2016 Kids – Cabochon Farm

Nibbles’ Twins

Posted on September 11, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Nigerian Dwarf Doeling at Cabochon Farm in Zimmerman, MN

Nibbles wrapped up our 2016 kidding season by giving us twins on July 16th. This was during our county fair so I was driving back and forth between the fairgrounds and home to watch the (human) kids show their animals and check in on Nibbles to see how she was doing. This extra driving paid off with my being home when Nibbles was finally ready to deliver.

The babies were very large (both over 4 pounds) and she needed help delivering. The buckling was particularly difficult because he was positioned upside down and backwards and needed to be turned before he could be delivered. By the time he was out safely, both Nibbles and I were exhausted.

Nibbles got a dose of Banamine for pain relief – yep she was sore – and a course of antibiotics to prevent a potential uterine infection from my hand being inside her to re-position the babies. She recovered from her delivery without any complications and has been a great mom, as always.

For their part, the kids were none the worse for wear. They were up and nursing immediately after birth and pestering their poor mother incessantly – completely oblivious to the stress they had caused the poor midwife.

Most births proceed uneventfully, but sometimes a doe needs help. That’s why I try to be present at all the birth of all our babies. (And why I have the vet’s phone number in my cell phone.) Thankfully we got through 2016 vet-free. Hoping for the same for 2017.

nibsbucklingweb — Nibbles’ buckling playing “king of the straw bale”

Photo of Nigerian Dwarf kid in feeder — Nibbles’ doeling relaxing in the feeder

Photo of baby goat being held — Snuggling the last baby of the 2016 season

Windy’s Girls

Posted on September 10, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

It’s been a busy summer and I haven’t found time to post a new blog lately. I guess that’s what happens when kidding season extends into the summer!

Windy kidded the evening of June 6th with 4 tiny chamoisee doelings. We were surprised and delighted by such a large number of kids from a yearling first freshener. Windy was being a very good mother to them but unfortunately the weather was horrible-dipping down to 40* the day after they were born and then climbing into the 90s with high humidity. Sadly, we lost two of the babies to weather-induced pneumonia after an all out battle to save them. It was a heartbreaking loss, but we are thankful that two of the sisters survived and have gone on to thrive.

Windstorm (Windy) is Kati’s goat and Kati is a fan of the youth book series Warriors, about the adventures of clans of feral cats. So Kati picked a Warriors theme for Windy’s kids who will all be named after characters from the books. So without further ado, I introduce Briarlight and Mapleshade…

Cabochon PB Briarlight, chamoisee doeling with moon spots

Cabochon PB Mapleshade, chocolate chamoisee doeling with moon spots

Daisy’s Doeling

Posted on May 13, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Daisy kidded on April 30th with a large (4.3 lb) doeling. We had to pull pretty hard to help get her out but once out she proved to be quite healthy and alert. Daisy recovered quickly too and went right into new mother mode without skipping a beat.

As you can see, she has stunning blue eyes and and a beautiful colors. This is the first Ziggzag daughter so far and she’s quite the little darling. I can’t wait to see more of his kids.

Glory’s Buckling

Posted on May 7, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Glory gave us a big, beautiful, blue-eyed buckling late in the evening (9:40 p.m. to be exact) on April 25th. Glory doesn’t believe in letting you know that she’s close to delivering so it’s a bit nerve wracking when she’s due. About the only sign she gives of impending labor is loosening ligaments, which I’m sure she’d find a way to hide if only she could! Much to her chagrin, the final barn check for the evening caught her laboring so we all settled in to wait. The birth went smoothly and little guy was up and trying to nurse within 10 minutes of being born. He’s such a nice boy, we’re planning to keep him a buck.

Taffy’s Kid

Posted on May 7, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Taffy presented us with a cute little Chamoise buckling on April 13th about 5:30 PM. Luckily we were there to help because the little guy had one of his front legs tucked back and mom appreciated just a little bit of help in getting him out. Taffy is proving to be a very attentive mom and we’re happy with her mothering skills. The little guy already has a home reserved as a pet wether and he certainly enjoys people and being held. We all know the highest goat wins and being held by a person automatically makes you the tallest goat in the kid pen!

Sunshine’s Doeling

Posted on April 17, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Sunshine delivered a sweet little doeling on Tuesday April 5th. I had been advised by Sunshine’s previous owner that Sunshine was secretive about kidding and she proved true to form. Clayton checked on her after school and there was no sign of impending labor. Two hours later, Sunshine was napping with her dry, content baby tucked against her, with a smug look as if nothing had happened.

I finally found time to get some photos of this long, dairy girl playing outside in our lovely 70* weather. We’ve nicknamed her “Lopsy” after a friend. I think it suits her for now. We’ll see what ends up on her registration papers!

Mini Alpines!

Posted on March 17, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Penelope delivered beautiful twin doelings on Sunday, March 13th around 9:00 p.m. She had been pawing most of the day so we knew she was going into labor and were able to be with her when she delivered. Both girls were up and nursing in record time and after a little first-time mom confusion, Penelope quickly figured out her role in this adventure and settled in to be an excellent momma.

We are excited to venture into the world of mini Alpines and will most likely be retaining one of these girls to see for ourselves how they live up to their reputation for being exceptional homestead milkers with the richer milk of a Nigerian combined with increased production from the Alpine. But they are both so darned cute it will be hard to choose which one to keep!

Photo of mini Alpine doeling — Baby goats make even the most atrocious barn fashions look cute!

FawnDoeWeb — She’s a little princess and she knows it!

Chloe’s Triplets

Posted on March 16, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Chloe delivered an adorable set of triplets (two doelings and a buckling) around 2:00 in the afternoon on March 8th. The kids all got daddy’s color, Chamiose, but they are all look very different. It took several tries to get good photos of these little cuties, but I think it was worth the wait…

Chamoisee Nigerian Dwarf Doeling — Doeling #1

Chloe with and her girls — Chloe and her girls

These lucky siblings all get to stay together when they move to their new home. They have a bright future with a young 4H family interested in producing their own milk.

Hurricane’s Boy

Posted on March 13, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Hurricane kidded early in the morning, luckily before anyone had left for work or school because her little boy was chilled through and had to spend his first several hours in the house getting warmed up and bottle fed to make sure he survived. (Many thanks to an understanding boss and the ability to work from home while tending a baby goat.) He had a bit of a rough start, but it has made him quite the affectionate little snuggle bunny. He will pester and paw until you pick him up and then he’s content just to lie in your arms for however long you’re willing to hold him.

While he’s a full week younger and smaller than Dolly’s boys, he keeps up with their shenanigans whether he’s outside playing in the snow, or chasing around in the barn. He’s gotten the nickname “Mouse” because he seems so small compared to the older, bigger boys.

Stormstruck’s 2016 Doelings

Posted on February 7, 2016October 10, 2020 by admin

Not to be outdone by Dolly, Stormstruck also kidded exactly on her due date. Because the (human) kids had an early school release day, Kati was able to attend the 1:30 birth of her goat’s doelings. Everything went well and the kids were up and nursing quickly. Stormstruck gave us a pretty light buckskin with white and a sweet dark chocolate with a bit of white as well.