Would someone please tell Chickory B. that it is time to let go of those babies?
Her belly is dragging so low those kids are gonna be walking on the ground before they even make it out of the chute!!!
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 30, 2012
Waiting, Waiting, Waiting
This business of having a buck or two repeatedly jump the fence and not knowing who is bred, to whom, or when they bred is for the birds.
I am not amused.
All life is at a standstill so we can be available for the two remaining births. Both of Those Who Gestate look like they are about to explode, while Those Who Wait are going nuts.
I threatened to cut Sancho loose when the girlz are browsing so he could chase them around the pasture, hopefully inducing labor in a somewhat natural manner. Well, without chemicals, anyway.
This idea was vetoed by Ellie May. Such a wise child.
The Baas has, again this year, suggested that The Krew transport their trampoline to Tails Up to help facilitate the onset of labor. They have volunteered to serve as spotters should Chickory B. or Becky the Bad get a little uncontrolled with the bouncing, what with the difficulty in general of movement, the lowered center of gravity, and whatnot associated with the final stages of pregnancy.
I have not yet declined the offer.
I am not going to utter the magic phrase, as i know it will prolong the process by ANOTHER three days...
But really.
It is enough, now.
I am not amused.
All life is at a standstill so we can be available for the two remaining births. Both of Those Who Gestate look like they are about to explode, while Those Who Wait are going nuts.
I threatened to cut Sancho loose when the girlz are browsing so he could chase them around the pasture, hopefully inducing labor in a somewhat natural manner. Well, without chemicals, anyway.
This idea was vetoed by Ellie May. Such a wise child.
The Baas has, again this year, suggested that The Krew transport their trampoline to Tails Up to help facilitate the onset of labor. They have volunteered to serve as spotters should Chickory B. or Becky the Bad get a little uncontrolled with the bouncing, what with the difficulty in general of movement, the lowered center of gravity, and whatnot associated with the final stages of pregnancy.
I have not yet declined the offer.
I am not going to utter the magic phrase, as i know it will prolong the process by ANOTHER three days...
But really.
It is enough, now.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Roadtrippin'
My absolute favorite time of the year in Texas is early springtime, when, as Lyle says, "the Bluebonnets dance with the Indian Paint."
I took a little road trip yesterday, and was chagrined to find that, while the wildflowers were in their full glory, they were not as plentiful as in years past. Don't know if this is because of the drought, or if budget cuts caused The State not to seed.
In years past, hillsides would be a carpet of glorious blue. This year, the hillsides are predominantly green (for which we are grateful,) with sporadic patches of blue. The only good carpets i saw all day were in folks yards, such as this one:
There is lots of red clover this year, however, and i do love the way it works its way into the scene. I find the purple Red of the clover far more esthetically pleasing with the blue than the orange Red of Indian Paintbrush...not that i don't like Paintbrush, mind you...it is just a personal preference. Plus, the red clover is really good forage for the critters, so there is that.
Had the opportunity on my road trip to seek out the namesake of a couple of last year's kids...
I must say that Splendora, Texas did not do our Splendid Splendora justice. Flanking the highway on either side, it appeared to be a bedroom community that was all about High School sports. Nothing but fast food, gas stations, public schools, and sports complexes. I was very disappointed.
Far more interesting, oddly, was Cut and Shoot, Texas. If you recall, Cut and Shoot was the given name of Snippy, who now resides at Freezer Camp.
I never saw a city limits sign for Cut and Shoot, but the town was hard to miss. It was about a five mile strip of flea markets and swap shops.
Town hall looked like an old movie set saloon (missed the turnaround to get the picture, whirled peas,) and you could go pick up your mail AND get your and your coon hound's nails trimmed at the same time.
And if you are feelin' a touch parched after all that, you can stop in for refreshment at the local watering hole.
I just love Texas.
And i find the goatie names very ironic, don't you?
Maybe one day in the near future we will go getcha some pictures of Paris and Maud, Texas. I feel the need for a little more road trippin' comin' on.
