Broody?

The goats' hay feeder is a favorite egg laying spot.

When we first got our Black Australorps about a year ago, there was discussion about whether or not this breed is prone to go broody. That's a concern for anyone who wants self-sustaining chickens. If they can't replace themselves, then that's a problem. Well, I'm happy to report that we have one very broody Lorp, so that settles that question!

She's been broody for about a month now, but with the Lorps only about a year old, I really didn't want chicks this year. She's been so persistent, however, that I was really tempted to buy her a couple of chicks at the feed store, just to let her be a mama. The problem is that I haven't been successful in relocating her to a safer spot. I say that because the hay feeder is not a good place to raise chicks! It's a pretty big drop to the ground (for a chick) and there are too many goat feet around!

So every day I reach under and remove whatever eggs she's got (usually duck) and every evening I deposit her back in the chicken coop. Every morning she's back again! That's dedication.

Broody? © May 2016 by Leigh
at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

Of Decisions, Priorities, and Pigs

One of the lessons learned from homesteading with animals is to not get too attached to them. For one thing we just don't have the room to keep them all, and for another, they die. We've sold and traded plenty and had losses from diseases, accidents, predators, and old age. In the beginning it was hard not to be in love with having critters, if not the critters themselves. Even so we've known from the beginning that we have to love the land more. As the humans on the place, it's our job to serve both livestock and land and keep a balance that will meet the needs of both.

The goat barn represents a huge project, because it's means more than just building a building. It means we have to analyze it how it fits into the whole of the homestead. The goats, pasture, pasture rotation, field crops, the other critters, browse and forage areas, as well as the barn are part of the big picture. That meant rethinking fence lines, gates, traffic flow, how we're currently using our fenced areas, and future goals. To have working room to construct the barn we have to re-do all that temporarily, shuffle some critters around, and then put it back together in a new pattern suited to the new set-up. We also need to do fence repair from those fallen trees and general wear-and-tear.

We got out our Master Plan in order to discuss and visualize options. Because of the fencing situation, we couldn't see any way around confining the pigs while construction and fence rebuilding were going on, but we really didn't want to do that. In the end we decided it would be best to sell the pigs. I had just finished selling Polly's nine piglets, the freezer was full of pork, and if we could sell Waldo and Polly as a pair, we could replace them later when everything was back in order.

I priced them well and by the end of the day they were on their way to a new home. Our partnership with them was a good one and we learned a lot (which I'll share in an upcoming post.)

It seems strange not to have pig chores and hear pig grunts in the background all day long, but it was the best decision for them and us for the time being.

Of Decisions, Priorities, and Pigs © May 2016
by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/

A Little Girl for Luki

Kidding had been a breeze so far this year. Every goat kidded quickly and easily - until Luki.

Luki

As Luki's due date approached I began making more frequent checks on her. As a goat gets close to her time her udder will get fuller and the kids will drop into position. These things can happen several weeks before delivery. Then I watch for loss of the mucus plug and loosening of tail ligaments. These things usually indicate we're a matter of days away.

The first stage of labor is mild contractions which really aren't that noticeable, so I look for a change of behavior in the doe as a clue. Sometimes she'll go off by herself. Sometimes she gets spaced out like she's concentrating on something going on inside. Some paw the ground like they're making a nest. Some will lay down and look at their bellies as if wondering what's going on. When I see blood-tinged discharge, however, I know the show is about to begin.

Luki's only clue was that she was more talkative. I didn't catch that at the time, but thankfully I was checking often anyway. Going on chore time I headed out to the girls' shed and found her standing outside with a baby goat head sticking out of her rear end! Yikes! Kids are usually born feet first with a nose soon to follow. The delivery of an entire head without feet could only mean that the legs were bent and hung up somehow.

The first thing I did was to wipe the birth sac away from the baby's nose with my skirt. It sputtered and gasped which was a huge relief. I dragged Luki into the birthing stall and started trying to find feet. It was a tight fit and Luki hollered, but I finally managed to find the right front foot and pull it out. I couldn't find the other foot so I gently pulled on what I had and the baby slipped right out--a little girl.

Baby Girl didn't move at first so I massaged her vigorously with a towel until she roused. She remained lethargic and slow trying to get up, so I gave her a newborn dose of Nutri-Drench. Nutri-Drench is like an instant energy drink for goats or sheep, loaded with vitamins and electrolytes which assimilate quickly. I keep it as part of my kidding kit. Soon Baby Girl was up and and getting her tummy full of colostrum.

Within a few hours she was doing a pretty good job of trying to bounce around the kidding stall.

Luki was my last doe to kid, so our kidding season is officially over for the year. My final total is six girls and two boys. Not bad, huh?

A Little Girl for Luki © May 2016
by Leigh at http://www.5acresandadream.com/