Seattle Has A Goat

That's what Zola is now.

A horse's "pet" goat.

She isn't trying to bite anyone here.

That's just a big, lazy yawn.

These two share hay and space and naps.

They also share Kristin.

  The fit was perfect for everyone.

Seattle sleeps better and has someone to nap with.

Zola apparently attempts a little trotting after Seattle, but keeping up doesn't last.

Seattle is 27 and has been with Kristin since she was a kid.

I think the companionship will give both animals a content life together.

The little nieces love her, and Zola -now Zoe- loves everyone back.

A mellow gal in her early retirement.

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!

Kids and Kids (and Chickens)

Its great to have kids visit and I usually take lots of pictures, and I did on this visit, but these were taken by the (human) kids mom, Elizabeth.

Its nice to see the interaction though other peoples eyes. This is so dear. 

I think these photos are special.

We just don't know what Zola found so delicious looking about the camera, but she couldn't resist trying to get a taste.

The hens will do anything for corn!

 It was great to have such enthusiastic kids.

The Farm Work Out

At some point in the dregs of winter mud, I read a Facebook conversation about gym versus farm. I've had time to think about that this past week or so even more, as I stand with my rump against the belly of Zola, holding her collar in one hand and an angry hind leg in another. She is pushing and bucking with all her might as I lean into her with all of mine.

After one day of this, my arm pits felt like I had taken up bench pressing again. Problem on the farm - no rest day.  As a matter of fact, its one or two long reps at heavy moving weight, three and four times a day. 

Sore? Too bad. The kids are starving, and now attacking you like 12 pound blood sucking mosquitoes. They have caught on to the fact that when the two legged goats show up and tie off that kicking, biting monster of a mother of theirs, they do get fed. My knees, varicose veins and knuckles have goat hickeys from their attacks.  No wonder Zola was frustrated. We all were frustrated.

Meanwhile there are two hungry bucklings that aren't quite sure of where and how this thing works, as the teat never seems to stay still long enough to latch on. Thank goodness, with the help of neighbors Allison, Jeff, Julia and Karen, we have lasted long enough to keep the kids alive, well and thriving. 

I posted a couple days ago that Zola finally allowed the first born to nurse. Well Number Two has figured out the survival technique.  When older brother latches on and wags his tail in front of mom and she lovingly nuzzles him, he latches on from behind. There she can't pull his tail or throw him off and is distracted by Favorite Son.
See the VIDEO below for a successful feeding. Hurray!

I mean look at this face. What is the problem Zola?  His persistence has played a big part in this, and obviously some smarts.  We have been supplementing a bit of the orphan's milk replacer here and there, but I think after today, we are letting nature do the work.  The more we interfere, the bigger the mosquitoes get, and truly, my knees can't take it!

But back to farm versus gym, and now cross training.

 The work out isn't even started yet because we have to walk goats and food back and forth to the fields, muck the stalls, and there still is the bottle baby orphan who was getting a bottle three times a day.  Then there is the capturing for shots, dehorning and castration. Its like the greased pig contest sometimes. Carrying buckets of water and bales of hay (I try not to for the shoulder and the knee injuries, but no choice a lot of times), moving fences and dragging the occasional uncooperative goat to the correct destination, whether stall or field, all take strength and coordination that doesn't always come so easily to one person.  That's why its great to work in teams around here when possible. Just like the old marathon days of running with partners. You still do the work, but misery loves company!

And Jock.  He needs a walk too.

Anytime your gym gets boring, we can use your help here I'm sure.  Stop on over. And you get to cool down with a goat hug as a bonus.

Zola's "Favorite" Son Is On

 After a week...

...we have ONE kid nursing without getting kicked.

Meanwhile, son Number Two is trying to nurse anything!

Alex Is Sold

We kept Alex last year to be a buck for the does that were related to our Registered Full blood buck Neo. 

Zola had big twin boys and it was pretty much a coin toss of which to keep.  Alex was the lucky guy. Alex bred Neo's sister and we are waiting to see if any of the yearling does are bred.

But as Alex was getting to be a year old and more mature, he was also starting to become a bit more full of himself. 

After a few pushes from behind and having to watch my back after that, I decided we were going back to one buck.  Alex had served us well, but I put the word out that he was for sale. Isn't he handsome?

