Snow Goats

Benjamin

Jacob

These sweet faces were waiting for us this morning bright and early. After I let the other kids out to play, I spent a little time snapping pictures of them. It is always so surprising how quickly their personalities begin to emerge. Yesterday, Benjie could not work his feet. Today, he is feigning head butting and pouncing in delight. Jacob is full of energy. It is hard to capture a good picture of him because in a flash, his feet explode and he is bounding off.

Benjie is such a snuggle bug. I love goat kids that are quiet tempered and like to cuddle with me. And I am partial to the ones that are into everything all the time. Basically, I like them to have Personality with a capitol P. I know Sean agrees, though it often means extra work for him.

Case in point, Sean had to add two additional rails to the kid's sleeping stall last night. Both Boaz and Phoebe looked at the original height of 3 1/2 feet and laughed in our direction. They had no trouble jumping over to help themselves to the milk before us in the morning. The added rails brought the wall to at least four feet tall. Should be sufficient, right? Wrong. Mistress Phoebe Rubber Hooves met us in Jane's stall this morning. Full of milk and smiling smugly. And while that is annoying on the one hand, it is so terrible that it blurs the line into cute. ♥

After milking, Sean and I traipsed out into the pastures to see how deep the snow is there. While there are small, barren patches under the pine trees, Sean reckons the snow to be about 6 inches deep in most places. We are anticipating rain and sleet over the next couple days. I won't mind so long as Sean's prediction of it melting the last of the snow by the weekend comes true.

Ellie, Jem,, Cassie and Judah munch on evergreen needles Sean broke off for them-
a "reward" for following us to the back fields. Okay, it was a bribe.
They ate it all the same. 

Judah

Ellie, Jemima, and Cassie are all sweet tempered girls. They prefer to be with their people and stay close by us when we are in the field. Judah is a huge cry-baby. He is a loud buck that calls non-stop- even when he is eating! Silly boy! This group are some of my favorite goats. ♥

Leah, Rachel, Keziah, and Eli came running to see what we had offered the other goats, but were quick to decide snow was not to their liking and they returned to the hay cushioned comfort of their stall to chew their cud and await the afternoon's offering of hay and grain.

Once reminded evergreens are indeed edible, Cassie, Ellie, and Judah were happy to browse on them for a bit.

Any place not covered in snow was fair game for exploration, including a temporary shelter from last year. Cassie found it to be a perfect resting spot before trudging through the snow to return to the barn.

The sleet and rain affects my outlook and makes it hard for me to be productive, especially when it lingers. I am more than willing to put up with it if Sean is indeed right and it does the job of clearing the snow away once and for all. The plan for the rest of this week is to finish planting some early seedlings, make feta and chevre tomorrow, mail out some special orders and paint some new jewelry pieces. Sean is focusing on thoroughly cleaning out Jasmine's stall and the main chicken coop. We'll need to find a minute to check on the dozen eggs I set under a couple of broody hens this morning. We won't disturb the nests, but we need to make sure the hens are willing to set on the eggs we placed in them. It should be fine. If all goes well, we'll have our first hatch of a dozen Easter Eggers chicks the first of May then a week later, we should welcome a nest of a dozen Mallard ducklings.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today, friends. We appreciate your company. :)
~Sean and Sonja ♥

Goat Kidding: Benjamin & Jacob

 All the unbred does were anxious to view their new herd-mates. Kidding brings excitement and energy to the barn every time.

Sean and I went outside together to care for the afternoon chores. While Sean went upstairs to throw down the hay bales we needed, I entered the barn to start emptying water buckets for Sean to refill while I distributed hay. The does who had already kidded and their young were loose in the yard. Through a space in the wall separating the young bucks from Jane's stall, I saw what looked like Phoebe in with Lilly and Bailey. "Strange. How did she get through that fencing?" I wondered in the same split second that I saw the kid in question had wattles. Phoebe doesn't. New KIDS!!!! I called, "Sean! Come down here. I have something to show you!"

Jacob and Bailey April 7, 2015

 I needn't have yelled. He was across the way in the milking stall and from his vantage point, he could see Bailey's tail end. "We have kids?!" he exclaimed and ran to join me to check out the situation. That being, we estimate that we missed Bailey kidding by about half an hour. Both kids were born, mostly cleaned and almost dried. They were up, walking and nursing already. All without our help.

