Friday, April 9, 2010

Busy, busy, busy, busy!

Last night, after I got back from a week of orientation and competency testing, I went down to see the goats and feed. I was at 151 days since the buck had been put in with my does so knew we were close to birth day. I thought my 4 year old, Natasha, would go first but when Lyrical bagged up Wednesday, I changed my mind. She was miserable and when I went down to check on her at 5 a.m. yesterday, I had a heart-to-heart with her asking her to hold out until I got home at 4:30. I had my daughter check on her at lunch time and right at 3. She was stressed because we haven't had Lyrical through a kidding and really wanted me to be home. When I got home we went down at 5:30 and Lyrical was nesting but I told Lindsay we could be a long time out until babies arrive. At 6:30, Lyrical laid down pushed three times and out popped our first little girl. She, as all baby goats are, is adorable and healthy! Her name was already picked out and thus, she is Harmony.
That was easy and then let the waiting begin!! About 9 p.m., our little buck arrived. He is the spitting image of his daddy so we are lovingly calling him Javar Jr., "JJ" for short. Twins! Pretty good for a buck who just turned one today! I was waiting for placenta to arrive when I saw Lyrical lay down and pushed out another doe! TRIPLETS! As I was drying off this beautiful kid, Melody, Lyrical pushed again and here was another buckling! Quads? Out of a very young buck and they are everything we hoped for. The last little buckling is called Riff for now. Tried to stick with musical names but JJ was undeniable! All four babies will be sold as soon as they are ready, but as my daughter already emphasized, they are available only to those who consider their goats as beloved pets, not livestock!! :)




Footnote: It is midnight on 4/10 and we just returned after Natasha gave birth to twin girls. They are big, black, and beautiful! Pictures to follow soon! :)