I had a baby last night! Actually, one of my goats did. It was my first kidding so it was incredibly exciting.
When I went to do my chores yesterday morning my buck, (yes, the one mentioned in the previous blog) was pestering a doe who I thought may be ready to have babies. Since I've never raised goats before I wasn't really sure what to look for as signs of pregnancy so when Sugar Daddy started showing interest, I was beginning to doubt that this doe was actually pregnant. Based on my little experience with cows she looked like she could be close to kidding. I decided to be safe and isolate her in her own pen.
After work the kids and I hurried out to the barn. I just felt like something was going to happen and it seemed like we couldn't get out there fast enough. I immediately checked on Lena I was a little disappointed to see her just standing around in her pen but then she turned...she lost the plug! A mucousy string hanging from her backside told me that babies were on the way. The kids and I watched her for a while and it became clear that these babies would come sooner rather than later, Lena was having strong contractions which was obvious by her straining and squatting.
It appeared that everything was progressing normally, wait a minute, how would I know...I've never done this before! Actually I was pretty nervous and was beginning to think that her soft grunt-like calls to her unborn baby was actually her pleading for me to do something to help her. I fought the urge to intercede. The kids watched her safely from outside the pen while I proceeded to do the rest of my evening chores.
Okay, I rushed through the chores so I could continue to observe Lena. Within ten minutes things started to happen, something was coming out! Thinking back to all my reading about goats giving birth, I knew the next step after losing the plug was the waterbag. Sure enough, one contraction later it came.
Sure enough, the white spot you can see in the waterbag closest to the goat's rear end is baby Lulu's head!
Now it was time to brief the kids (the two legged ones). I had to warn them that it was going to be a little yucky but that this is normal. I told them the baby would come out slimey and wet and that there might be blood. Lily was a little scared at this point, which surprised me. Jack was ready.
It took two more contractions and then out popped Lulu! Here she is in all her glory.
By this time I was on the phone with my mom giving her the play-by-play, I'm sure she was thrilled. Lena was a bit tired so I picked up Lulu making sure that the slime was out of her nose and mouth then I placed her in front of mama, just like all the books say. Lena immediately began cleaning her off. Success!
It was pretty cold last night so the little darling had a rough start. I had to rub her good with a towel and put a heat lamp in her pen to get her up and going. Soon enough, it was time to eat...
Okay, this is too cute. The little thing can barely walk but she knows what she wants. She would lunge with all her might toward the doe's teat and more than half the time fall on her face. When she finally got a hold of a teat she only had enough strength to suckle a few times before taking a break. this went on for a while then it was time to cuddle up for a nap.
This morning the little Lulu was exploring. Her new buddy is the resident gimpy rooster. They're about the same size. I don't think either one knows what to think of the other!
They make quite a pair though. Clearly this was quite an experience. I'm proud that I made it through the whole ordeal from isolating her this morning to recognizing the signs of labor, having never done this before. Certainly it could have gone a lot worse. The kids are looking forward to playing with the little one. I'm sure in a couple of days she'll be getting into all sorts of trouble...stay tuned!
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