We are all going to miss his adorable girly curls on his head and his crazy voice. 

Just wanted you all to see those curls one last time.   

Bye Crazy Boy!

Busy With Babies and Bottles

Its been in the mid 70's for three days and the lawns and fields are greening up fast. The wild grandiflora roses are budding and the goats are snacking.  Onion grass is doing nothing for the goats' breath but they are loving it as it is growing fast.

I think if it doesn't snow or freeze soon, we will be mowing our lawn next week.

Zola and I have been butting heads - so to speak. 

She has not been willingly nursing both of her boys. At first we figured she was sore and tired from kidding twenty pounds of goat. Its been three days and my patience is wearing thin. The kids are running to me already as they know when I show up, somehow, they get fed.

This little guy will nurse on a syringe and a Pritchards teat, but hasn't figured out Mom yet. I have been milking Zola and now bottling it, but he is not getting enough. She is not what one would call cooperative. I have begun to add a little of the milk replacer that the orphans have been using.

Son Number Two has figured out the source of the milk, but it takes myself, or neighbor Allison, holding Zola's leg to prevent her kicking, for a successful feeding. Once on, he gets a good amount and he is thriving and bouncing around.

I am seriously thinking about seeing if there is someone out there who wants to bottle feed one of these boys if we don't get on the correct system very soon. I'm giving it another day or two though.

Is It The Water? - Two More Bucklings!

 Zola added to the nursery Wednesday morning with two big boys, 91/2 and 101/2 pounds. The count is now 9 bucklings, 3 does.  Its up to Saba to give us a couple girls.

Now she is being uncooperative and not nursing them.

This is the older brother who has much to say - and loudly - about his mother's witholding of milk.

With assistance from neighbors Allison, Julia, Claire and Karen, we have wrestled Zola to get her milked and get the boys fed.  They have gotten quite a bit and are creating all sorts of bodily functions, so they will be okay overnight.

I just hope this milking doesn't last too long. She has lots of milk, but her udder is so large and I think she is just sore and tired. Give her another 24 hours and I think they will be on their own.

Meanwhile, still complaining!

I Should Have Been At The Movies

I was so looking forward to going to a noon movie today. Get out of the house! Get out of the heat! Enjoy a movie on a book I read. But my pal/date called this morning while I was in the barn. She was all stuffed up, and said, "I just can't leave the house".

Nuts!

You know how they say things are meant to be? Not going to the movie was meant to be.

Around noon I got a call from my next door neighbor. "One of your little female goats is out and in my yard."

Scamper... Run into dog who senses an emergency. Ouch! Stubbed toe.

I turn off fences. Grab a lead. Climb between wires to run like the crow flies.

Zola - One of my BIGGEST does is in Edna's back yard, wandering back and forth. She's whimpering - if goats whimper. I'm sure distressed because she is alone.

She sees me and is so grateful, she follows me along the fence and back to our alley on the property line.

When I clip on a lead, she flops on her knees. I wait. She gets up. I try to lead her again. She lies down.
I take off the lead after a couple minutes of struggle, and she walks behind me all the way to the outer gate, down the inner alley, and back to her herd - like a good girl.

HOW she got out is beyond me, but according to Edna, she had been going back and forth on the other side of the post and rail fence for a while. What she didn't realize is that Zola was outside the powered six wires of high tensile fence. No wires are down. No gates are open.

The hormones are surging these days as we enter breeding season. I suspect that Zola got blind sided by another doe and got pushed into the fence and somehow went through.

I promptly went to the garden and picked a variety of tomatoes and delivered them to Edna, grateful that I don't have road kill to deal with.

I'm going back out to check on the goats now!

One Happy Herd - Sort Of

Archie is with the big kids now and doing very well.
Everyone is curious about him, and he about them. He also is learning about playing and hopping on the box and spools. That doesn't mean he doesn't get shoved around just because he's cute and small. Hardly! Saturday there was a lot of fighting between the females as they got back together and had to reestablish pecking order. Zola remains Queen, but the rank after her is still being figured out. As things played out, the family groups stayed close for the first hours, but then things got more settled and kids began to play with each other again. These nannies are serious moms!

VIDEO OF THE NEW COMBINED HERD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M2UzM-uG2o