I took a little road trip yesterday, and was chagrined to find that, while the wildflowers were in their full glory, they were not as plentiful as in years past. Don't know if this is because of the drought, or if budget cuts caused The State not to seed.
In years past, hillsides would be a carpet of glorious blue. This year, the hillsides are predominantly green (for which we are grateful,) with sporadic patches of blue. The only good carpets i saw all day were in folks yards, such as this one:
Far more interesting, oddly, was Cut and Shoot, Texas. If you recall, Cut and Shoot was the given name of Snippy, who now resides at Freezer Camp.
I never saw a city limits sign for Cut and Shoot, but the town was hard to miss. It was about a five mile strip of flea markets and swap shops.
And i find the goatie names very ironic, don't you?
Maybe one day in the near future we will go getcha some pictures of Paris and Maud, Texas. I feel the need for a little more road trippin' comin' on.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Naked Goaties (Rated XXX)
Susan Dear Susan inspired me yet again.
She has given all the (four legged) girls at her place their summer haircuts.
When Susan gives a goat a shave, it is smooth and even, making the goaties look silky and irresistibly touchable.
It is hard to keep your hands off of them.
When i shave a goat, it looks like i threw 'em on the ground and went back and forth with a lawn mower, then came back in with the weed-whacker for touch up.
Susan does this blending thing with the clippers so that you don't really notice the point on the neck where the clip starts, it just kinda fades from long hair to short hair.
I have not mastered this technique.
My clip job makes them look like big fuzzy heads on 150 pound naked mole rat bodies.
Since i have embarrassed just about everyone else in my family on this forum, i shall now embarrass the girlz.
Don't laugh too hard.
It's not their fault.
On the up side, in a couple of weeks it will have grown out and won't look so bad.
Also, they don't have to worry about me coming at them with the clippers for another year.
Since i was already wielding bladed instruments of torture, i went ahead and trimmed every one's hooves. Only made two of them bleed, and neither one was very bad--at least neither of them are limping, anyway! So there is something else in the good news department, and possibly a new personal best record.
I am betting that The Girlz get together next year, say, about mid-February, and send Susan a personalized, hoof written invitation (demand) to come give them their day of beauty before i can get around to it. Am sure the plea will possibly involve bribes (threats.)
Anything to keep ME from doing again.
(The truth of the matter is, that Ellie May, trooper that she is, was a HUGE help with the Day Of Beauty, and did a superior job with the clippers, she is much better with them than i. But i would not dream of saddling her with any of the blame for the appearance of these poor goaties, and therefore, take all responsibility.)
She has given all the (four legged) girls at her place their summer haircuts.
When Susan gives a goat a shave, it is smooth and even, making the goaties look silky and irresistibly touchable.
It is hard to keep your hands off of them.
When i shave a goat, it looks like i threw 'em on the ground and went back and forth with a lawn mower, then came back in with the weed-whacker for touch up.
Susan does this blending thing with the clippers so that you don't really notice the point on the neck where the clip starts, it just kinda fades from long hair to short hair.
I have not mastered this technique.
My clip job makes them look like big fuzzy heads on 150 pound naked mole rat bodies.
Since i have embarrassed just about everyone else in my family on this forum, i shall now embarrass the girlz.
Don't laugh too hard.
It's not their fault.
 |
| Dosidoe turned out okay, except for that one big old bald spot in the middle of her side where i dug in with the clippers. |
 |
| Chickory always looks terrible after a clip, but even more so this time because "The Day" is a hand--look how low those babies are riding! Everyone say "Awwwwwwww!" I know she looks scary sick in this picture, but i assure you, she is quite healthy. |
 |
| I dunno, maybe Becky The Bad looks the worst, not because of the striped haircut, but because of her pink polka dotted skin. Also, the transitional point of hairy head and shaved skin is most defined on her. Oh well. |
 |
| Bawdy Maudy is spectacularly unimpressed, but Paris is still holding her head up high. |
 |
| Splendora is the only one that turn out okay, but we will miss her Splendid Fluffiness the next couple of months. |
 |
| And Cherry...as if she wasn't unattractive enough already. |
On the up side, in a couple of weeks it will have grown out and won't look so bad.