Sean went inside for our birthing kit and my camera. While we took a good look at the new kids and cared for them a bit, Bailey enjoyed an extra ration of grain, which she gobbled up greedily. We dipped the long umbilical cords in an iodine solution to help dry them and prevent infection and weighed the new kids.

The older twin (based on his level of cleanliness/dryness) got his daddy's Lamancha style ears. He has black markings on his head that make it look very much like he is wearing a hood or mask. Weighing in at nearly 8 pounds, we named him Jacob. If no other Lamancha does are born to pair him with, he'll make a good buddy for Zeke.

Jacob, 8 pounds of attitude and cute. 

The younger buck we named Benjamin. He is tawny colored with his Mother's ears and wattles and weighed in at 8 pounds, too. For those of you that don't know, wattles are those little fingers of hanging skin that sometimes grow from a goat's chin. (Read more about it HERE.) Though they really serve no purpose physically, they increase the "awwww" factor for me. Ben is our first goat kid to be born with them on the homestead. ♥ Seriously, I can't handle the cute!

Ben was less active than his brother. We made sure we was able to latch on to drink milk and once satisfied that he was drinking, let him rest in the sun. Being born is hard work, after all!

Benjamin, born April 7, 2015 

This was Bailey's first kidding ever. We try to be present for kidding, especially when it is the first one for a doe, but Bailey had other ideas. Sean has been checking her regularly, but she never showed any discharge or signs of impending kidding. We'll make a note in her records that Bailey's udder developed fully upon kidding. She won't be bred again until 2017 and without writing things like these down, we're unlikely to recall them accurately. Bailey is showing herself to be a good and attentive Mother. She washed her kids for the most part herself and instead of jumping or walking away when the kids attempt to suckle- as new moms often do- Bailey is content to stand still and chew her cud.

For those of you keeping track, that is five successful kiddings at Lally Broch Farm this season. So far, we have had 4 sets of twins and 1 singleton born bringing nine bouncing kids into our world. For doelings we have been blessed with; Sarah, Phoebe, Anna, and Piper. For bucklings, we have welcomed; Levi, Ezekiel, Boaz, Jacob and Benjamin. Piper and her Mother have moved to their new home already. Once all the kids are born, Sean and I will decide which kids will be for sale this year. If you are interested in adding goats to your homestead or growing your herd, we will be listing our pairs shortly.

Thanks for visiting this morning. It is lovely to share your company. :)
~Sean and Sonja ♥

A Mystery of Sorts...

We knew it was coming within the next week or so and even watching for it, we missed it by about an hour. After this morning's milking, Sean checked all the stalls to give everyone a quick once over and say, "Good morning." Everyone looked fine. No signs of imminent kidding from Bailey and Lilly or Haddie and Salome. (There is some question as to whether Haddie and Lilly are bred. I am of the mind that Lilly might be; Sean insists neither are.) Judah's scouring is completely resolved. Jem, Ellie, and Cassie are all putting on weight. Lilly is up and walking around normally again. I meant to write a bit about her injury last week, but hadn't yet done so.

Here's the snapshot... Lilly injured her right front knee a couple weeks ago playing with Bailey. It became swollen and was difficult for her to put her weight on it. There was no sign of infection. We gave her a shot of Banamine the first two days and wrapped it with gauze and Vetrap to help stabilize the joint. Lilly preferred to lay down most of the time and she went off her feed which caused us more concern. We talked with our Veterinary and determined a course of treatment. Banamine was discontinued in favor of one 325 mg aspirin each morning and night. To help stimulate her appetite and get her back to eating, we gave Lilly 20 cc of Propylene Glycol morning and night orally and injected 5 cc Fortified Vitamin B each morning. For a boost of vitamins and to tempt her palate, we added extra fresh veggies (spinach, peas, banana, and apples) in addition to her grain. This did the trick. Lilly resumed eating within 24 hours and slowly began putting her weight on her leg. It took about 7 days before she was walking more regularly. By day 10, she met me at the gate and gave Bailey a shove to push her out of the way to get to her morning grain. The bandage came off and I am happy to report there seems to be no lasting damage.

