Sunday marked 3 weeks since the goats were born.
As you know, I had to bring Lucy home to warm her up and feed her since her mother wouldn’t take care of her. She was so weak that I wasn’t sure she would even make it through the day. But…..I have found that she may be a little thing…. but she has a whole lot of spunk.
Each week she has amazed us with her progress.
It was obvious that she was feeling a little bit better every day.
She had a lot of little issues. We went through a spell where her little nose was red and swollen….and would clog up. I found that a soft wet cloth helped to unclog her nose and a cloth with Vicks Mentholatum rub hung above her bed seemed to help. She also had a tiny little mouth complete with an under bite. I was worried that she might have a problem taking a bottle. But it didn’t seem to bother her.
Because she was so small she could only drink two or three ounces at a time. Now she has no problem inhaling a full 9 ounces at a time.
We have learned a lot along the way. Like they make electrolyte formula for goats…..who knew? I really believe that was the one thing that helped pull her through until we could get some colostrum in her. We have also had to use it when tummy issues have happened. I’m learning…..
From what I have read the rumen is still developing. We have been working this week on moving her off this supplement and onto other stuff. But it is harder than it would be if her Mama would have raised her. I noticed her brother Charlie was nibbling last week on some of the goat pellets. This week Lucy started nibbling around on the grass outside in the yard. She doesn’t really eat it yet…but she is picking at it. I hope that is a good sign that she is going to make the transition well.
Now…. her little nose is all better….
and she doesn’t have an under bite anymore.
She could hardly stand…. let alone walk, one of her back legs wouldn’t work right…so when she started trying to walk she would just drag it along. She seemed to be able to get around on the three good legs, so I wasn’t too concerned with that leg. You could tell she wasn’t going to let it keep her from walking. But by week two…all of a sudden….that leg started working! WOO HOO!
When we would go to the farm to visit her Mom and brother she wouldn’t move around a whole lot. She enjoyed being outside, but she didn’t have much desire to walk around or play.
Now you would never know that anything was ever wrong. She moves around just fine.
She is busy checking everything out….even taking time to smell the flowers along the way.
The first week or so she had her little tucked tail. She was pitiful. They say that means they do not feel good.
Now she holds her little tail UP….and wiggles it….A LOT. That means she is healthier and happier!
When we first got her she would just lay in your arms while she ate. Now she wants to stand and take her bottle…as if she was eating from her mother. Of course that means milk splatters on the floor…but that’s alright….I am glad she is getting better.
She is in fine form these days. She plays until you make her go to bed.
I have given her a blue collar…I am attempting to walk her with a leash. Mostly because I would like to be able to move her from pasture to pasture easily. She doesn’t mind the collar at all…..it is the leash that she hates. But I am as hard headed as she is….so she is getting used to it.
Billy took her on a little walk the other night, without the leash, and she followed him like a little puppy. She is really walking great.
Matter of fact she not only walks really well….she RUNS!!!! and JUMPS!!!!!
I had plans this week to inch her into the goat fence in the back yard, since her Mama won’t have anything to do with her at the farm. I figure we might as well put her closer to us…because we will still have to feed her for a while. Maybe Violet, Pearl, Jethro, Freddy and Hoot n Nanny will enjoy her company. We will see.
It has been raining and now it is really cold….so for now she is still in her little goat condo in the house.
Today, I let her hang out with me for a little while…
I was going upstairs when all of a sudden I heard the pitter patter of little hooves……
She discovered how to come up the stairs. Nooo…Noooo….NO. We are not going there.
I try to give her a little space…but contain her. She has broken through every little barrier I build. She has definitely gotten stronger and feels good enough to play.
I am so glad we are at this point, we have really enjoyed her.
However, she has now moved into toddler mode. She is getting into everything….just like a kid going through the terrible two’s!!!
She needs her freedom so she can run and play with the other goats. She tries to talk to me…I have even tried to talk back….but it just isn’t the same. When we are in the yard the goats all look at her with tilted heads and listen to her talk. They all seem a little puzzled as they watch her.
She is a sweetie.. She thinks Billy is her Daddy…she follows him around everywhere. This morning she tried to follow him all the way to the truck as he was leaving for work.
It is cute. But she will be CUTE in the goat pen too.
I've Gone Country 