Big Surprise!

[SheriM]

I got a huge surprise tonight. It's supposed to be really cold tonight so I stopped at the barn on my way in from work this evening to check on my litter of Great Pyr pups but the minute I stepped into the barn I heard an unmistakable sound. The goats have a loose housing area at the back of the barn where they bed down at night. I hurried over to look in there and sure enough...a brand new baby goat!! It shocked the heck out of me because I wasn't expecting any babies till May. Last year, I wasn't able to separate the bucklings as early as I normally do, thanks to a lack of pen space. I guess one of them got a little...well, frisky.

 

[NancyDz]

Nice Surprise!

we need pics tomorrow!


Nancy

 

[SheriM]

The mystery deepens!

Okay, now I'm totally confused. The only doe in the herd who is showing any interest in this surprise baby of ours has no udder to speak of. After a major battle, I did manage to get a few drops of colstrum out of her, but her teats were capped over and obviously hadn't been nursed in quite a while, if at all. This is an experienced doe who has always had no trouble whatsoever raising her babies. She had two huge girls last year and fed them fine. So I don't know what's going on, but the baby took about 6 oz. of colostrum from a bottle tonight. Sucked it back without stopping so, yeah, she was hungry, but given her size, the state of her navel, etc. she's at least 24 hours old. Somebody fed her enough to keep her going this long!

The absolute LAST thing I need right now is a bottle baby, but it looks like that's what I'm going to have. I'll take her a bottle tomorrow morning and see how it goes, but there's simply no way that doe has enough milk to keep a baby alive, let alone grow and thrive.

Oh, and did you notice I said "she"? It's a girl!!!!

 

[Livinzoo]

Congrats on your surprise girl!!! I have twin bucklings! They are 2 weeks today.

 

[Fay at Frizzled Feathers]

YAY It's a Girl !!! I just love bottle babies cant wait to see a pic . That sure would be a great surprise .

Fay

 

[Farmer Kitty]

What a great surprise!

 

[citalk2much]

I think we need pictures
I hope everything works out with the mom and feeding

 

[SheriM]

Looks like we've got a house guest.

She was quite weak this morning, so I brought her in and tube fed her. She's sleeping on my couch at the moment, on a heating pad. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

HOW CUTE!!!!

I hope she makes it for you...

 

[Jena]

She is a little beauty,

I hope she is fine soon, hmmm so adorable.

Thanks for posting the pic, it is feeding a new addiction.

Jena.