Also, they don't have to worry about me coming at them with the clippers for another year.
Since i was already wielding bladed instruments of torture, i went ahead and trimmed every one's hooves. Only made two of them bleed, and neither one was very bad--at least neither of them are limping, anyway! So there is something else in the good news department, and possibly a new personal best record.
I am betting that The Girlz get together next year, say, about mid-February, and send Susan a personalized, hoof written invitation (demand) to come give them their day of beauty before i can get around to it. Am sure the plea will possibly involve bribes (threats.)
Anything to keep ME from doing again.
(The truth of the matter is, that Ellie May, trooper that she is, was a HUGE help with the Day Of Beauty, and did a superior job with the clippers, she is much better with them than i. But i would not dream of saddling her with any of the blame for the appearance of these poor goaties, and therefore, take all responsibility.)
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bomb's Away!!!!
The Cherry Bombs have a home.
And we are all well pleased.
The family that took the Apple Dumplin's came back and took Tart and Bing as well.
When we met to turn over the Apple Dumplin's, the youngest daughter took a shine to Tart, and carried her around the whole time we were together. Tart's feet never touched the ground.
The older daughter was all over Bing, as she has a goat that she is training to pull a cart, and wants another to go with him. Apparently Bing will make an esthetically pleasing compliment to "Bubba."
So at the hand off today, each of the girls were holding their respective goats, and the older said, "He is going to be trained to a cart," and the younger pipes up, "And she is going to be trained to a pillow!"
I do not think we could have found a better home for the Bombs.
And we are all well pleased.
The family that took the Apple Dumplin's came back and took Tart and Bing as well.
When we met to turn over the Apple Dumplin's, the youngest daughter took a shine to Tart, and carried her around the whole time we were together. Tart's feet never touched the ground.
The older daughter was all over Bing, as she has a goat that she is training to pull a cart, and wants another to go with him. Apparently Bing will make an esthetically pleasing compliment to "Bubba."
So at the hand off today, each of the girls were holding their respective goats, and the older said, "He is going to be trained to a cart," and the younger pipes up, "And she is going to be trained to a pillow!"
I do not think we could have found a better home for the Bombs.
 |
| Last night's milk induced stupor. Remember the Krew's puppies? This puts them to shame. |
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Catsup
Where is the time going?
We spent the past weekend with Uncle Boo, had a terrific time. Always a party with him. Took the traditional "Uncle Boo picture," but with an added twist. Every one of the pictures showed faces full of love and mirth, but it is beyond even me to share them. Just thinking about it i hang my head in shame for letting them all behave this way. We love ya, Uncle Boo! Thanks for the memories!!
The does held to The Code and didn't deliver babies while we were gone, so that is all good, and then on Monday, Susan Dear Susan found homes for Thing 1 and Thing 2, who were officially named "Apple Cider" and "Apple Fritter."
Thanks to ALA for giving us this year's name theme...she suggested since we had already started with Bing Cherry and Cherry Tart that we should continue on with fruit names, and everyone here jumped on that like a duck on a junebug and started coming up with names. It has already been decided that Chickory babies will be Peach babies, but Becky fruit is still under discussion. Probably going to be something citrusy or sour, since she has been such a crankinator lately. Well done, ALA, we are having fun with the names again, thanks to you!
Anyhoo, the Moose Brothers went to a really good home, the family was pleased and excited to get them, which always pleases and excites me. As we were saying our goodbyes, we took a couple of head shots of the Brothers, and as i was sorting thru the pictures just now, noticed something i had not seen before.
And then we took a couple of shots of the Cherry Bombs...they are catching up to the curve, and growing nicely. Tart is turning into a spoiled brat, though...her feet rarely touch the ground these days.
We spent the past weekend with Uncle Boo, had a terrific time. Always a party with him. Took the traditional "Uncle Boo picture," but with an added twist. Every one of the pictures showed faces full of love and mirth, but it is beyond even me to share them. Just thinking about it i hang my head in shame for letting them all behave this way. We love ya, Uncle Boo! Thanks for the memories!!