There is no way around it- being cooped up in the barn is extra hard on good herd management. Even with the doors open to snow covered pastures, no one is willing to spend much time outside. So many animals confined to the stalls in our barn is a recipe for the spread of germs and injuries to occur. I cannot stress how often and vehemently we pray for this weather to break- for all of our sakes.

We thought last winter was long and hard. It made me wonder if I was remembering years past with rose-colored glasses. So, I took a look back and this is what I found:

April 2012~

Ellie and Asher April 11, 2012

At the beginning of April, notice the goat fields are completely bare of snow.

At this point, Ellie had just kidded Abigail and Asher. Jedi, Pepper, Rachel, and Leah were all yearlings. Young days for us on the homestead.

April 2013~

Ruby with Haddie and Salome, Rachel and Keren and Leah's son, Judah all playing on the front lawn, picking at the grass beginning to already green up and grow!

April 2014~

The beginning of April last year saw still some snow in the pastures, but it was melting quickly. Much of the pasture was open for Jane and her buckling, Jesse to wander about in.

Melted snow water collected in low spots and took a little longer to be absorbed into the earth. There was nothing to eat in the pasture areas, but there was sun and room to stretch legs and bounce around in play.

2015~
It snowed another inch over night. Add that to the 2 inches from Sunday night and I am almost convinced that we are never going to see the ground again.

Levi is romping in planters that at this time last year already had mint and chives emerging. Several inches of snow are still covering my herb garden beds. 

Phoebe is standing where the kids of 2013 were romping on green grass. There is no green grass. There is little hope of green grass coming even in a short while. And all the farms around us are suffering in the same boat. Our regular hay supplier ran out long ago. Our back-up supplier ran out of hay mid-winter. Our most recently found hay supplier brought us an additional 120 bales and ran out of hay to sell until June- if the snow is gone by then. I think I am joking. We called seven hay suppliers this week searching for more hay to get us through the season. We were blessed to find it and thankful. Just another symptom of how bad this year has been for man and beast.

For us, we have committed to growing CSA shares for 5 families this season. To that end, Cameron DePaola is busy starting the non-GMO organic seeds we provided him. He'll start those that need a jump-start like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, spinach, and watermelon in his aquaponic system. With success, we'll expect about 157 six-packs back from him in 6-8 weeks. That is a lot of veg- even to support six families. It is more than we'll plant here at the homestead, but we'll offer the extra plants for purchase in the early weeks of our attending Bucksport's farmer's market. In addition to what Cameron will plant for us, tomorrow, I will start dill, cilantro, basil, romaine and red romaine lettuces, kale, and spinach inside. If the weather ever does decide to turn, we will be ready to transplant our seedlings and direct-seed more hearty crops of corn, beans, peas, beets, pumpkin, onions, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and radishes.

I began this post talking about something that happened in spite of our watching for it. Instead, the thoughts and worries of the day needed release. They bubbled forth and took over my fingers leaving me at peace to sleep tonight. While that is well and good for me, I am not so heartless as to leave you hanging completely unsatisfied. Here is a glimpse of what tomorrow's post will look like... 

This is Benjamin. He and his brother, Jacob, were born today. I'll introduce Jacob to you tomorrow and share the pictures I captured today. ♥ Mom and boys are doing great.

Good night, my friends. See you in the morning.

~Sean and Sonja ♥

Adoption Day... Jesse, Keren, and Piper's New Home

Piper March 2015

We knew this day was coming last fall when Jessica and her family visited us at the homestead. After listening to the family, learning their goals and needs in respects to having goats, we offered to sell them Keren Happuch and Jesse. In addition, we offered to breed Keren to one of our unrelated bucks, either Ethan or Eli, with the hopes of producing at least one additional doe to start their herd. Deposits were taken and a deal was struck. Since their barn had not been built and the woods that their goats would roam were yet unfenced, we agreed to keep Keren and Jesse with us until Keren kidded in the spring.

