Bouncing Boys

Aziza's bucklings are so adventurous at one day old.

This little guy on the left is the smaller at 7 pounds, but he is the bigger personality. This morning he also hopped down out of the stall and then had no idea about getting back up the step. 

Bit off a lot more than he could chew! But too cute - and demanding.

He practically asks to be given attention and so when he gets picked up too much, mom has something to say about it.

Very cold weather is predicted this week, so I hope these little guys beef up and get ready for a rude awakening from the damp, but mild weather we are having for New Years Day.

Hope you are all starting 2012 with as much fun as we are at the farm.

Happy New Year!

Kidding Season 2012 Is Here!

Aziza produced two nice, healthy bucklings this morning.  Its a rainy day, but relatively warm for New Year's Eve. Its about 45F right now. She picked a good day to kid.

They were up, dry and carrying on. Things were so well done that I only trimmed one umbilical cord.

We moved everyone to a waiting pen where the warming barrel was set up and ample food was given to "Z".  She was a bit nervous, but she got over it fast as more and more people stopped to admire her boys.  Its been a long while since we had babies in the barn. After a while, enough was enough though.  If both kids were being held, she started to complain, as she wanted to know where they were.

Right now the three are in the barn bonding and nursing. Looks like we have two more "A" names to come up with in 2011.

Happy Valentine's Day

I know.
What's not to love in these day and a half old kids. Ask their mother. She spent their sleeping time with her head completely submerged in the barrel with them.
Do you see the one little behind?Saba was not a quiet personality before these kids came along, but she is amazingly calm and maternal now. I can barely get a picture of her twins without her in it. Who can blame her for loving these girls.
Happy Valentine's Day!

The Hand Me Down

Now that the first group of kids are a month old and we have newer kids, the warming barrels are passed down to the smaller ones. Saba was very worried that her girls were out of reach, so this afternoon she slept with her head in it for part of the time. She repeatedly snorted at them to express her dissatisfaction with their being so independent so soon.Meanwhile, the big three that had lost the barrel, slept in the exact spot where the barrel used to be.
They are creatures of habit.

Cooperation in the Warming Barrel...Its REALLY Cold...-14 this morning

To warm up the goats, I tried an experiment with warm oatmeal, apples, and Karo this morning. Pretty much a failure. Mia, the cat, licked the bowl though. At least someone appreciates my efforts.

As we were feeding and cleaning this morning, bit by bit, Snickers crept closer to the warming barrel. Word was, she was in there alone yesterday when Claire came in for the horse.It took lots of turning and fidgeting. I think that Snickers was really nervous about getting challenged. Mom (Layla) usually does, but she was busy eating.
I think her cuddling and cleaning woke them up and they actually licked back. I don't think they realized who it was.

Body heat is heat, no matter who is sharing...

VIDEO OF SNICKERS AND THE KIDS IN THE WARMING BARREL

VIDEO OF KIDS AND SNICKERS CUDDLING IN THE BARREL

So adorable all the kissing and cuddling.