I shared last month's tragedy with Ginger's babies and all that Ginger went through so it seems only fair to share the happiness as well. Late last Thursday afternoon, Dancer had two babies (actually three but one had died earlier and was born with the second one, really odd thing, almost like Siamese twins only not attached) - both were born feet first. The first was a little girl. The second was a little boy and was kicking like crazy as soon as his legs were free enough to move them! Both of them are brown and white pintos like mom. (Yes, I know pinto is not a goat term but they are.)
Late Saturday night, Dollie had her babies. Just like her sister, Summer (and Dancer!), there was no indication it was going to happen. I noticed she went over and lay down in the corner so went back out to check her shortly after - the first baby was presenting! I ran to the house to get the towels and the white bundle of fur was there as soon as I got back. I put the little boy to mom's head and wiped off the excess and went back to the house to get the camera. In that less than 90 seconds, she had the second one - a brown bundle of fur. I decided to not go back to the house for anything else, remembering the joke about the farmer and the lantern. It was interesting to see how much faster these two were "running away" after birth (and before fully cleaned) than Dancer's were - that extra two days in the womb does matter (or maybe having their goat momma gently tug their legs when mom contracted to get them here).
All babies are doing wonderfully. I had been concerned Ginger might try to steal one but she has not though she is very interested in them. I have not yet gotten a good photo of Dollie with her babies - she has a tendency to leave them a lot and come back to feed them, but I do have a darling one of Dancer and her minis.
(And Ginger gave 1.59 lbs. of milk this morning!)
Replies
Congratulations! You certainly deserve to have a happy birth! You are seriously overdue!
Glenna,
Congratulations!!
The photo is lovely.
More photos when you have a chance, please. They are lovely.
Thank you for the reply. BTW, love the beautifully matched Dancer and kids!
Glenna Rose said:
Thank you.
Steal? Not sure it can happen but I was concerned with Ginger calling constantly for her babies. She eased up around four weeks though continued until the second birthing. The birth mom would *not* like it one bit if she tried to take one. I'm not sure if it could be successful but there could be a battle if the thief were determined. I truly believe that in the first two to three weeks Ginger would have accepted a baby even though is not usual for a goat to become a foster mother. Ginger would, however, because of her temperament be a perfect candidate for a foster mother.
As for milk production, she might actually be producing more because I am taking all of it twice a day. If I were not too lazy to milk three times a day, it might be even more. The ideal realistic situation for milk production is us taking the morning milk (after two or three weeks) after babies are separated overnight and babies having milk all day. No reason to take it before five weeks as it is "off" in flavor those first weeks. Ginger's went to a rejected kid elsewhere.
I'll be interested in the comments of others about this also.
Congratulations, and thanks for sharing!
I have a question. How would a doe steal another's kid? Is there any risk of harm if that happens? Would the mother of the kids mind one less kid, as long as she has one of her own? And finally, wouldn't it help Ginger's milk production even more if she had a real kid nursing? (So, four questions.) :)