Capturing Ginger's Third Pregnancy

So much for keeping up with the farm's blog. Well, Ginger finally gave birth. Goat's gestation period is 145 to 155 days. Split that difference and all the calculators put the due date at 150 days. The previous two years, she has always been early even last year when she gave birth to triplets (all does by the way).

This year, her pregnancy seemed to be hard on her unlike previous years. She started showing earlier than usual and I would wager she didn't sleep for the last two weeks of her pregnancy (nor did we). Rather she would lie down and moan...constantly. Least to say we were anxious for the kidding and she made us wait longer than usual this year. She gave birth just as the calculator predicted, March 6.

Last year, I called all 3 does kidding date by feeling their tail ligaments. Since this was to be an atypical year, Ginger's ligaments kept fooling us. Her tail hollowed out at least one week prior to giving birth. Her ligaments usually prominent until kidding date, were hard to find. To our credit, we did notice the change Sunday morning.

Into the stall she went at 11am. Then the pawing started and this was her routine: paw madly...walk to the next corner putting her butt in the corner...paw more...swing by us for moral support...get a bite of hay...walk to the next corner and put her butt in the corner....paw madly...lie down...curl lips...get up and start the routine over. This went on for at least 5 hours.

Ginger has an instinct to paw before and after birth. For this reason alone we feel it necessary to be present at her birthing. The pawing around the baby is evidently instinct to make them get up to nurse. Unfortunately, she sometimes comes very close to pawing the baby.

Last year after the first baby was born the next two came out easily while she was busy cleaning. Not this year, each one required lots of effort. Two bucks and a doe. Amid cleaning and giving birth, she is pawing. So I'm grabbing the babies and holding them in between births. It was a circus and had we not been hidden by the barn, I'm sure the neighbors would have been quite perplexed.

Now on to the section of learning something new each year. Sean noticed her stomach looked unusual. Then we started to feel--thick vessels running the course of her stomach. Crap...Sean runs into the house and starts "googling." While it does not appear to be a hernia, we're worried. We've never noticed this before.

In the meantime, momma is eating and drinking water. She's nursing and doing well. We decide to do more research and keep an eye on everyone before calling the vet. Talked to the vet the next day. First question after explaining what we're feeling: "Dairy goat, right?" My response: "Yes."

Eat your (heirloom) veggies

Today will be a busy today so I'm up early trying to get a jump start on the day. A priority will be to water the garden.

Forecast says in the low 20s tonight/morning and despite the fact that we have a winter garden growing now, cauliflower and broccoli don't actually like it that cold. Brussel sprouts, yes, other veggies not so much. Cold snaps actually give brussel sprouts their flavor which some of us love (Sean and I are included in that group) and others detest.

The picture is our first Purple of Sicily cauli this year. The purple color is caused by the presence of the antioxidant group anthocyanin.
There are orange varieties too. I've also grown the cheddar variety which are higher in Vitamin A than the regular white variety. The cheddar is not doing so well this year.

I have found the Purple of Sicily does quite well so far in our litte hill country garden. You just never know though. One year something can do well; the next it can completely fail. It's all an experiment. But two years standing this Purple of Sicily has done quite well. I'm classifying it as a keeper.

So off to do the quiet morning chores while Sean catches more shut-eye until the donkey and goat alarm goes off. Then to watering for freeze protection. When exactly did Texas break free from the Gulf shelf and start drifting toward the Arctic Circle?

Revitalizing My Blog

I gave up on this blog last year. You always think you never have time to write, but writing exercises the mind. Both my body and mind need as much exercise as they can get these days.

So here I am, sipping the first cup of coffee in the hopes of waking me and this blog. Perfect quiet time while waiting for the sun to provide enough light to see my running path.

Much has happened over the year and I will try to catch up. As you can imagine, there will be pictures of goats coming. Really need a new camera now!

New Kids on the Block

Once again, I have been lax in my new posts. Things have been exciting since the last post--the two pregnant does gave birth, each had a boy. Brie gave birth to Stryker (below in back) and Ginger gave birth to Galan (below, up front). The origin of Stryker came from his striking markings. Galan is the spitting image of his mother in many more ways than one and his name means "sings."



Brie's birth was not necessarily routine. Michelle had to assist and it was more than just pulling on the baby. Once delivered, Brie's mothering instincts kicked in immediately.

Ginger did need some pulling assistance, but her mothering instincts were not to be found after delivering. She is a skittish goat by nature and she just stared and snorted at Galan. We had to wipe him off and hold her so he could nurse. Then she started pawing violently at the ground around him and she continued curling her lips. We thought she was still in labor with another baby since pawing and lip curling is one of a goat's labor signs.

What little did we know then, but do know now. Evidently, her pawing at the ground was a sign that her mothering instincts actually had been triggered. This is a mother's way of trying to get the baby up to nurse. The curling of the lips continues if they are passing the afterbirth.

