Goat Birth

We knew that our Nubian does were both pregnant, but we didn't know when they were due. So there was a lot of watching. Daphne's belly was so large that I could feel the kids move when I put my hand on her side. I read that the doe's udders would fill with milk soon before she kidded, so on Friday when we saw that Daphne's udders were larger than normal we started to check on her more often. Two of our other does have kidded since we bought them, but both births took place while we were away. Saturday morning we were rushing to leave to the San Antonio zoo, and as we were getting in the car we looked toward the goats to check on Daphne one more time. She wasn't there. I walked along the fence until I saw her through the trees, about to give birth. We watched as the first sack came out and broke with a little baby goat head following. Now this is not the normal position for goats to be born in. Normally they come out with their front legs first and then their head as if they were diving, but with their legs back it makes their shoulders wider and the birth harder for the doe. I helped pull the baby goat out and clean off his face, and after Daphne partially cleaned him off she delivered another buckling, this time with one of his legs folded up by his side. The older buck is black with white ears, a white speckled nose and a small white spot on top of his head, and the younger one is black with a white belly and brownish markings along the edge of the white, and they both feel like velvet. We cleaned up the mess, trimmed the buckling's cords and made sure that they were nursing before we continued on our trip from the to the zoo an hour and a half after we started to get in the car. We have been naming our goats 1950's names such as Nancy, Daphne, Sally, Betty, Lorraine, Mary, George and Jack, so Dad chose the the names Edward and Albert for the two new bucks.



Our other Nubian doe, Nancy, should kid sometime tomorrow. Her udders have filled and we fully expected to come home from church to new goat kids, but it wasn't time yet, so we are guessing that it will be sometime tomorrow. I was the one who was studying up on goat births so I was the "baby catcher" for the kidding and I will probably be the one handling the goat births from now on since everyone else thinks that it is gross, though Zoe will have to help since she wants to be a midwife.

None of our Nubian does are full Nubian; Daphne is 1/8 Nigerian Dwarf, Nancy is 1/2 Nigerian dwarf and our buck Brandon is 1/4 Boer, making Edward and Albert 1/16 Nigerian Dwarf and 1/8 Boer. These are definitely not breeding animals, but we bought them for milk and the fact that they are multiplying is enough. In about two weeks we will start milking them, letting the kids drink all of the milk directly off of them until then.

Soon to come: Butchering our troublesome goat STEWart

Update on Mom

Mom with her friend Amelia

Mom's surgery went well, so well that she was feeling better within an hour. The pain from the surgery was much less than the pain which she had before, and Mom was doing so well that she had trouble trying to rest.
Thank you all for your prayers!

Lauren

Pray for Mom

My Mom has pain in her legs and pelvis which has been getting increasingly worse for the last seven years. After going to multiple doctors we finally found that she has Pelvic Congestion Syndrome, which is basically major varicose veins inside of the pelvis. She is going in for surgery this morning, and will hopefully be back home in the evening. Please pray that all goes well and that she can be back soon.

Lauren

A New Blog

The Overworked Elocutionist

Narrations from a Large Homeschooling Family

http://theoverworkedelocutionist.blogspot.com/

Thomas, Pierce, Zoe and I decided to start a blog on which we could post written narrations of what we are learning in school and on the hobby farm (Zoe especially was thrilled to write on a blog). Due to our difference in age and interest there should eventually be posts about history, science, math, government, poems, stories, farming, etc. Basically, anything which we find interesting or which Mom wants us to write about. I hope you enjoy reading and learning with us!

Lauren

Joyfully at Home Giveaway

Joyfully at Home has been one of the most encouraging blogs which I have found. Written by Jasmine Baucham, daughter of Voddie Baucham, this blog has been encouraging in my christian walk as a stay-at-home daughter of my earthly father and my heavenly Father. But alas, Jasmine has decided to leave her blog behind, and instead leave a book to encourage any girl who might pass by.  Jasmine's book addresses how you can fulfill the Great Commission at home during your years of singleness, under the authority of your father. Even though I haven't read this book yet, I would highly recommend it. There is a giveaway of this book at Feminine Farmgirl (ending tomorrow), but if you happen to miss this you can purchase the book from Vision Forum. If you would like a preview of her book, please read her Joyfully Content series, which began the writing of her book, just a few months ago.

Lauren