February 27, 2016

Baby Goat Cuteness

Tomorrow I announce the winner of the Trailersteading giveaway, but I wanted to sneak in a few of the latest baby goat photos. I can't wait too long to share because they grow so fast!

Daphne and her baby boys at one day old.

Now that they're dry, you can see their coloring a little better. Buckling #1 is mostly black, but like his mom, has a few white spots here and there.

Couldn't get him to face the camera!

Buckling #2 looks a dark silvery gray, which is actually a mix of black and white hairs (called "grizzled").


Now here they are in their little goat coats. The wind has been terribly cold so I'm happy that they fit. This is their very first outing at two days old.



Meeting the other goats. This is B1 and Violet.

I didn't realize B2 had such interesting leg markings until I saw this photo



I lament that my camera isn't good enough to get action shots. They look calm and still in these photos, but they are really very bouncy.


The coats fit fairly well except that for newborn Kinder kids they don't need to be so long. Mamas identify their babies by smell, particularly their hind ends. When kids come to nurse she'll check to make sure it's her kids and not somebody else's trying to sneak a little milk. Also she keeps them clean back there, but so far so good. I actually made a knitting mistake and didn't add stitches to accommodate chest girth, but it this case it gave a better fit. Kinders are a midsize goat; smaller than standards but larger than miniature breeds.

And of course, a piggy shot.


They've been exploring their little barn but always come back to the sleeping pile. In the late afternoon the sun comes in through the door, so they're taking advantage of that.

Next baby goat due date - April 6.

30 comments:

PioneerPreppy said...

I always think the cutest part of baby goats or lambs is the little hooves for some reason.

That's a pile of bacon there. What ya gonna do with all those piglets?

Unknown said...

If your having a naming contest I vote "Lightnin" for B2. Course I could be as crazy as those voices have been suggesting....

Leigh said...

PP, I agree about those little hooves. Do sheep hooves need trimming? That's a chore I never like.

Most of the piglets I'll sell or trade. We processed two of last summer's piggies just last month. They were six months old. The breed is small so the harvest was small, but for just the two of us it was still a lot of meat. How many to keep will kinda depend on how long that lasts us.

Jay, excellent name! I plan to sell both of these boys, in which case I don't usually think about names. If someone buys them and wants them registered, then I let the buyer choose the name for the registration papers. But I do like "Lightnin" not only for the markings, but because they're just entering the run-don't-walk stage. :)

Jason and Michelle said...

They are all so cute!

Theresa said...

Thank heavens you don't have to knit sweaters for all those adorable piglets!

Lucía Moreno-Velo said...

I propose Zazzy or Lamedh (the hebrew letter for L that looks just like the marking on his left leg). And the both have a great X mark on their foreheards.
They are lovely!
Cheers,
Lucía

Leigh said...

That's why this is my favorite time of year. :)

Leigh said...

Theresa, LOL. Even if I did I'd never get them on them. They are absolutely, under no circumstances, going to let a human touch them! I do worry a bit though because we've had another really cold snap with bitter winds. The pig house has an open door so it's hard to keep it draft free. Polly doesn't leave them though unless it's time to eat. Thankfully another warm up is on the way!

Leigh said...

More good names! And that X really stands out, doesn't it?

Fiona said...

Those are great and stylin' coats! AND The only blog email that didn't get to me was the Polly and her babies one.....super nice piglets and holy smoke 9!

PioneerPreppy said...

One reason we went with a Romney sheep mix in our mule breeding system was that breed's hooves are more maintenance free than others in wet conditions. Never had issues with their hooves as youngins but occasionally when it's wet for long stretches some of the blue faced and other breeds need some hoof care. Typically they wear em down fairly well on their own when it's dry.

Jackie PN said...