Jesse 2014

Over the fall months, we enjoyed several visits with the family and grew more and more pleased with the arrangements. My biggest concern was hoping that 18 month old Keren would cooperate and get pregnant. My hope was for a single doe to be born. Twins are nice, but just starting out, I thought three goats testing fencing, needing hoof trimming and regular care were probably sufficient. It had been for us. The reason for my hope of Keren kidding a doe is obvious. While whethered bucks are every bit as cute and make great pets, this family wanted milk for cheese, yogurt, and soap making- a doeling would be a better result.

Keren kidded on March 16th. One large and lusty doe. Weighing in at nearly 7 pounds and feisty from the start, this little girl was all I could have asked for. Keren kidded beautifully. Her maternal instincts kicked in immediately. Text book. Jessica arrived just minutes after the kidding and took a hand in caring for her doe and new doeling. We discussed what was best for her family and decided to wait a week (for Piper to get established with nursing and past any potential immediate medical concerns) and 5 days more (so Keren could get introduced to milking).

As it turned out, Piper needed nothing from us. She took to milking immediately and is a healthy, thriving kid. Keren's first go at milking was every bit as difficult as we anticipated. She kicked up her back legs, stepped in the bucket, stepped on us, and generally made her displeasure known. We collected a good amount of milk that first day despite Keren's best efforts to thwart us- none of it usable. Day two was markedly better. Keren attempted to kick at the very beginning, but within minutes settled into eating her grain. We did not let our guard down, but I had every hope that in a few days, she would settle down.

I was relieved to learn from Jessica that she did. It took her a couple days to settle in and eat as much as she should. Grain + Hay + Demand = Milk Supply. Keren chose to not finish her grain. Jessica tried to tempt her interest with some cracked corn. A couple mouth fulls and Keren was bored with that, too. We suggested mixing in some healthy greens, like carrots, spinach, and peas with her grain. The salad worked. (Or, Keren just settled in from the shock of moving to her new home, realized she was treated like a queen and decided eating would resume.) Either way, her milk production has began to increase. It is still much less in quantity than I hoped for, but with time and patience, I am
eager to see how well she performs.

And, the family? They are over the moon...

Their chariot awaits... 

Jesse and Keren settled in for their ride to their new home

I will explore after I am convinced there is food in this new place... 

The Walk of Triumph... Goats are in the Hooooouse... *ahem* Garage... 

Jesse noticed some places that needed shoring up first thing. Very helpful of him. ;) 

Lally Broch Farm Goat Adoption Kit 

Our Adoption Kit: 

* Basic Goat Guide and Workbook with your goat's medical history and parentage, custom breeding charts, recipes, medical, worming and milking worksheets, resources and space to write your own observations.

* Collars
* Goat Sweaters
* Iodine
* Vetrap
* Pepto Bismol
* Organic Udder Balm

* Goat's Milk Soap
* Sterile 12 cc Syringes

* Sterile 18 g Needle
* Sterile Scalpel

Piper thinks her grain manger is a perfect daybed.

* Carrying Tote

We have written it before, but it bears repeating... Our goal is not to simply breed goats.  We do things differently than many larger operations (Steps on Soap Box....) For us, it is not about pedigree or show titles, but rather about breeding responsibly in order to produce the healthiest kids possible. Our desire is to build the best milk producing lines, as organically and naturally as we can. Though many of our goats could be ADGA registered, we do not pursue that. Thus, our goat kids are not tatooed. Since we have no interest in showing goats at fairs, (where it is a requirement to do so) we do not disbud our kids. We believe that goats should have their horns intact. I started writing about our philosophy of care and went off on a HUGE tangent. Erased from this post, I expect it will come up in one very soon.

Jessica says, "Life is good, drinking coffee with your goat."

Back to the point of this post, we want our kids to have the best start in their new home. To that end, we are available to help answer questions if the need arises. We provide an adoption kit with every kid. We will not sell single kids. And, we will take the time to listen to you about your needs before we talk about your purchasing kids from our herd for yours. This was our first experience with selling goats from our herd. I am thrilled it was so positive for all of us.

We will have a limited number of goat kids available for adoption this year. Stay tuned for that post in the coming months. :)

Thanks for visiting with us today, friends. We're sure glad you are here.

~Sean and Sonja 

2015 CSA Share Information and Barn Plans

Moved upstairs until they can return outside.

This post was started more then 2 weeks ago and got pushed to the background as new kids were born. At the risk of giving you all whiplash, I am posting it anyway...

