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!

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!