Kids Arrive

Last Sunday evening we had no kids yet.  Now we have three. 

When doing chores Monday afternoon, I knew that Vinca was getting ready.  She took a pass on her grain and was nesting - pawing and digging at the straw bedding.  After supper I went out to sit with her and by 9:00 she had given birth to two bucklings.  The three of them spent the night in the dog kennel in the shop which is heated.  

I wasn't sure how long we would have to wait for Echo to give birth but it was only for a few days.  On Thursday morning she was showing the same signs - not interested in her food (unheard of for Echo) and pawing at the bedding.  Unfortunate it was really cold - at or below zero, can't remember exactly.  Of our four goats, Echo seems to feel the cold the most and she was shivering.  We confined the dogs to the house and moved her into the dog kennel/maternity ward.  I called in to work and spent the morning with her there.  She labored pretty long and hard and had a single doeling.  Welcome  Periwinkle! 

Vinca and Echo are doing fine - both are good mamas and have lots of milk.

Locals reading this post know that we are not having a gentle spring.  The goats are pretty hardy but I do worry over the little ones when it is so cold.  You will notice in the photos below that little Periwinkle has a swollen ear - I believe she had a little frostbite there, poor thing. 

After a few days of being refered to as The Light One and The Dark One, the little lads are now named Soot and Snow. 

 Trying to get them all into one picture was difficult.  We tried to gather them on the milking stand - that didn't last long.

It is really hard to photograph kids! - the only time they are still is when they are sleeping!

That is the kid news. 

I have a turkey story to tell, but that can wait until another time.  I should be back with a new post next week - maybe it will feel like spring by then!  Be well friends.