By evening, she was nursing on her own and has turned out to be a very attentive mother goat.

For anyone reading this and even considering goats, I suggest the following site: http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm. The owners have posted a wealth of goat raising information. And find an experienced goat owner you can get on the phone. Of course, a vet available by phone helps also.

Here is a short clip of the Stryker and Galan playing...in the mineral bucket of course. Not good, but it is too cute not to post.

Goats, Gardening and Guys

You would think since I am in between assignments, I would have time for more posts. Despite my lack of an office job, the chores list on my other jobs around the "farmette" just keeps getting longer and longer.

The goats generally now wake me up. Sean says they are worse than roosters. They stand at the gate and scream until I feed them. From the last time I wrote, we have now observed that 2 of the 3 goats were bred rather than 1. Ginger started getting wider and is developing an udder. I thought it was strange that she did not get bred--she and Odie paraded around like girlfriend and boyfriend at times. If they had hands, they would have strolled around holding them. They both developed a real affinity for each other.

Cocoa on the other hand really did not like Odie. She would push him around sometimes taking aim at his "family jewels." Oh well. She is a bit of a runt so it is probably good that she did not get bred.

Nonetheless, Cocoa is so sweet that Sean now calls her the Love Goat. Here she is lounging in the defunct water trough.

Ginger was sleeping and Brie was lazing while Cocoa enjoyed her sanctuary.

While we are not milking our does yet, I had my first opportunity to milk a Spanish goat in quarantine. Initially it was difficult, but I have to say I eventually managed a rhythm. It takes longer than I thought it would, but we also did not have a milk stand for her either.

The garden is turning out well as we move into hot weather and the winter plantings wither. We tried beets this year thinking we would feed them to the goats. Small wonders though. Sean and I have decided we like beets. I made my first ever batch of beet pickled eggs which were not bad. And last night we tried roasted beets flanked with the greens sauteed in butter with onions, garlic and apple cider vinegar. It was quite good.

I have included pictures we took of our beets and the garden.Outside of the photo we also have potatoes, corn, beans, peppers and tomatoes.

I would say at least 80% of the seeds we planted this year are heirlooms. There is increasing interest in heirlooms and we are part of the growing (pun intended) movement. This year we ordered most our seeds from Baker Creek. If interested take a look at the sight http://rareseeds.com/. It is a fantastic site simply to browse.

In other animal news, there is a new addition to the llama herd. Another boy named Thunder. Here is he with Sean. I hope the goats can give us some girls. All boys so far with the llamas.

What I am Learning

I will never consider myself a rancher because I care too much about my animals. Cocoa, one of my sweet little goats, recently came down with pneumonia. The health decline was quick and dramatic. I worried like a mother and kept watch on her frequently. I am happy to report that she is herself again finally.

Goat cud looks like a tumor and feels like one too. Cocoa started eating normally after her illness and her rumen came back in full force. I walked out one morning shortly after she began to recover and she had a huge jaw. I felt it. It was hard as a rock and I panicked thinking something else was wrong with her. I turned around and looked again...it was smaller. Then a moment later it was gone. It was cud.

Goats are smart. They know when they have a mineral deficiency and to eat baking soda if their stomach is upset. They tend to refuse lush food if they are not feeling well.

Fleece wear and hay do not go well together. Hay and alfalfa stick to any clothing with a rough surface. Also, if you don't shake out the alfalfa before washing, your clothes come out with green highlights.

Don't turn your back to a donkey if you are dishing out grain to another animal and not him. Jasper nipped me on the shoulder recently when trying to get Cocoa to eat. He got a thump on the nose. I still like him though.

Donkeys are also smart...scary smart sometimes. Evidently they can also be petulant children as well. I bet if Jasper could hold his breath to mimic a temper tantrum, he would.

Fat donkeys can run. If only I had a camera when we opened up the new back pasture, I could prove it. He trotted and brayed at the same time. It was a sight to see.

Rare Central Texas Rain Finally Arrives

It is a wet, cold and windy day which makes a good day for a long overdue post. It isn't a hardy rain, but we'll take it. Beggars cannot be choosey as the old saying goes. It was just two years ago that a rainy season officially delivered Texas out of drought and today we are already under dire drought again here in Central Texas. I imagine the garden seedlings, trees, blackberry vines and pasture grass (what is left of it) are doing a celebration dance right about now.

The llamas and goats are huddled in the barn. The cria seen in the last post has been christened Starbuck. He has certainly found his legs. Below he took a note from the goats and climbed on the hay to eat it. You actually have to look carefully to see him because he blends in so well with his mom.





I will soon be cooking which serves two purposes today: nourishment and to heat the cabin. Apple peels will be cold-weather treats for the goats and llamas, I think. Small apple pies will be my cold-weather treat.