Omgosh!! All of your babies are just too adorable!
I never realized little goats were called bucklings, always thought they were kids! I am learning much from your blog-so glad to have found you!
As for buckling 2, those markings are just beautiful!! Do you keep all of the goats? And how many do you have all together?
Thank you Leigh for your visit to my place- such a lovely comment you left- much appreciated!!
Happy Saturday!
Jackie ")

Renee Nefe said...

well if you're going with Lightning for the first boy, it is either Thunder or Chase for the second. ;)

Leigh said...

Oh my, I don't know anything about the emailing of blog posts, I think Feedburner handles all that(?) If it continues to be a problem let me know and I'll look into it.

Leigh said...

Jackie, thank you (and you're welcome ;)

I sell most of the kids; maybe keeping one or two. The ones that don't sell become chevon. Right now I have 6 does and 2 bucks, which I think has been too many goats for our housing and pasture (because of all the rain we've been getting). These little guys will be sold because I'm keeping their daddy and I don't need two closely related bucks.

Mama Pea said...

Baby goat cuteness, for sure! For me, the little piggly wigglies aren't nearly as cute, but they're still worthy of some "awwwww's!" So glad all the newcomers are so healthy.

Leigh said...

PP, interesting about the sheep breeds and hoof care. For goats, they don't need trimming if they have lots of rocks to walk and climb on (which we don't have). I heard on one of my goat lists that a rich diet for goats causes more hoof problems, and I'm finding that to be true. Rich diet meaning high in protein and things like sunflower and flax seeds. My bucks get a leaner diet and I'm finding that their hooves don't grow out as fast as the does, nor as weird.

Renee, I like those!

Leigh said...

That's the most important thing, isn't it? Healthy! I keep a close eye on everybody though, to make sure they stay that way.

Rain said...

Oh my gosh Leigh, they are just adorable. Those little goat faces melt my heart. And the piglets are so cute too. Congrats on the new members of the family. :) And I appreciate the goat lesson too!

Unknown said...

please more pig posts. Pig keeping intrigues and fascinates me. I raise process all our own fowl. Seriously thinking of pigs too.

Sandy Livesay said...

Leigh,

I love all the pictures you shared with us. There's so much cuteness here :-)
I've not yet seen a pig with a cute little sweater on any blog. Do they require extra warmth in the cold nights?

Cozy Thyme Cottage said...

Lots of babies to enjoy. I can see why you wouldn't want to name the ones you are to not keep! Nancy

Leigh said...

Thanks! There's nothing more heartwarming than baby animals. :)

Leigh said...

I'll be glad to do more pig posts. My pig information is scattered through various posts, but perhaps others would like concrete information too. Mine are American Guinea Hogs, a small heritage breed that I can't recommend enough.

Leigh said...

I've never seen a pig is a sweater either! The first night the temperature dropped and the winds blew wicked and cold, I noticed some of the piglets shivering. That's when I blocked the area in front of the door and made sure they had a big pile of straw. They seemed to do well with mama's body warmth and milk, though, and all are lively and well.

Leigh said...

Although maybe I'd better come up with something other than B1 and B2, LOL. Mostly its the names for their registration papers I let buyers pick. Even then, a lot of goats end up with nicknames because their full registered names can be a mouthful.

Farmer Barb said...

Spring means seed catalogs in January and baby animals sure to follow. It makes me happy to see animals. I am still not really able to get outside yet. Tomorrow it will be warmer and I can go out. Maybe I need a baby goat sweater that wraps around! I have some peppy yarn...

Debby Riddle said...

They are really pretty goats, and the sweaters are darling! I've been following your pig journey, that's a lot of babies! What is their survival rate, and how many do you intend to process for your own needs? Do you plan to marketthe others?

Debby Riddle said...

They are really pretty goats, and the sweaters are darling! I've been following your pig journey, that's a lot of babies! What is their survival rate, and how many do you intend to process for your own needs? Do you plan to marketthe others?

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

You're killing me with cuteness here!!!! Oh my gosh, such excitement at your plac - how can you stand not cuddling them all?