It is very much like the game of getting the fox, chicken and the grain across the stream intact. Sean is working at changing the goats about in preparation of business of real kidding season to begin now that pre-season has run its course with two successful kiddings.

We begin to milk tomorrow morning. In order to get the milk stands set up and ready, the turkeys needed to be moved upstairs in the barn this week- which meant that upstairs had to be cleaned up from supplies, shelves, and the other useful bits that had accumulated over the winter and were in need of some serious sorting. Tonight, the kids all need to be separated into one stall together and away from their Mommas for the overnight. And here is where the logistics become interesting.

Asher cannot be housed with the other young bucks while the doors are still kept closed (most of the time) to keep in the heat. He can be housed with Jane, so she is moving back there. Lilly and Bailey need to be moved from a stall without doors, to one where kidding can be more comfortable and fully accessible. The best spot would be living with Abigail and her kids, Sarah and Levi. But, we can't just throw them in there and hope for the best. So, while Sean deconstructs the wall between Jane and Abigail, Lilly and Bailey can chill in the milk room. Ellie, Cassie, and Jem will be moved to live with Leah, Rachel, and Keziah in the main doe stall so that Keren and Naomi can vacate the stall with Abigail and move in with Haddie and Meme in the 2nd kidding stall. They are all due to kid next month, are the same age and grew up as kids together and should get on well. Once all this shuffling takes place, Sean will reintroduce Lilly and Bailey to Abigail while he deconstructs the temporary wall which kept Abigail and Jane apart and use that lumber to create an overnight kid pen all the while watching for any trouble between Lilly, Bailey, and Abigail. Dizzy yet? When all is said and done- for the next 6 weeks- during the daytime hours:
* Asher will live with Jane and their twins on one side of the buck stall
* Jesse, Judah, and Eli will live together on the other side of the buck stall
* Ellie, Cassie, Jem, Leah, Rachel, and Keziah will share a 10x10 stall
* Abigail and her kids, Sarah and Levi, Lilly, and Bailey will share a 10x10 stall
* Meme, Haddie, Keren, and Naomi will share a 10x10 stall

Once the weather breaks and Keren kids, she, her kids, and Jesse will all move to their new forever home to start a brand new herd and provide milk for their new family. The doors to the pasture will be reopened. All three 10x10 doe stalls will have their dividing doors open to allow free access during the day. The wall separating our three bucks will be removed and they will also enjoy free access to their stall and pasture. Once the weather breaks. Boy, that has a nice ring to it!

*************** Back to the Drawing Board*****************

Our make-shift plan doesn't work.

1. Lilly & Bailey began aggressively butting heads with Abigail and the kids upon introduction. While the goats in other stalls gave a few token pushes and feigns while they settled in to who is in charge, the sisters tried using their much larger size to run Abigail outside and not let her back into the barn- over and over and over. *Sigh* Seriously.

2. In Jane's absence, Asher decided he likes having a bachelor pad and tried to pick a shoving match with Jane's kids. Unlike Jedi who was sweetness itself with kids, Asher immediately tried to show his dominance. That lasted all of one minute before Asher was granted his wish to have his own stall, again.

We considered letting Jane and her twins live in the milk room with Ebony, the pig. This will not work. Both bouncy kids tried climbing the stairs already and that is a recipe for disaster! So, for overnight tonight, we'll move Abby to the milk room alone. Jane will sleep in with Asher and all the kids will have a sleep over together in a stall to themselves. In the morning, after we milk, we'll pick up more wood and make some changes.

*********** Success! (Or, a close approximation of it, anyway.) ************

It is not the best solution to our dilemma, but it works for the moment. We pray daily for the weather to finally break. These animals are stir crazy from being cooped up all day and who can blame them? Not I.

Keren, Piper, and Jesse will be leaving our farm to begin their new life together at their new home sometime in the next week or so. When that happens, we'll rearrange stalls slightly and it will look like this come April...

