Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

I had a post already to go about the crazy things that went on with the animals yesterday and how I am blaming time change but..... the surprise of today will put that post off until later.

Yesterday as I was doing my hundreth butt check of the day I noticed Precious was getting a nice udder. She is a yearling, which means she hasn't kidded so shouldn't have much of one at all. William said he thought she was just getting a little larger one than other yearlings but nothing to worry about. Now remember I was dumb and put the 4 dwarf goats we got in with Precious and Buttons last fall. One of them was a buck. I wasn't thinking and so that left me not knowing when goats were bred or going to kid. Was I ever dumb! Never done that before nor will I do it again. But anyways, Precious wouldn't let Little Man have anything to do with her. I had written down in my day planner the dates I saw him try. Precious never showed any signs of being bred. She didn't get fat, she didn't have a full udder until yesterday and then it wasn't that full. William even bounced her yesterday just to make me happy. Bouncing is when you try to get the baby or babies to move or kick. He felt nothing and he has always been able to get them to kick or move a knee, etc. So this morning I go out to feed and everything is normal (well normal for my critters). William goes off to deliver eggs and plow a garden. I am sitting in the rocker feeding Lester when I hear over the baby monitor moaning. I hear it a few more times and tell Lester and Rusty I think one of the goats has gone into labor. Lester was almost finished with his bottle so I was going to wait and go out when he was done. The next instant I hear a loud moan and then a cry. I know that sound. A kid was being born right now! Poor Lester got sat on the floor, bottle tossed on the table as I grab my birthing kit and dash out the door. Precious had no idea what was happening to her and layed down behind the goat barn in the dirt. There was one foot and a nose and tongue sticking out. I shoo the dogs and other goats to the other pen, latch the gate and see what I can do. I have a large baby changing pad that works perfect for putting beneath the goats when kidding. Keeps the area out of dirt, hay, and cleaner for baby when born. Grab that from kit and see Precious cervix isn't dilated enough for the kids head. I hold the one foot and take my other hand to gently rub around the baby's head to dilate the cervix. I then reach in and find the other foot and bring it out. I keep rubbing around the cervix and soon the head is coming out. Precious had a BIG baby girl! Sorry I didn't think to grab the camera on my way out so these photos are of the baby at about 10 minutes old.

 I cleaned and suctioned the mouth, tied the cord while Precious just watched in disbelief of what she had just delivered. I lay the baby on a baby blanket in front of her and her mommy instints kick in. She starts cleaning and talking to the doeling like she has been a mommy forever. Within 5 minutes the kid was standing up and I moved them into a nice clean stall.

Gave Precious warm molasses water, grain, and hay. Baby was nursing like it was starving! I hooked up a heat lamp as its cool and windy today. Mom and daughter are doing outstanding. Precious is Diva's great granddaughter. Diva was my very first goat here at Hidden Haven.  And also the great granddaughter to my beloved Nitro.

I am so blessed to have their great, great granddaughter who's name is Little Diva but will be called Little D.