Darla's baby girl born on May 3, 2012.
Darla was carrying twins. She is our largest goat so normally this would not be a problem. Goats typically give birth to two babies and care for them just fine. For some reason, this time, Darla lost one – and the baby that didn’t make it was three times the size of the one that did.
It is sad when you find a newborn goat laying lifeless. You try to guess when they are going to kid. You put up video cameras and baby monitors – if the video camera doesn’t have sound. You put the expecting mama in a stall by herself, but still – sometimes you miss the date and don’t get the mama moved or something simply doesn’t go right.
Tulip, the cashmere goat, and her day old kid - November 10, 2011.
This year we did not get Darla moved. We missed the date. I had looked at her teats but they didn’t seem full enough. We were – in fact – still cleaning out the birthing stall. We had just moved Tulip and her baby Magnolia into the main area with the other goats. I was sure I had another week or two and Darla showed no signs of birthing that morning when I fed her.
Baby goats needs to suckle as soon as possible from their mama so they get the colstrum they need to thrive – and this is why knowing when a goat is going to kid is so important. You can intervene if necessary and put the kid on the mama’s teat.
Kids that do not get this colstrum usually do not thrive. You can buy a powder substitute and keep it on hand but it is not as good as what mama produces – and sometimes the kid will not take a bottle.
Darla the goat
Darla seemed to grieve last night over the loss of her baby. She did take care of the one little girl that lived and they are bonding nicely. That is always a good thing. In time, Darla will get over her grief and hopefully next year all of her babies will live.
Filed under Dairy Goats, Goats by on May 4th, 2012. Comment. 
Tulip's day old kid - November 10, 2011.
Tulip, the cashmere goat, and her day old kid - November 10, 2011.
A video of Tulip my goat and her newborn kid, born on November 9, 2011.
Filed under Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 10th, 2011. Comment.
Darla with her newborn baby boy. This is one of his first attempts to stand. She is still cleaning him up.
Moses a couple days after he was born. Moses is Tulip's baby boy.
Yesterday was the day when we sold our first two goats. It was exciting and sad. Both Tulips baby Moses and Darla’s baby boy, whom we had not named, were taken away.
They went to their new home together. That made me feel much better. At least they knew one another. The lady and her young son were very nice and I know they are in a good home.
I had been wondering what I was doing wrong, why our goats weren’t selling. I decided it is not a matter of what I am doing wrong, but a matter of reaching the right people. The lady who bought the goats saw the ad on Craigslist. I had not posted there prior to this year.
I still have three goats left for sale, all born last summer, two does and one wether. I would like to see them go as a trio.
Filed under Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Apr 29th, 2011. Comment.
Moses shortly after birth.
Today, March 22, 2011, Tulip gave birth to a single goat kid again, which is rather unusual because most goats have twins or tripets, sometimes more. She is a proud mama softly naaing, which is the way mama goats talk to their kids. If you listen closely you will hear the baby responding. She is still cleaning her baby even though no afterbirth remains and allowing the baby to nurse at will. Some goats don’t allow their kids to nurse which means either the goat has to be tied up and forced to let the baby nurse or you have to milk the goat, then feed the baby with a bottle.
We do not know at this point in time if the baby is a girl or boy, only that the baby is healthy and nursing. It has only been a few hours since the baby was born. The last time I attempted to find out what the baby was too soon, the baby fainted and mama almost choked to death. She was eating grain, so I figrued I would just pick up the baby. The mama did not like that. I had a serious situation on my hands and was alone. I chose to help the mama. Thankfully both were ok, but I certainly learned my lesson. Tomorrow we will try to sex the baby.
Moses with his mother Tulip. Tulip is a cashmere goat.
Tulip gave birth unassisted, once again. I have been very lucky in that respect. None of the mamas have had complications with their pregnancies or with giving birth. I honestly don’t know how I would deal with having to pull a kid. I guess I would just call the vet.
Tulip is now enjoying fresh water, fresh organic grain top dressed with organic kelp and a fresh flake of hay. I always treat the mother after they give birth. I figure they must feel similiar to the way a human does when they give birth. It has to be tiring and fresh food and water are always appreciated. I know this because of the way they look at me and because they wag their tails, similar to the way a dog wags their tail.
Stay tuned for further updates and be sure to tune into Exotic Gardening Farms & Wildlife Habitat Goat TV. You can access the live feed on the right side of the screen or you can view it at http://stickam.com/sheriannricherson
Update: We looked this morning, March 23, 2011 and found out Tulip had a baby boy. My agent Janet Rosen suggested we name him Moses, so we did!
Incidentally, vet tech schools offer all kinds of classes, just in case I’ll need it next time!
Filed under Fiber Goats, Goats by on Mar 22nd, 2011. Comment.
Sugar's baby hiding underneath her tummy.
Born on July 28, 2010 to Sugar, this baby goat still needs a name. This has been a crazy summer and naming the goats has not been a top priority. He is up for sale, so that has been another reason why I have not chosen a name for him. Suggestions are welcome!
He is an alpine/nubian/angora cross.
Filed under Cast of Characters, Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
We named her Cinnamon.
Born on July 30, 2010 to Spice, this baby goat still needs a name. This has been a crazy summer and naming the goats has not been a top priority. She is up for sale, so that has been another reason why I have not chosen a name for her. Suggestions are welcome!
She is an alpine/nubian/angora cross.
Filed under Cast of Characters, Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
We named her Nutmeg.
Born on July 30, 2010 to Spice, this baby goat still needs a name. This has been a crazy summer and naming the goats has not been a top priority. She is up for sale, so that has been another reason why I have not chosen a name for her. Suggestions are welcome!
She is an alpine/nubian/angora cross.
Filed under Cast of Characters, Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
This is Sugar’s baby born here at the farm on June 25, 2009. Raphael is an alpine/nubian/angora cross who has gone on to a new home.
Filed under Cast of Characters, Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
This is Sugar’s baby born here at the farm on June 25, 2009. Cyrus is an alpine/nubian/angora cross who has gone on to a new home.
Filed under Cast of Characters, Dairy Goats, Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
This is Tulip’s first baby, a cashgora, which is a cashmere/angora cross. He was born on July 11, 2009. Rembrandt still lives here at the farm with us.
Filed under Fiber Goats, Goats by on Nov 17th, 2010. Comment.
Reader’s Thoughts