The reality is, we already need a bigger barn. While I realize that perhaps some of you might suggest keeping less goats, doing so is contrary to our reaching the goal of maintaining this lifestyle by working for ourselves. I confess, I worry about finances and whether we are making the right choices for our family, but when we weigh working for others and being away from home and our kids all day with the delight and joy our schedule has been since Sean's February lay off... well, it is not even a close call. The girls education has become more of a family focus. Working together each week in our ministry has strengthened us and brought us closer together. So many projects are getting done with time to spare for US. We are creating more of our products at a better pace in preparation for the coming season. Sean half-jokingly remarked to me that he's never worked harder, but the meals are better. It is hard work, but I don't consider that a "downside". In fact, it is really hard to find a down side. It shouldn't be so in the wake of uncertainty and the loss of a steady paycheck, but Sean, the girls, and I have never been closer or happier than we are right now, today. I understand that perhaps it won't last. Perhaps the financial bottom line will necessitate Sean's return to full-time employment elsewhere. If it does, I will choose to look on these past few months as a wonderful gift. But, how will we know for sure, unless we press forward and TRY with all our might?

Sean has been taking odd jobs as he can find them to help supplement our income until shows, craft fairs, and farmer's markets begin in earnest. We hope that one of these opportunities will become a steady 2-3 day/week employment, leaving him available for the farm the other 4-5 days/week. I am creating as fast as my fingers will allow it. And, we are working on our goal of supplying goat's milk soaps, massage melts, scent tarts, eggshell jewelry, and bee's wax wraps to 8 additional stores in Maine. We are planning for this year's CSA garden shares (Click to read.) Goat rentals (click to read.) begin April 1st. And, we have enough eggs being laid regularly to satisfy 6 of our 10 regular CSA Egg Share (Click to read.) Customers. This will increase daily with the daylight. If you are interested in signing up for any of our shares, you can use this form (Click to read.) or call to talk with Sean or myself at 207-323-4982.

Sean and I spent a couple hours this week planning on the barn expansion we'll need to frame and sheath this year. Most of the year, the does will have open access to three of the stalls and their field. Once breeding season comes in the fall, we'll be able to separate our pairs into private and semi-private kidding stalls. We've planned to create four kidding stalls (marked in light blue). If we can breed the way we did this year, with several weeks between each kidding, this will suit us perfectly. We'll increase to breed 8 does each year, alternating years so the does have plenty of time to rest and recuperate after breeding.

This is our ambitious, 2-year barn plan:

2015:
*Pour cement pad for addition
*Frame & OSB sheath 10x10 Dedicated Milking Room
*Frame & Cement Board sheath 10x5 Dedicated Milk Processing Room
*Frame 10x5 Wood Shed
*Frame and Metal Roof Addition
*Typar entire barn
*Move and install windows and doors (as necessary)
Cost of Materials Approx. $900

2016:
*Aluminum siding on entire barn
Cost of Materials ?????

When I wrote this two days ago, I felt nothing but excitement at all of the possibilities ahead of us. I knew it would take a lot of hard work, but we're up for that. Today I spent most of the day working on gathering information for a grant I want to apply for. If we are successful, we'll have the funds to expand and complete all the garden beds we want to have, a greenhouse to cover a good amount of them, and the barn expansion completed this year. It would be a HUGE jump for us and allow us to apply for our dairy license as well as more than double our CSA shares. My dream is to be able to focus part of our CSA shares towards supplying low-income and elderly families with fresh, local foods. For some reason the potential to be able to take that leap so soon leaves me feeling overwhelmed and just a little lost. It is all perception. Nothing has changed between this day and that, other than my perception and mental attitude.

I think it is time to get off this silly machine and put my hands to work. Nothing helps change an attitude so much as a little physical work help to distract the mind. I need to make another three batches of soaps to give us a fully stocked supply and there is no time like the present.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit friends.
I am glad you came.

~Sean & Sonja ♥

GRAPHIC VIDEO: Goat Kidding, Piper is Born

The sweet scent of fresh hay and newly-born goat kids lingers on my clothes and I am in need of another shower. I couldn't be happier. Sean was right. Keren kidded quickly in less than an hour just after noon time. Keren's new human, Jessica, wanted to try to be present for her kidding. We'd been texting through the morning with updates, hoping to be able to give enough notice for her to be there without spending all day waiting around in the barn. But, when it was time to come, that kid was on no one's schedule but her own!


