view

view
Along the Natchez Trace

Friday, March 14, 2014

All About the Goats....

You may remember that we had considered volunteering at The Monkey Farm.  I had some second thoughts about that and we never did.  However, our neighbors, Francine an Greg volunteer there quite often and that has worked out well for them.  Yesterday, Vicki, the Farm owner, e-mailed Francine, telling her that the goat had delivered twins, but she didn't think things were going well.  Knowing that we had raised goats for many years she wondered if Bill & I would stop in and take a look.

Of course we would.  Last night didn't work out, so early this morning we gave Francine a call...  and around 7:30 the four of us headed off to the Farm.

This was the first time Mama Goat had been bred and she wasn't sure she liked being a Mom.  Not only that, but she is a first time mom with a set of twins to care for.  Often goats will throw only 1 kid the first year, and twins in the years after...  sometimes triplets.  Anyway, from what we could tell when we arrived there today, Vicki and her crew were doing quite well..  and with a little persuasion so are Buttercup and the twins.

The little buck had been doing poorly, and today, the remains of his scours (diarrhea) needed cleaned off him so he wouldn't get sores.  The volunteers had made sure that the kids got Buttercup's colostrum as their first feeding, and even though Buttercup wasn't cooperating, they milked her so she wouldn't get mastitis... and then fed the kids the milk from a bottle.  Vicki said the crew fed them every 2-3 hours throughout the night.

Keeping Buttercup's udder from getting too uncomfortable will be important in her allowing the kids to nurse.  I expected that someone would have to hold Buttercup to keep her still and keep her from kicking the kid away, and was surprised that she allowed me to hold her horns with one hand and put the little guy up to her teat with the other....  he knew instinctively what to do...  grabbed a hold and seemed to get some milk before Buttercup got too restless.

Francine....  holding the little doe
The volunteers are calling this one "Dora", because she's quite active and wanders around exploring everything.  You know...  Dora the Explorer

That's me...  holding the twins...
They've survived the first 24 hours...  the most critical time
They bear watching ...  that they're eating, that the diarrhea slacks off, and that they're mobile.  Buttercup's udder needs to be checked for signs of mastitis....  too hot, lopsided etc.....  

Vicki says the vets here in Costa Rica don't do well with goats ...  she'd asked about proper feeding etc.  Goats really don't eat any and everything.  They do like a lot of different things, and your favorite flower bed or young tree would be their first choice.  Vicki did worm Buttercup a couple of months ago, and that's good.

Vicki has access to the thrown out foods from 2 local groceries and a local bakery.  She feeds it to her pigs and chickens...  and I think Buttercup will be getting a treat as well...  maybe some veggies or fruit.  Just not too much.

When we left she was taking a nap...  and the twins were resting alongside her.  We hope the crisis is over and all is well.

That's All For Today!


17 comments:

  1. Aw, such cute little kids! Hope it all turns out okay.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Good you were available to help them get started right.It will be good for Mama to figure out mamahood.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It great that you were around to help out a little experience really helps.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looks like you were the 'goat' to person in this case. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Such a nice story - it's great that you were available to help, or at least congratulate them on a job well done. The twins are adorable and I love the photo of you holding both of them. Thanks for the post and pix.

    ReplyDelete
  6. It is good you guys were available for help! Love the photo of you with the twins.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those twin kids are cute, especially with a beautiful lady holding them.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So cute. Sure hope Buttercup figures out that it's okay to be a Mom. Thank goodness you were there to give them some advise and reassurance.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So glad you were there to hep Buttercup & her little ones get off to a good start. They're all beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Reminds me of our piglets watch and care we did back in Norway. Cute goat babies.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great picture of you and the kids, Sharon. We don't usually get to see much of you, since you're on the other side of the camera most of the time. Glad the kids are doing so well. Happy that you and Bill could help.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cute pictures! Hope everything turns out okay for the little guy.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's terrific you guys were able to help in your area of expertise. Hope they make it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. How cool that you were able to be a part of their young lives and help them out. I love goats - they are just the cutest animals. I always head to see them first when I'm at a county fair. Then the chickens.

    ReplyDelete
  15. ohhhhh how adorable, Sharon! cute little guys! what an experience!

    ReplyDelete