Taffy’s Quadruplets

Taffy delivered another set of quadruplets, two does, two bucks, on Saturday, March 10th.  That was also milk test day so I’m super grateful that she decided to deliver in the middle of the afternoon instead of in the middle of milk test! Especially since both boys needed intervention. When you check the rear end of a doe in labor and see a leg sticking out and nothing else, it’s time to wash up and get the lube!

The first boy decided to test the waters with his foot before committing to the whole birth experience. So we had to go in and find his head and convince him that life would be better if all of him came out to see the world. He was followed by his two rule-following sisters who came into the world on their own like all good goat babies should. But the boys had obviously been plotting together during last five months because the second boy also presented with just one leg.  So I had to push him all the way back in, swirl around poor Taffy’s uterus until I found his head and gently but firmly insist that he stop fooling around and get out into the world because by that point his poor mother really had had enough.

It’s always a blessing to have quads, but it does increase that chances that you’re going to have to help because there is less room for everyone to get positioned where they need to be.  Thankfully Taffy and kids are all doing well and the kids are enjoying exploring their new world.

Buckling on left, doeling on right
Buckling #2
Doeling #2

Taffy’s Kid

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!

TaffyLickingKidWeb

TaffyBoyWeb

 

 

Champagne Debuts as Grand Champion

Clayton's First Grand Champion Win

We started off the show season with a bang this year as our newest doeling, Carl B’s OH Sweet Champagne, took home Grand Champion Nigerian Dwarf Junior Doe at the Little Falls, MN Spring Show.  This was a very large three ring show with more than 300 does in attendance and we are very proud of both Champagne and Clayton, whose outstanding showmanship secured his first ADGA grand champion win under judge Ellen Considine.

Nigerian Dwarfs were well represented with 33 Junior does in attendance and about the same for Senior does, but I forgot to write down that number. 🙂

We showed the goats fuzzy (not clipped) because the weather had been so cold and I was very thankful for that decision on show day when it was only 53 degrees with a cold wind. Brrr! Almost everyone wore a coat over their dairy whites and it made for some pretty funny fashions in the show rings.

Caramel and Taffy stand 1st and 2nd in a class of six

We are thrilled that Nibbles’ girls, Caramel and Taffy earned 1st and 2nd place in the Jr. Doeling class of six. Taffy has been retained so she will continue her show career with us. Caramel is going to a new home where she will hopefully continue winning for her new owner, Jennifer.

Clayton milking Hurricane

Ribbons are nice, but we all know it’s really all about the milk! We brought a couple of the milking girls with us which means bringing along the milking stand and milking at the show. Clayton got to try out his new milking stand which is his own design and much lighter and easier to take to shows than the one we used to use. Clayton will be making more over the summer to sell so let us know if you need one!

Champagne Lineup
Champagne stands 1st in a class of nine senior doelings

Champagne ended up being the star for the day with two first place wins in her Sr. Doeling class of nine as well as her Grand Champion win but we are proud of all the girls and are quite happy with Glory and Dolly each placing 3rd in their classes. There was very strong competition in the milking classes and they did well hidden under all their winter fuzziness!

 

 Our 2015 Spring Show Placings:

Sr. Doeling
Sweet Champagne, 1x GCH, 2x 1st, 1x 3rd

Jr. Doeling
Caramel, 1x 1st, 1x 2nd
Taffy, 1x 2nd

2 Year Old Milker
Morning Glory,  1x 3rd

3 Year Old Milker
Dolly (Annabelle),  1x 3rd

Doelings for Nibbles

Photo of Baby Nigerian Dwarf Doeling in MN

Kidding season means excitement, anticipation, joy, anxiety and interrupted sleep. As the does near their kidding dates, we try to check on them about every 4 hours around the clock so we can be there for the kidding. There are usually signs that a doe is getting close to kidding but not always. When I checked Nibbles last night, she didn’t show any signs of labor and her ligaments were not loose enough to signal an immanent birth so I felt like it would be safe to sleep through the night.

This morning we woke up to find she had delivered triplets during the night. Two adorable doelings and, unfortunately, a buckling that didn’t make it. We’ll never know if being there would have made a difference for him or not. While I love raising livestock, losses are inevitable and always a cause for sadness.

Nibbles' Doelings
Nibbles’ 2015 doelings, Caramel & Taffy

But there isn’t time to linger on what ifs and should haves because there are umbilical cords to dip in iodine, kids to weigh, does to milk, and records to be written. It’s better to pause for a moment of reflection then keep moving forward while giving thanks for the precious, healthy kids snuggled in the hay.

 

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Cabochon AR Caramel
Nibbles Doeling
Cabochon AR Taffy