The does held to The Code and didn't deliver babies while we were gone, so that is all good, and then on Monday, Susan Dear Susan found homes for Thing 1 and Thing 2, who were officially named "Apple Cider" and "Apple Fritter."
Thanks to ALA for giving us this year's name theme...she suggested since we had already started with Bing Cherry and Cherry Tart that we should continue on with fruit names, and everyone here jumped on that like a duck on a junebug and started coming up with names. It has already been decided that Chickory babies will be Peach babies, but Becky fruit is still under discussion. Probably going to be something citrusy or sour, since she has been such a crankinator lately. Well done, ALA, we are having fun with the names again, thanks to you!
Anyhoo, the Moose Brothers went to a really good home, the family was pleased and excited to get them, which always pleases and excites me. As we were saying our goodbyes, we took a couple of head shots of the Brothers, and as i was sorting thru the pictures just now, noticed something i had not seen before.
 |
| Apple Cider |
 |
| Apple Fritter |
I never noticed that one blaze swung to the left, and the other swung to the right. Who knew? And then we took a couple of shots of the Cherry Bombs...they are catching up to the curve, and growing nicely. Tart is turning into a spoiled brat, though...her feet rarely touch the ground these days.
And then we took a couple of shots of the Cherry Bombs...they are catching up to the curve, and growing nicely. Tart is turning into a spoiled brat, though...her feet rarely touch the ground these days.
 |
| Cherry Tart |
 |
| Bing Cherry |
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Good Job
Girlz were out for a browse yesterday, and i was going out to check on them periodically, doing a nose count, as it were, and suddenly went from seven noses to eight.
Guess who joined the smorgasbord?
When it was time to pen them back up, i told Ellie May i was headed out to put the girlz up, and then drag Sparkin' Sparta back over to the buck pen.
Ellie's response: "Poor Sparta! He just has NO concept of "Job well done!"
Guess who joined the smorgasbord?
When it was time to pen them back up, i told Ellie May i was headed out to put the girlz up, and then drag Sparkin' Sparta back over to the buck pen.
Ellie's response: "Poor Sparta! He just has NO concept of "Job well done!"
Thursday, March 15, 2012
The Does Secret Code Of Honor
The narrative for this video has been passed around for years, Susan, Dear Susan gave me a copy of it early on in the process, and i have shared it with many, as well.
Somebody finally made a video of it, and Susan shared with me, so i am sharing with you.
Somebody finally made a video of it, and Susan shared with me, so i am sharing with you.
We are supposed to meet up with Uncle Boo this weekend, and i have been sweating the timing, i sure wish Chickory B and Miss Becks would drop those puppies....i mean goaties, so i could get all my ducks in a row, so to speak, to keep the wheels turning for about 20 hours without us. Kids in that time frame will certainly throw a monkey wrench in things.
I can't think of any more animal analogies, so i will quit and go stand out in the middle of the doe yard and bellow, "I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!!!!!" to insure an uneventful weekend in the barn.
Watch the video.
You'll get the joke.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
New Kids On The Block
The names are still under debate, but here they are:
This picture shows the new guys at 1 day and the Cherry Bombs at 8 days, with a touch of Jewels for perspective...
You would think that surely i could have gotten a better shot of all of them, but they bounce around like popcorn...or pinballs! I was lucky to catch them with all 16 feet on the ground!
Thing 1
Thing 2
At this time you should refer back to the picture of newborn Cherry Tart in Ellie May's arms. Tart and Bing were just a little bitta nuthin.This picture shows the new guys at 1 day and the Cherry Bombs at 8 days, with a touch of Jewels for perspective...
And just one more to show off Tart's diminutive size.
We are having trouble naming things this year. Since nothing is going to be registered, it hasn't been a real big deal to us like it usually is. We don't even have a theme this year, if that tells ya anything.
We were toying with the idea of "Solid" and "Stripe," and "Curly" and "Moe" were suggested, but we are kinda nonplussed about these.
