. Since I knew that today was Ariel's due date, I thought I'd stop and see if anything was happening.

It had already happened!

Tracy is holding the newest doeling born very early this morning.

Ariel is obviously being an attentive mom, and her kid is already moving around in and out of the barn opening to check things out.

Her "paint" markings are wonderful, and she is nice and tall.

This is three week old Snickers.

Looks just like her mom Abi with those ears.

  Belle is looking on at her playmate and now she will have another kid to tussle with. 

All tired after her photo session, its time for a nap, while attentive Ariel coos her and watches closely.

The others head out to get some sun and a snack before night time.

By the way - the due date is calculated 150 days or five months from the breeding date.

Ariel was right on time.

And Doeling Makes Four

Abi had her first kid at her new home ten days ago, and I finally stopped to get a few photos of her new doeling. Belle is looking on from behind.

Doesn't she look big? I think she was only four days old in this photo and I am amazed at how tall and active she is. 

Now we have to wait until month's end to find our what Ariel(left) will have. Fingers crossed for twins.

Doesn't the barn look better with a little one in front of it?!!

Tornado Follow Up

Last evening I stopped by the newest goat farm to see how everyone was faring. The place was a beehive of activity.

(That is not a short construction worker. That is a young boy who came to help.)

My photographs do not even give a glimmer of the devastation. It is nature at its most ferocious, and yet, knowing everyone is safe, quite amazing. What I couldn't appreciate was although the walls are still standing, the insides of the house blew out. Mementos and memories lost.

Barn before:

After: Notice the tree by the barn? 

And the other tree in the foreground from before? Gone! As are many more.

The tornado passed through on this side of the barn, pulling up some of the roof and shearing the trees, but for the most part, leaving the building intact. Sadly the house was not so lucky.

 Apparently I don't need to feel terribly guilty worrying about the goats. When the fire department arrived, one of the first questions was, "Are the goaties okay?" Yes!

And no babies yet!

When I was driving home yesterday I passed this area where the tornado had crossed and blew out an area of trees.

I wasn't able to slow down and focus on the video, but I think you can see how it looks like there was a huge explosion.

Tornado Hits Our Goat Family

Remember this beautiful sight a few weeks ago when I visited Ariel, Abi and Belle at their new farm? 

Well, of all the houses that received major damage from the tornado in Ligonier yesterday, it is the family that has this farm.

Read about their ordeal here:
http://triblive.com/news/1900513-74/ligonier-township-county-tornado-westmoreland-afternoon-late-touched-711-damage

Through the goat grapevine I got the news last night after Allison saw their home on the 10pm news broadcast. I turned on the telly just at 11pm to see that everyone was safe, but their restored historical home was without a roof, and their SUV now had two roofs. 

After an email to offer help was returned, Steve said the goats were out grazing afterwards like nothing had happened.  Meanwhile I hope their two young boys can carry on the same way after time passes.  They are counting on the goats to be a distraction. We are so glad to see everyone safe.

Time To Say Goodbye - Hello 4-H!

Last week-end was weigh in and sign ups for the Westmoreland Fair. A couple weeks before that was the same for the Derry Ag Fair.

John Clark and Elizabeth came to the farm and chose the two brother wethers out of Twee's triplets to go together to their new home, and they will show them in Derry in July.

Kayla came back for a third year and scooped up Britches, and also Anakin, to show at the Westmoreland Fair. Anakin's twin Angus will be shown there by Hattie.

Zola's twins will be shown by Philip. I am cheering for all the people kids and goat kids to do well at showing and at the auctions.

In the past month or so, our herd was up to 25 or 26 goats and kids.  Weaning was a noisy and painful process in April. Today, after seven kids going to 4-H homes, three going to start a new herd for future 4-H kids, and one sold to a chef (Sorry - the truth!), we are down to a most manageable fifteen. Of course, we have two goats waiting to kid yet, so our numbers will go back up as the farm has its first summer babies this year.
And speaking of babies...

We sold Ariel and Abi, who are both due in the next two to six weeks, to a local family who have a lovely farm just north of town. They have two young boys that will have the joy of kids born on their farm, and all the fun of seeing them grow.

Belle, our triplet doe, also went with them, and by next year they will have a nice little herd to breed on their own.

I happened to find my way there today, and here is their home. What a lovely sight for the passers by!

Putting Our Best Foot Forward

Bingo, one of Twee's triplets born January 9.

 Its time for the kids to look their best to be chosen to compete in this year's agricultural fairs.

4-H participants have been emailing and calling and the visits have begun. They are looking for stocky, square kids that they hope will make good weight gains. 

They also look for a goat that already keeps his tail up and head high.

Britches has grown fast from his February 22 birth

A natural stance doesn't hurt at all.

And attitude!

 Belle, the triplet doeling, may be sold for future breeding purposes.

 Ariel is ready to breed and actually was exposed to Alex, but we need a little more time to see if she is bred. We will keep her Reserve Champion twin Adeline to show again. She also may be bred already.

 Abi is a favorite of mine and has really matured as a yearling.

Here she is behind her twin Ali, who was the 4-H Blue ribbon winner at Westmoreland Fair last August.

I expect most of these goats will find new homes this year as the summer goes on.  We started kidding with 14 goats and had 12 kids - so far. We still are waiting for Saba. We like to reduce our herd by winter for barn purposes, and for our sanity. Going into the winter with a dozen goats would be ideal, but by next year, the count will be up again!