It has begun...

Busy day, it started when I went out to do chores.  I had two does who were due the day before.  We were really hoping that one at least would have because Daniella was here.  No such luck.  We had been keeping a close eye on them, but no one really was interested in the sheep that wasn't due, or so we thought until next week.  So anyway, I went to feed the sheep and the yearlings...I went to the door and looked into their pen.  What I saw was a big surprise...laying quite lifeless in the middle of the pen was a black lamb.  I could see it was breathing so I quick got in and picked it up and carried it into the house.  Greg said something about the goats would wait until Daniella was gone, but then realized that it wasn't a kid, but a lamb!

The next couple of hours were spent warming and stimulating and force feeding the little guy.  I asked Greg to go out and check to see if there were any others out there.  When he came back in he said he found one more, very small ewe, but that was it.

When I got a chance to go out, believe it or not I found another lamb, not as small but just as dead.  They all were cleaned off, but I expect that because there were three She just couldn't keep track of them.  Plus the yearling does were running around there as well since they were sharing the same pen.

We felt bad that we lost two of three lambs, but it got worse...that evening when we were out for chore I heard Greg say from the back of the barn..."another one!?"  Sure enough there was another lamb, not small but not as big as the one in the house.  She had lambed QUADS!  But because we hadn't thought she was due yet she lost three of them.  They had all been buried in the straw, maybe by her trying to "wake" them, or when she was nesting each time one was coming.  Hard to say.  Pretty amazing anyway.

I managed to bring the one survivor around somewhat, but he never would try to stand and didn't have much sucking desire.  When time came for Greg to take the dogs out for the last trip in the evening he checked on the little guy, he was dead.  He just didn't have any will to live.

So now, to finish this blog on a happier note.  While all the above was going on the two does decided that today was a good day to kid!  Genevieve was in strong labor when I went out at about 11:30 am.  It wasn't long and she had a doe and a buck to keep her busy.  Just as soon as she was about done then Amalthea let me know that things for her were not going as they should be.  When I checked her back end I saw another back end, little tail and all!  This one was coming breech.  Time for me to assist.  I won't go into the details, but it was quite an experience getting the legs up and back so that everything was a little more stream lined and easier to come out.  One nice little buckling doing fine. 

Before much more time passed I could see that once again things were not as they should be.  Little goats are suppose to come with their muzzles resting on their front legs.  The first thing your suppose to see is the toe of a front foot then the nose.  Well this little one was being a copycat...once again butt first.  Again I assisted and all was good, this time a doeling.  Twins, nice but wait...here we go again!  Third one same problem, this time another little buckling.  Everyone alive and well.

The last one was a bit smaller then the other two, I was concerned that he wouldn't get the milk he needed so I decided to make him a bottle baby.  At the time I had the lamb that would have been a bottle baby as well if he had lived, so they could keep each other company.

I had planned on leaving all the cross bred kids on their dams.  They will all be sold as they are dairy meat cross.

While I was out checking on the mommies and little ones I made a decision to take Genevieve's twins in to also be bottle babies.  She was slamming them against the wall every time they cried!  I didn't think they would last long if she kept that up!  So much for my plan to keep them on their mother.

As of this morning I now have one mommy and her two healthy little ones doing well in the barn.  One mommy who will now be a twice a day milk provider for her little ones and then later our first milk of the season.  The three littles in the greenhouse had a good breakfast this morning and will soon be growing like weeds.  With me bottle feeding them for the next few days at 7,11,3, and 7.  Then out to the barn and feedings will be at 7,1, and 7.  Anyone wishing to help  is welcome at any of the afore mentioned times.

Skippy is due on the 9th, here's hoping that she will not follow her mother and beat on her kids.  If so she will also be a twice a day milker from the start.

I have to also tell about my great and wonderful German Shepherd Dog Isabeau who is the most wonderful Mommy Dog that ever was!  She has been waiting for this time of the year since last year.  She loves the babies and as soon as there are crying babies around she is in heaven!  I can't get over how good she is with them and how much care she will give them.  How gentle she is and sweet.  She is a bit over protective of them when it comes to Anya though...I have seen teeth several time when Anya has gotten too close to Isabeau's babies!  Makes me laugh every time.  Anya I don't think sees the same wonderful thing that Isabeau does.  She is just curious at what it is and why on earth is it in the house!  I hope that she does see how Isabeau is and learns from her so that when the time comes Anya and take over as the Great and Wonderful German Shepherd Mommy Dog.

Here are a couple of pictures of Isabeau keeping watch over the little lamb while it was in the house yesterday.  She knows her job is to keep the little ones stimulated like a mommy would do and also to be there when a little one needs something.  She is the first to let us know if someone needs a bottle or go get out and move around for a bit.

I'm here if you need me! 

Don't even think of trying anything with my new baby!



I hope everyone has a chance to get outside while this wonderful sun is shinning, it's not warm, but it sure is bright out!  Have a great day.

Onward and Upward.