Any suggestions?
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
We're Kidding, No Kidding, 2012 Continues
Yet another busy and exciting day at Tails Up Homestead...Dosidoe spit out a couple of bucks about 10:30 this morning. Both boys weighed in at seven pounds each.
Dosidoe was in labor when i went out to milk this morning, so we were there to catch the little critters. Am happy to report that it was an uneventful birth, and that mother and sons are all doing well.
These boys are normal sized, but look like GIANTS compared to Bing and Tart.
Names and pics soon to follow...off to do another load of towels.....
P.S. We are now officially half way home...Chickory B and Miss Becks yet to go!
Dosidoe was in labor when i went out to milk this morning, so we were there to catch the little critters. Am happy to report that it was an uneventful birth, and that mother and sons are all doing well.
These boys are normal sized, but look like GIANTS compared to Bing and Tart.
Names and pics soon to follow...off to do another load of towels.....
P.S. We are now officially half way home...Chickory B and Miss Becks yet to go!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Snork...Merggle...Porkchop...Chicken Gizzards...Buelah!!!*
Friday, March 9, 2012
Progress Report
Pleased to inform you that both babes are progressing nicely.
Bing is doing very well, wouldn't know he was early except for his size. Nice appetite, getting up and standing on his own, then milling around the pen and not falling down when he steps on sister. Is now capable doing his bidness outside after meals (wooo hoooo!!!)
Tart is also improving. Still very vocal, and still has great appetite. Hooves are getting solid. Still has monkey lips. Holds her head up on her own, and is looking around more. She is now able to pull her upper body up to a certain degree, and this morning was able to loco mote her way out from under her bumbling brother.
Which is a very good thing.
Yesterday, i was having visions of a Stephen Hawking goat...wheeling herself around in a wheelchair telling us all how the world works, whether she is right or not.
Right after i had this thought, Jed came through, looked at the limp dish rag goat i was trying to feed and asked, "Is this gonna be a quadriplegic goat? Do i need to be looking for a wheelchair?"
Fortunately, today, i don't think that is gonna be necessary. She just needs some time to catch up and a lot of TLC.
Many thanks to The Baas and Krew that came by and brought a baby gift--Twizzlers for the new mother. Jethro and Cherry were both delighted with the remembrance.
Bing is doing very well, wouldn't know he was early except for his size. Nice appetite, getting up and standing on his own, then milling around the pen and not falling down when he steps on sister. Is now capable doing his bidness outside after meals (wooo hoooo!!!)
Tart is also improving. Still very vocal, and still has great appetite. Hooves are getting solid. Still has monkey lips. Holds her head up on her own, and is looking around more. She is now able to pull her upper body up to a certain degree, and this morning was able to loco mote her way out from under her bumbling brother.
Which is a very good thing.
Yesterday, i was having visions of a Stephen Hawking goat...wheeling herself around in a wheelchair telling us all how the world works, whether she is right or not.
Right after i had this thought, Jed came through, looked at the limp dish rag goat i was trying to feed and asked, "Is this gonna be a quadriplegic goat? Do i need to be looking for a wheelchair?"
Fortunately, today, i don't think that is gonna be necessary. She just needs some time to catch up and a lot of TLC.
Many thanks to The Baas and Krew that came by and brought a baby gift--Twizzlers for the new mother. Jethro and Cherry were both delighted with the remembrance.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Meet Cherry Tart and Bing Cherry
AKA Tart and Bing.
Allow me to introduce Bing--
As you can see, we got a little wild with the iodine when we were doing cord care (my fault,) but not to worry, it will wear off.
This picture is not one that i originally intended to post, as it was a rather private moment between Jewels and Bing, but after much consideration, i put it on here for two reasons: 1. perspective...most of the babies are at least Jewels' size if not larger at birth, and Bing was about 36 hrs old when the shot was taken; 2. it shows off his lovely polka dots!
