When I went to check on the goats right before lunch I found Ziggy standing alone in the kidding stall, nickering softly to herself. I could see that her belly had dropped considerably, although there was no discharge to indicate anything would happen imminently. I shut the gate to the stall and we went in to have lunch.
After peaches and blueberries for dessert, Dan went out to check on things. In a flash he was back at the house yelling, "Come quick!" I flew out the door and across the barnyard. The second kid was on the ground but still wrapped in the birth sack. I pulled it away from the tiny face but there was no movement and no breathing. While Dan got the bulb syringe I slung the lifeless body and rubbed all over. Ziggy started licking and after what seemed an eternity the little one coughed. Breathing was very congested but the bulb didn't pull much out. After a lot of coughing and sputtering, kid number two started complaining and looking for milk. Number three followed shortly. We've got two boys and a girl.
 |
| The brothers |
 |
| First born standing, a buckling. 2nd born on the ground, a little doe |
 |
| Everything was quick and smooth. Ziggy is a pro. |
 |
| 3rd born, a little buckling |
 |
| Ziggy's udder hangs very low to the ground but all 3 figured out where to find it |
 |
| The white kid was born first and is the biggest. Huge compared to the other 2 |
 |
| Baby girl is on the left with two brothers on the right. |
Ziggy First! © March 2014 by Leigh
Oh, my goodness, how beautiful they are. I sure hope all of them thrive for you.
ReplyDeletecongrats! That's wonderful news. Now who's on second? ;)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! They are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGood for you! Too bad it wasn't 2 girls and 1 boy, though. It's great to have an experienced doe that knows the ropes.
ReplyDeleteGood pictures, Leigh.
Fern
Congrats!! They are adorable!
ReplyDeleteooh Leigh ! I rarely covet, but I will make an exception here. Kids! She knows her stuff doesn't she? Good result.. Who is next I wonder.
ReplyDeleteGill
Good for you! Someday I hope to have goats, again.
ReplyDeleteSo many great pictures! What a great beginning for you. Yay, Ziggy!
ReplyDeleteoh, they are so cute - and even colour sorted, from light to dark:) perfect - you should collect the pix and publish a calendar with them next year:) Ziggy was the one with 4 last year, wasn't she?
ReplyDeleteCongrats! They're too cute!!!
ReplyDeleteSo nice that both you and Dan were home for the event. When you see all three of them up and about, don't they look huge to have come out of her? Does she have a history of having plenty of milk for her multiples?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the kids! And good job, Ziggy!
ReplyDeleteAs I recall, Ms Ziggy was the last to give birth in the previous kidding season. This year she turned the tables on everyone, and went first.
ReplyDeleteAdorable kids and so glad it turned out to be one of those happy birthing stories. They're not always possible on a working property, but when they happen, it's just the bee's knees!
I hope the remaining births go as smoothly. :)
How cute are they! Three? Is that usual? She is going to be one tired Mama looking after and feeding those little ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone for your kind comments! As you can imagine, we are very pleased.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ziggy was my holdout last year and gave birth to quads, although sadly, only three of those survived. So, three to raise again this year! She's not the best milk producer, however, so the concern is whether or not she's making enough. Last year I had another doe's milk to supplement. With Ziggy being first, I don't have that yet. Surprise's due date is today with Lily close behind! We're going to have kids all over the place! :)
Love the pictures.... beautiful babies and awesome mom. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the color range! Congratulations on no complications! We are hoping to see a regular Caprine Preschool at your blog very soon!
ReplyDeleteShannon, thank you! I looked to see if you had a blog I could return a visit too, but your G+ pages don't list anything. :(
ReplyDeleteBarb, pretty amazing, isn't it? And they are a stair step of sizes, first born biggest, last born littlest. Surprise is due today and Lily shortly after so we'll have our hands full! Dan's already asking what I'm going to do with all of them. :)
Triplets! Is that usual for goats?
ReplyDeleteThey are all gorgeous and mum too!
Congratulations!
How many of last year's kids did you end up keeping? If you kept them all that barn must be very full.
ReplyDeleteOh they are beautiful!! Congrats!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://caffeinatedhomestead.weebly.com/blog.html
There should have been a cuteness warning posted! They are adorable, just like their mother. You are going to be up to your elbows in adorable kids! Lucky you... :)
ReplyDeleteLeigh,
ReplyDeleteOh what beautiful babies!!! I'm so happy you both were alert and able to help Ziggy's little ones out.
Congratulations!!!
Congrats Ziggy! Glad you and Dan were there to help the doeling get started.
ReplyDeleteGood Mom! Glad all is well...
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I love the colors of all three of them! So exciting!
ReplyDeleteSandies' Patch, thank you! For Ziggy's breed (Nigerian Dwarf) triplets and quadruplets are very common. :)
ReplyDeleteRenee, we kept three out of six. Zed, Buster Brown, and Rosie were all sold. Surprise and Hooper will be sold later this summer and the rest I'll have to decide about. We really need to trim down the goat herd before winter hits. That was this past winter's lesson!
Stephanie, thanks!
Susan, yes we will! Surprise and Lily both look pretty big so I'm assuming twins each there. That would be 7 kids for the year. Whew.
Sandy and Sue, it was really a blessing. We're learning to trust to intuition when it comes to critters. If something says "go check," we go check!
Nancy and Katie, thank you so much!
congrats all round I hope the others go as smooth as the Ziggy for you and just as succesful
ReplyDeleteYay sweet Ziggy girl, good job! So happy everything worked out fabulously, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I'm glad that little doe survived! T.
ReplyDeleteWow... that was a quick one,huh? Glad those cute little bundles are doing well.
ReplyDeleteDawn, thanks! I hope so too.
ReplyDeleteJen, Tina, and Ruth, thanks!
How cute! And, you're back in milk! Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteOMG, they are adorable! So glad it went well and all are healthy.
ReplyDeleteWell done Ziggy! :)
ReplyDelete