We were able to catch a video of her, making her grand entrance:

Jessica arrived about 20 minutes after Piper entered the world. Other than the necessary task of helping to dry her off, we left everything else for Jessica to see and/or participate in as far as she was comfortable with.

Keren did great kidding and possesses good maternal instincts. As soon as Piper was born, Keren immediately helped clean her off, calling softly as she licked her new kid dry, learning each other's scents and voices.

I love the look on Piper's face as Sean checks
to see her gender.

Our most pressing hope was for a healthy kid. Second to this, we really wanted a doe for Jessica's family. We bred Keren specifically so that her kid would not be related to Jesse. A doeling would give her a nice start for her family herd, since both Keren and her kid would be able to be bred with Jesse. As if we had anything to do with matters, Sean and I shared an enthusiastic "high-five" automatically when we discovered that the newest kid was a doe.

Piper tipped the scale at nearly 7 pounds, a healthy respectable weight for a first kid. Piper is 1/2 Lamancha, 1/4 Oberhausli and 1/4 Boer. She should grow to be a good sized doe with hybrid vigor and a decent milk supply. Piper inherited her Daddy's Lamancha elf ears. A quick inspection of Keren showed a nicely-developed udder; large in size, evenly filled, and attached well. I couldn't be happier about Jessica's prospects for her new herd.

Jessica's goats will remain here for about a week. This will give Keren time to settle into motherhood and to make sure Piper is growing as she should. It is bitter sweet to see our first goats leave the farm to begin a new family. Keren is two years old now and a mother in her own right. Jesse was born last year and is ready to sire kids. Sean and I are extremely selective about who we sell our kids to; a wealth of knowledge and experience are not necessary, good hearts and a love of goats is a MUST. It is not about selling goat kids quickly to make a few bucks. It is about finding the right homes for our kids.

Our farm is not the least expensive place to purchase goat kids, but our kids are healthy, friendly, and come from a good line of milkers. We spend time talking with perspective buyers answering their questions and asking our own. We have to feel good about where our goats are going to live. We only sell goat kids in pairs. Our kids come with documents detailing their parentage, medical history, and pictures of their births- if we have them. We also supply a basic goat first aid kit and are on call to answer questions for folks for as long as they need us. As I said, Sean and I are thrilled with the new family these goats will have. I know they are going to be well-loved. ♥

For those keeping track, we now have seven healthy goat kids born this season. Four kiddings completed with excellent results, two (maybe three) more to go before we are done for the year. We'll have updates with images and video to share with you.

Thanks for visiting with us today, friends.
We're sure glad you came.

~Sean & Sonja 

Goat's Kidding, Boaz and Anna are Born

Sean left about an hour ago to bring Miss Caitlin to work. Usually, I take this extra 40 minutes to deeply study the insides of my eyelids, especially if Molly goes with him for the ride and the house is quiet and dark. This morning I awoke to Sean snoring up a storm. (It is ironic that Sean's relentless snoring, when I am trying to drift into sleep, is often annoying. Yet, that same sound in the middle of the night or in the early morning hours usually makes me smile to myself. It is proof that I am never alone. He is here. ♥) Once awakened, nature called and needed attending to. And, as soon as my feet hit the floor, my brain roused itself to begin the day. I tried to convince it that we could rest for a bit longer, but after a few minutes of laying awake thinking about the day ahead, I knew sleep was no longer an option. That did not mean that I had to actually leave the warm cocoon of my bed. If that is not what laptops were created for, it should've been.

I promised you all pictures and a post about the arrival of Naomi and Asher's first kids. No better time to write it for you than now...

To be completely candid, there is not so much to tell. We missed it.

It snowed about 6 inches over night and the snow was still coming down heavily Sunday morning. While I prepared a warm breakfast of fresh, homemade cinnamon buns and sausage links, Sean offered to milk Jane and Abby solo. I agreed. So, Sean milked the two does, gave them their Ivomec booster, and returned them to their kids. Then, he checked pregnant does for signs of kidding before coming inside for breakfast. I strained the milk and recorded the amounts in between working on breakfast and tending the wood stove. Over breakfast Sean commented that he thought Naomi would be kidding in the next couple days and that Keren was not far behind.