And then we have Tart--
Tart--
And more Tart--
Okay, just one more...(i can't help myself)
We were trying to get a good shot of her monkey lips, but aren't doing it justice. Whirled Peas. This morning Ellie told me that not only did the evolutionists get it all wrong, they didn't even get their fossil record right...they say it goes from fish to amphibian to reptile to mammal. We have just illustrated going from goat to parrot to monkey.
We have decided these guys are probably about two weeks premature. Bing is stronger and better developed, he is now getting up and standing on his own. Tart is way behind the curve. Her little hooves were still nothing but gummy goo, eyelashes had not come in, and teeth and gums are not done yet. And she is like a limp dishrag...initially there was no muscle control at all, but yesterday she started lifting her head, and last nite she kicked her legs when she was ticked off. She is not standing yet, but today is at least trying to lift her upper body, but only when she is demanding attention for some reason. The only thing on this goat that is fully developed are her lungs. She is very vociferous and demanding. Bordering on annoying. But she IS adorable.
Allow me to introduce Bing--
 |
| Pleased to meetcha! |
And then we have Tart--
We have decided these guys are probably about two weeks premature. Bing is stronger and better developed, he is now getting up and standing on his own. Tart is way behind the curve. Her little hooves were still nothing but gummy goo, eyelashes had not come in, and teeth and gums are not done yet. And she is like a limp dishrag...initially there was no muscle control at all, but yesterday she started lifting her head, and last nite she kicked her legs when she was ticked off. She is not standing yet, but today is at least trying to lift her upper body, but only when she is demanding attention for some reason. The only thing on this goat that is fully developed are her lungs. She is very vociferous and demanding. Bordering on annoying. But she IS adorable.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
We're Kidding, No Kidding 2012 Commences
Foolish, foolish, FOOLISH me.
I knew better than to let on that i was ready for babies.
Now we have two.
We were outside doing a little fleece-up on the dairy barn before the expected four days of rain, coz, ya know, the nastier it is outside the happier the does are to share the love. We had finished up, and Ellie May and Jethro went inside to clean themselves up, and i took a last inspection sortie, finding Cherry Blossom in the corner of the doe barn with a dazed and confused (more so than normal) look on her beak, and a mass of goo right behind her. I ran in the house to send Ellie out to midwife, and had to pull Jethro out of the shower (i know, how wrong is it to have to pull a 10 year old boy out of a shower???)
At approximately 6:45pm yesterday, Cherry gave us a 4 pound buckling (for now) named Bing Cherry and a 3 pound doeling (for ever) named Cherry Tart.
They are both VERY tiny, and premature, although viable. Tart is having a rather slow start, but we think she is gonna be just fine.
Becky was puttin' on a real show while we were working in the barn, and Susan suspects that Cherry got T-Boned, which put her into premature labor. Which would explain why there were no signs or indications that it was "Time," other than the appearance of the Cherry Bombs.
Jethro was delighted, although he tried not to effuse...isn't manly. But he stepped right up to his obligations and took a stab at milking.
We joked about Dosidoe having "mouse teats" when she first freshened, but Cherry has her beat, she has "flea teats." Her udder wasn't "bagged up" the way they do when they go full term. Hopefully everything will stretch out a bit in a couple of days.
Everything went off without a hitch for this year's first kidding, except for the towel issue. I had not pulled the box of kid towels out of the Dead Bathroom closet, and in the heat of the moment, overlooked them, so we killed several more of the family towels. As soon all the excitement was over, i found the box. Guess somebody put them back in the closet while we were doing cord care.
Also during the heat of the moment, Jethro put some grain in the doe yard to occupy the other girlz and keep them out of the doe barn while Ellie and Cherry were doing their thing. Apparently Splendora, upon realizing that the grain bucket was empty, took it upon herself to ask for a refill. We had a little trouble understanding her at first, because her voice was kinda muffled, but we figured it out.
And so it begins.
Again.
Many thanks to Susan Dear Susan for the big bag of collostrum. Always deeper in your debt, Ma'am.
Bing and Tart pictures to come.
I knew better than to let on that i was ready for babies.
Now we have two.
