So it's been a while since I've really posted anything here for several reasons, limited time being one of them. But wanted to introduce you to some of the newest members of the herd. Below is Birdie.
Birdie bears this name because she was born with a parrot mouth and parrot = bird and it sort of just stuck.... Quite honestly when I saw that I was afraid she'd have to be put down because I thought she wouldn't be able to eat or drink, much to my delight I was wrong! It took a bit of patience and it was a learning curve at first, but she's eating like a champ! She's eating hay and will now even drink water from a bucket.
Next up it was FINALLY Katie's turn to deliver. I was convinced that she was going to stay "sleek and single Katie" forever so when she started showing signs of pregnancy I was over the moon happy! Though she kept it a secret for a looooooong time. Had I not felt the baby moving I'd likely never have suspected she was carrying. I like to be in the "delivery room" with my girls and I love it when they come to me to seek comfort while laboring.
Katie didn't venture too far from me and I was SOOOO glad to have been there for this delivery. One of the pictures Ron took of this delivery was of me praying for Katie and I gotta say, it's one of my favs, I think it was intuition as Katie's delivery was a rough one, she labored normally but when she started pushing and pushing and pushing and nothing really was happening I started getting worried. I ended up having to go in and get the baby out. Katie was exhausted and this baby was not coming out. I was scared but remained calm and went through all the kidding scenarios I had read about and had the kids start praying too. I worked with her contractions and prayer and got the baby out and both momma and baby survived. Then let out a huge sign of relief and a prayer of thanks. It was no wonder she had trouble, Jumpin' Jeffery weighed in at exactly 9 pounds! For a first freshener that is HUGE!
This is Jumpin' Jeffery and I'm not sure if it's because of the traumatic delivery or his innate goat-ness and goofy personality but I am completely smitten with this not so little guy. Maybe because it's Katies first baby too, I have no idea, just completely smitten.
Next up was Strawberry, she hadn't taken since she had Buckley and Katie and I thought it was because Blackberry had been so mean to her and hurt her internally, but I guess not! When she came into season shortly after Dealer arrived here I honestly didn't hold much hope of her taking and when the first breeding didn't take I figured well, I'm not surprised. Then she came into a full blown screaming (literally) heat, she literally chased Dealer all over and kept flagging and my thought was geez, Strawberry have a little self control girl! But this cycle was different and this one took! This produced twins. A little girl that we named Laudamus (meaning "we praise!" - and after all we have been through the past couple years in general and with this little girls mom I figure it's a fitting name.)
And another buckling which we named Vedder, yes, as in the last name of the lead singer of Pearl Jam - Ron's favorite band. Vedder had showed signs of selenium deficiency because he was walking on just the very tip of his front toes then would take a few steps and lay down, heartbreaking?! YES! I called my vet and was able to get some selenium and vitamin E for him. That worked very well! With in days he was better and up and running with the rest of the herd and his legs have completely straightened out. We live in a very selenium deficient area and despite the fact that I'd never had problems with it for kidding this year I had a few. Turns out that Birdies parrot mouth and the lack of pregnancies for Katie and Strawberry all these years could also have been cause by that too. So now I know and can take steps accordingly.
This is the second group of kids all snuggling together in the bean bag, cute? oh yes! Below is the introduction of all the babies this year. I see a pattern with Dealer's offspring. two white, two black and two brown. I find it maddening that forever now I have wanted a little black doe, because I love the way they look and I got white does and black bucks. Sigh, maybe next year.
Let me tell ya folks, this is a wonderful way to start my mornings, sitting in the sunroom in the early morning light with a bunch of babies in my arms! L to R Vedder, Jeffery, Laudamus
