Well I should have know when I made a to do list for today it wouldn't work. I had all these things planned to get done outside and it was another sunny but not hot day, which was perfect for outdoor chores. I came inside to get something to drink and get the scrap bucket when I heard a goat cry over the monitor. Now there are always goats crying over the monitor so I kinda tune them out. They are crying because its feeding time, the babies are crying because they lost their mom, Bonnie is crying because she lost Trouble for the 100 time of the day, etc. I know from the cry what is wrong and if I need to go out to the pen. Well this cry was a labor cry and I run out the door. It was a little white goat that Williams friend had brought a week or so ago along with 4 other pregnant goats. He purchased them at a sale and has no idea what they are bred to or even a clue as how close they are to kidding. This little thing didn't even look pregnant but there she was laying on the ground in the middle of the goat pen. She had no idea what was happening to her. Got her up and walked her into a stall and got her settled down. Got the birthing kit and just settled down to wait and see. After 15 minutes her water broke so I knew it wouldn't be long. She was one scared little goat but really did very well. Another 15 minutes pass and though she is pushing nothing is happening. I glove up and have a little feel to see what is going on. Feel the feet so sit back and wait again. She pushes and the sac the baby is in breaks so I reach for the feet to help the baby get out before it tries to breathe and inhales fluid. The feet (which are long) come out fine but the head is way too big for this little goat. Use my finger to circle around the cervix to dilate more and keep pulling as she pushes. I finally had to get William to come pull the baby while I held the goat. It was a rough delivery for the little one. Got this bucklings airway cleared and made sure he was breathing when she started pushing with the next one. Same thing again. Baby goats head too big for little goat. William pulls and I hold. Little one (will have to name her as her owner never names any of them) is exhausted but happy to have her 2 little boys. I clean babies and mom up, get her some warm molasses water, hay and grain and let her rest a few minutes. Then I go back to get the little bucklings to nurse. Mom's teats are so tiny they had a hard time nursing. I kept going back every few minutes until after about an hour they got the hang of it and nursed on their own. Mom and boys are clean, fed, warm, and happy at the moment and I will try to finish my to do list tomorrow.... I hope!
9 comments:
They are so lucky to have someone like you to help them through their deliveries.....if I was a goat I would want to live at Hidden Haven!
It's lucky you were there! Don't know if I could do that.
Congrats on the twin bucklings!
Amy
What a great goat-midwife you are! And isn't it amazing how you can tell the difference between a goat "pitty me" yell and a "i'm hurting" yell? Just love those monitors! Don't know how I did it the first two years without one....wait a minute, I DO know how I did it....went outside like every fifteen minutes for like two days. Ah, the lives of goatkeepers!
I'm so glad that Little One had you and William there to help with the delivery. Like Denise, if I were a goat I'd want to live at Hidden Haven. Heck I'd like to live at Hidden Haven anyway. Hope you have a good day.
Thank God you do what you do Peggy. Where would some of these poor creatures be without you.
Bless Little's heart! It sounds like she was too young to be bred but, thankfully, she ended up with you and William.
Wooo--that must have been hard on that little goat. BUT--glad she is okay and her two little boys... How special!!!!!!
Thanks for helping in these births, Peggy... Not sure what would happen if you and William hadn't have been there...
God is Good..
Hugs,
Betsy
Your goat herd is growing. I have lost track of how many you have. You seem to be a rescue place for unwanted goats. They are such fun I am sure.
I read the posting on Mary. I was interested to see she had moved. Years ago, She and Sabrina visted me. It is good to see life is good for her.
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