We were outside doing a little fleece-up on the dairy barn before the expected four days of rain, coz, ya know, the nastier it is outside the happier the does are to share the love. We had finished up, and Ellie May and Jethro went inside to clean themselves up, and i took a last inspection sortie, finding Cherry Blossom in the corner of the doe barn with a dazed and confused (more so than normal) look on her beak, and a mass of goo right behind her. I ran in the house to send Ellie out to midwife, and had to pull Jethro out of the shower (i know, how wrong is it to have to pull a 10 year old boy out of a shower???)
They are both VERY tiny, and premature, although viable. Tart is having a rather slow start, but we think she is gonna be just fine.
Becky was puttin' on a real show while we were working in the barn, and Susan suspects that Cherry got T-Boned, which put her into premature labor. Which would explain why there were no signs or indications that it was "Time," other than the appearance of the Cherry Bombs.
Jethro was delighted, although he tried not to effuse...isn't manly. But he stepped right up to his obligations and took a stab at milking.
Everything went off without a hitch for this year's first kidding, except for the towel issue. I had not pulled the box of kid towels out of the Dead Bathroom closet, and in the heat of the moment, overlooked them, so we killed several more of the family towels. As soon all the excitement was over, i found the box. Guess somebody put them back in the closet while we were doing cord care.
Also during the heat of the moment, Jethro put some grain in the doe yard to occupy the other girlz and keep them out of the doe barn while Ellie and Cherry were doing their thing. Apparently Splendora, upon realizing that the grain bucket was empty, took it upon herself to ask for a refill. We had a little trouble understanding her at first, because her voice was kinda muffled, but we figured it out.
Again.
Many thanks to Susan Dear Susan for the big bag of collostrum. Always deeper in your debt, Ma'am.
Bing and Tart pictures to come.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
We're Kidding, No Kidding 2012 Countdown Begins
As of today, we are in the red zone...
The first official due date for baby goaties is March 11th, but there is a +/- factor allowing for mother nature's eccentricity of 5 days, so we are now officially on Kidwatch.
The girlz are sufficiently miserable, the kidding box is restocked, we have molasses and cookies at the ready, and i am on the way out to hose off the playpen.
Bring on the babies.
The first official due date for baby goaties is March 11th, but there is a +/- factor allowing for mother nature's eccentricity of 5 days, so we are now officially on Kidwatch.
The girlz are sufficiently miserable, the kidding box is restocked, we have molasses and cookies at the ready, and i am on the way out to hose off the playpen.
Bring on the babies.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Rooster Tails
When no longer in possession said plumage, they tend to hide in shame.
We became aware of this quite by accident. Remember the mention of "Crazy Eddy," the insane and unbelievably aggressive Polish rooster? He would fly at you from out of nowhere and spur indiscriminately...he tore more than one pair of jeans, and left a couple of scars behind. Several years ago, Ellie May was trying to defend herself from one of his attacks and inadvertently grabbed a handful of tail feathers, which were then removed--technically BY Crazy Eddy, because of his screaming, flapping display of roosterness.
Once his fanny was featherless, he hung out in the doe barn for a couple of weeks, rather than strutting around the coop yard forcing all other living beings to bend to his evil will.
It was a lovely and peaceful couple of weeks, as i recall.
Somehow, the dogs seem to be aware of the effect that the removal of tail feathers have on the roosters. Ruby tends to employ this technique very effectively on an as needed basis. Every once in a while there will be a rooster that gets out of line, and we will find a pile of feathers at the location of the "final straw" offense. She never hurts the roosters, just pulls their feathers, and the roosters then give her the appropriate respect, and a wide berth.
Now, this is third party hearsay...i did not actually witness the following, but Ellie May did see it, and i trust her word.
It seems that a rooster was harassing The Bob's the other day. The Bob Formerly Known As Isabell instigated a plucking party, and was joined in short order by the other Bob's in emasculating the offending rooster.
Said rooster has not been seen since.
Hmmmmm, am thinking we could solve many problems if we could just figure out how to pluck a few hiney's in a certain District.
Perhaps i should put Ruby on the project.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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