Long day

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Sorry for keeping you all in suspense like that! But it's been quite a day on the farm. I woke up this morning and sleepily (although I got the best sleep I've had in a week last night) took the dogs outside for their morning pee. As I was standing there listening to the birds, geese, horses, and  usual sounds of the morning, I heard a different sound. A very loud, BAAAAAAAAAA. The dogs finished their business, and I rushed them inside and ran to the barn. As I suspected it was Biscuit who had kidded, probably about an 1/2 hour before I got there. She had broken out of her pen and was in with Bulrush and Baby, and had left the kid by itself, crying.

I've had both Biscuit and Bucket in their stalls 24/7 for the past two days, because they are both close to kidding. I've mentioned before Biscuit tried to kill her first kid. She's a good milker and lets me milk her, but she hates kids, be they her kids or any of the other does kids. I'm glad she got out of her pen because I think getting away from the kid caused her to leave it alone. And alone it was, not cleaned, but standing and crying.

I quickly let everyone outside and then tried to get the kid to nurse from Biscuit. She threw her usual fit, lying down, trying to stomp the kid, butting me, kicking. Last time I argued with her forever, this time I just picked the kid up and brought it home. Kevin who had just got up and was trying to drink his coffee was surprised when I came in yelling "get a box" and just as he was asking me why, he saw the baby. So off he went.

Once we got him set up I went back to the barn and milked Biscuit right away. She stands very well for me and doesn't mind me milking her in the least. I rushed home and fed the baby since he clearly had not eaten anything.

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The first bottle. Notice the dirty look on Norman's face in the background

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Then I dried him off a bit and while I was trying to get a cup of coffee he was crying in his box, so I picked him up and put him on my lap where he quickly went to sleep for over an hour while I had coffee.

This is me first thing in the morning, just rolled out of bed, and kissing goodbye any hope of having five minutes to myself for a while:

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Douglas loves goats. He thinks he is one. When he was only a couple months old last year, we had Sammy in the house, Sammy was our sickly little buckling from last year we got from a dairy farm. He lived inside for nearly 3 months. So Douglas was very excited. Norman just gets annoyed, he's very jealous and just ignores any new animals, especially goats.

After his nap, he got up and played with the dogs for a bit, he isn't the least bit afraid of them. He's full of life and a healthy buckling. It's funny, this is the first kid off our new buck, Buckwheat, who is a purebred Saanen. Biscuit is an Alpine. Amazing how he looks exactly like a Saanen kid.

The stuff on the floor is shavings.

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Kevin spent all afternoon finishing the maple syrup. It's all syrup now and ready to be filtered and properly bottled tomorrow. I will share pictures of the finishing process tomorrow. I had hoped to do that tonight but I'm just too tired.

While I was working in the barn this afternoon and monitoring Bucket, who is very close to kidding, the new kid made himself at home and I found him sleeping under the table.

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And so it begins! Kidding season has started. My heart is happy this little guy is safe, healthy, and warm. One down. Four to go.

Time for his bottle and for me to try and get a little sleep in between barn checks. Good night all!

We are linking up with the homestead Barnhop, please stop by and visit them :)


Comments

Congrates on the new kid...Sorry it had to be so traumatic for the little guy...what a naughty nanny...You are an amazing woman to achieve all that before a coffee...

LOVE the photo of you holding him, even just rolled out of bed and dealing with it all, you look gorgeous.

Thank you for sharing today.
Sweet dreams and much rest.
Kelsie
Alla said…
Congratulations!! It's absolutely adorable. Reminds me of the many times I've have new kids or lambs in the house.
Dreaming said…
What a way to start the morning!
I love the pictures - how cute.
I'm so glad everything worked out just fine. Good luck with the next 3!
Jill said…
I am enjoying your blog! I have been reading about Izzie. She has such a sweet face and I hope she is feeling better. Love the pictures of Douglas and your baby playing!
Congrats on the new baby! It is so frustrating when a doe won't take her kids... I just hate it. We have one who always picks one of her multiples to reject. More work for me, but oh well. Looks like your little guy has a great home! Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Barn Hop!
Chanda said…
Beautiful new baby. The look on your face is true beauty,pride and contentment with saving the baby goat. I just bought my first milk goat and I had to wait for her to kid so I could pick her up. I am so excited to experience the kidding for the next season. Good luck with the baby, he is beautiful.
The JR said…
Aw, he's so cute.
I am such a fan of Douglas. He looks so interested in his new friend.
N
Congrats on the new kid! So beautiful! I am glad you got there in time! :)
Chai Chai said…
It begins with a bottle baby, you are going to be busy. Don't worry about the shaving on the floor I had a good idea that was what it was!

That is a beautiful picture of you and the kid sitting in the chair.
Anonymous said…
I just found your blog... So glad you were able to find him in time. And, the picture of you first thing in the am is beautiful.
Jocelyn said…
Thank you for sharing your day. Looks like a great one.

Congratulations on the new kid. He's a beauty.

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