I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

May was miserable this time last week.   Or at least she looked miserable!

Bless her little heart she would waddle when she walked.  The day before she delivered she even hesitated to get up when I entered the gate.  Normally she heads to the feed trough….just in case I happen to bring her a treat.

Finally, she wouldn’t even climb up the ramp to her favorite spot in the goat house.  I checked on her several times during the day, knowing she wasn’t acting normal.   About 3:30 she started showing signs of labor.  I ran home to gather a few things just in case she needed any help.  Billy always laughs when he sees me grabbing labor and delivery supplies from my stash.

Last year May gave birth to 4 goats.  It was extremely cold that night and we didn’t know she delivered until morning.  Only two of the babies survived, one was actually born dead.  I don’t remember anything being visibly wrong with it.  I have read a good bit about animals since we have started the farm.  Most encourage you to keep track of hard deliveries or any birthing trouble in hopes that you can try to prevent something the next time around.  All that to say, I wanted to be around this time when she gave birth.  Just in case I might be able to prevent losing another baby goat.

And I admit….I love to watch the miracle of birth.  It is just amazing.

After gathering my supplies I headed back to sit and wait.  She looked at me like ….Oh boy…she is here for the whole duration.

Actually May has always been aloof.  She keeps her personal space.  However, since we took her from the farm and put her closer to the house, she has allowed us to get closer than ever.

After a little while I could tell we were getting closer to delivery time.  Goats talk to their babies.  At least that is what the books call it.  They make a certain little noise when they are in labor.  It is pretty neat.

Apparently the babies heard her….because things started moving right along.

I didn’t have plans on handling the babies…unless she really needed it.  Besides, I wasn’t sure she would even let me touch the babies.  I didn’t want to add any undue stress to the situation.  I was also leery that she wouldn’t accept them if she smelled my scent on them.

She had a little girl first…..

This one had the coloring of her Mama.

Then she had Baby number two…..a little boy, but he was stillborn.   That is the part of having animals that is the hardest.  I was glad that I was present during this delivery though.  If I had not been I would have always wondered if there would have been something I could have done to have saved him.  I know now that there wasn’t anything I could have done.  I did note the problem and actually took a photo on my cell phone so that I could show a veterinarian.  There was a development problem with its tummy.  Maybe he can shed some light on how to prevent it from happening again.

I spared you from having to see the pictures….but if you did…then you would know why I want to be close when the animals are delivering.  AND why I have my little stash of delivery items!

Baby number three was another girl!

She has interesting colors on her.  She almost looks taupe with some black.

If you look close you can see the birthing bubble, right before the fourth baby was born.  It is amazing to watch.

Last but not least baby number four joined the rest.  It was a boy!

He has black and brown on his little head.  He is the biggest of all of them…and a real cutie.

In the excitement and pure business of it all, I failed to notice that the first baby had something wrong with its eye.

Billy is here with the girls about two hours after delivery.  Now that is just precious!

You can see the girl on the right looks like her eye is just closed.  It didn’t look swollen or anything it just look closed.

I got Billy to hold her still so I could get a close up thinking I would have to now show the vet this problem too.

Upon taking a better look……it appeared to be fused shut.

I came home that night and searched through my goat book.   I googled everything I could think of to see what was wrong.  There just wasn’t anything that really sounded like our problem.  She was nursing fine and didn’t seem to be bothered by it.  I was worried that she might be blind and that her mother might reject her.

But…..she fit right in……

You can see her little eye here too.

The babies are like little puppies.  They have a cycle consisting of  these four things…..cuddle, nap, eat and bathroom break…. repeat….. at least for the first few days.

Whenever I go to check on them….she is the first one to come and greet me.  Yes….she has already stolen my heart….well they all have.

They are exploring  and have already attempted to climb the walk board.  They are funny to watch….. plopping on top of one another.

But before long…they are tuckered out so they curl up and fall fast asleep in no time.  Playing is hard work you know.

I called the vet and was pretty sure he was going to have to come look at the eye.

The very next time I went to check on them….her eye was open!  Everything seems to be just fine.  I don’t know…maybe it was like a puppy’s eyes.  I just know that she looks just fine now.  So fine in fact that she was too wiggly to get a picture.

What a wonderful surprise.

So….we had a few bumps in the road.  But things turned out pretty good, especially when you think about her carrying 4 goats at one time.

May has been so sweet about letting us hold the babies.  I am hoping that she will become friendlier herself.

I do know that she sure is being a good mother

I imagine having her little girls eye open up made this special day….all the better.

I see her resting while they rest, just like new Mom’s have to do.

May has been blessed with three healthy babies and seems to have been celebrating that all week!

Happy Mother’s Day…..May!