After breakfast, Sean and I made three batches of goat's milk soap, feta cheese, ricotta cheese, and a loaf of fresh Italian bread. I finished some new jewelry pieces while Sean cared for feeding and watering our animals. Afternoon chores were finished by 4:00. It felt good to have a lazy day at home. We enjoyed dinner together. The girls cleared the table for us and we gathered in the family room to watch a TV program and enjoy a slice of chocolate cake. Sean brought in Phoebe and Zeke to romp and snuggle with us.

The program ended and the kids needed to be returned outside to sleep. Sean checked the barn once more only to discover two black lumps that he could not account for in the expectant doe stall. He rushed to turn on the light so he could see better all the while worried that he was too late...

And, he was.

Anna

Naomi had kidded twins and cleaned up all on her own. Sean was greeted by two alert and completely dry, furry baby goat kids and one happy Momma looking for treats. Sean ran to the family room window and rapped to get my attention. He rattled off, "Naomi has kids!" and he was gone again. Not knowing what to expect, I grabbed my barn sweater, threw on Sean's boots, slipped my camera into the vet bag and headed outside. Since we had not yet moved Naomi into a private kidding stall, getting to her and the kids meant climbing over stall rails and dodging a couple other pregnant does. Easily enough done, but not convenient.

Proud Daddy, Asher was very
interested in his kids.

Haddie, Salome (Me-me), and Keren share the stall with Naomi. Haddie and Me-me are not due for another month with Bailey and Lilly, so we moved those two out to give Naomi some more room and less company. We'll continue to let Keren stay with Naomi for a couple reasons. First, they are buddies. Also, Keren is due any day now, too. Naomi has a strong mothering instinct. She was the doe who cleaned off Samson when Abigail rejected him last year. Since this is Keren's first kidding, it might be good to have a seasoned doe in the stall. Sean just chimed in with, "And, we'll be plum out of room if we can't double up some of the does." He has a point. Our building motto has been, plan ahead for the size we want our herd to be and then, double that. Goat math can be as tricky as chicken math. We framed out and built a 20x30 two story barn over the past two years and we're already planning a 10' x 20' addition to it for this year. We need the room.

Naomi and Boaz

Since kidding had already happened, all we had to do was check over the new kids and Mom, weigh the kids, and discover their genders. Another buck/doe combination! We named the little buck, Boaz. He is pure black and has long, floppy ears like his Momma. Bo weighed in at 6 pounds. His sister is named Anna. She is an oreo-colored doeling; black in front and back with a white band around the middle. Baby Anna has one black front leg and one white front leg and her Daddy's Lamancha elf ears! She weighed in at 5 pounds. These kids are Nigerian Dwarf/Lamancha cross. We expect them to grow to be good, medium sized goats between 80-100 pounds. This will be our first year milking Naomi, so we do not have any idea of how much milk she'll produce nor how her milk will taste. But, if she performs well, we may keep Miss Anna to add to our line. Asher's mother and sister are both excellent milk producers. His offspring may be as well.

So that is three kiddings complete; three healthy sets of twins and three proud Mommas. Three bucks and three does born. We have at least three more ahead of us this season and potentially four more. I will have some video of these new kids as the days pass, but I do not have any of their birth. Instead, please enjoy some cute images of our newest kids.

Boaz

Boaz and Anna

Keren is getting close! :) 

Last night, Keren was showing signs of impending kidding. Her udder grew considerably larger through the day and her kid(s) had dropped into the right position. As of 10:30 this morning, Keren is showing signs of pre-labor; she is up and down trying to find a spot that is comfortable- mostly unsuccessfully. We suspect she has only one kid, but we aren't certain of that.

We cancelled this morning's plans to go out to "Preach the Word" choosing instead to stay home. The kid(s) could come tomorrow or even the next day, but we are fairly sure it will be today. This is Keren's first birth. We have observed how wonderfully well the instincts created within our animals work, but from time to time, a little help is needed- especially the first time. So, we'll be here. To help if she needs it; to cheer her on, if she doesn't. And, we'll keep you posted with any new developments.

Thanks for visiting with us this morning, friends.
We are sure glad for your company. :)

~Sean and Sonja ♥

PS. Originally, we planned to name Anna, "Ruth", but we changed our minds overnight. She just didn't look like a Ruth. So, Anna it is. :)