How it all started.....

My two oldest daughters asked their dad if they could take meatgoats in 4-H. This is the man who told me soon after we were married that I could bring home all the animals I wanted to the farm as long as I didn't bring home any goats. He loves his dog, cattle, and horses.

Instead of directly saying "no", he told them to figure a breakeven on them, and if they did that he would support them. Let's just say he was surprised to come home and see the girl's "breakeven". They had spent the day hounding the managers at tractor supply and coop to get all their info. He is a man of his word, so two female goats came to live on the James farm.

Now these goats weren't supposed to be bred, but as it happens sometimes, one kidded out just before fair, and she was so cute I just lost my mind and we purchased another 26 does. Of course I justified my purchase as being necessary for me to be a good Kansas Agriculture Extension agent. In Kansas we were getting several questions regarding meatgoats, and I figured if I raised them myself I would become more knowledgable about the process and be of more help to others. I think my husband knew I just liked them though.

We have continued to expand, and we now own 60 does, 3 billies. I am in the process of kidding out 50 of the does now. You would think I would know better than to have them due in January, but unfortunately I didn't pay enough attention to the calendar when I placed the billies in with the does.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Ready or not!

Just as I predicted, the day I had to be 4 hours away from the farm, the does decided to deliver in mass. The good thing was that my family was paying attention and took care of all the craziness. Babies started coming late friday night, saturday morning, and saturday afternoon. I arrived just in time to help settle the mom's and new babies in their pens, and help with the last two does that kidded.

The kids (mine) helped me tag the babies and record which does delivered. Keeping records are important, especially if little babies move around and get into the wrong pen. After all they all look alike, and until we get to know them better, having a record helps us keep everyone straight.

Sunday afternoon, Megan's 4-H doe had triplets. She was acting crazy in the big pen. She would lay down have one, then get up, run around and act like she didn't know what was happening. We were lucky that we were around. We gathered up the 3 babies, made a small pen and placed the doe and 3 kids in it. This allowed her to settle down, and focus on the triplets. I don't know why some does act this way, but they usually snap out of it once penned. Unfortunately if you aren't around when this happens, the babies can get ignored and die or the mom just refuses to take care of them. Glad we had made it home from church in time to help.

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