We've had an exciting morning. Started when I went outside, DH had already let the goats run free, and I heard newborn baby goats crying. I run into stables to check. I was expecting Bella to have babies any day, even sat all day with her last week thinking she was in labor so I've been checking on her first thing each morning. Anyway, I go in stables and all my dogs are in there all excited, there's four baby goats including a very wet one on the ground and no mama's in sight. I start looking for Bella but can't find her. I find Goldie with blood all over her backside, out eating with the chickens. Goldie's been fat from day one, for over a year and a half, and I didn't think she was pregnant because there was no discernable udder - well, obviously I'm wrong. So I run and call for DH to come help. We get all four babies in the tack room which had already been cleaned out recently from Confetti and her quads living in there, and was set up with a heater awaiting Bella's birthing. Then we have to chase, corner, and drag Goldie in there. Goldie is the wildest of the bunch and has never let me pet her. Goldie is acting quite freaked, like "hey it wasn't me - they aren't mine". But she's got the obvious signs of having just given birth and possibly about to have another. Then we look for Bella - find her hinding in the old outhouse. She's always been a sweety and will come to me and nuzzle and loves to be petted. So we get her in the tack room.
Now there's four babies, three little boys that look like identical triplets and one large girl and they are running up to both mamas and both mamas are licking and letting the babies nurse. So now the puzzle - who da mama?
I've taken my best guess. Bella is not a first time mama and her backside was dry and clean and the three little boys were all dry and clean and running around so I think they belong to her. Goldie still had blood and gook all over her backside and the baby girl was still soaking wet and had just been born so I think that's her only kid. In any event, they are all in the tack room and the babies, now in there a half hour, will still run to either mama and either mama will lick and nurse them. So do I try and separate them so they can each bond with only their babies (assuming I guessed right) or should I maybe give one of the little boys to Goldie so they each have two babies to raise and so Bella doesn't have to try and raise triplets?
What are the odds both mamas would give birth simultaneously, especially one I didn't even know was pregnant. And, by the way, my dogs did great. They were just all in there all excited about new babies and are still running and pacing outside the tack room wanting in. Unfortunately, the new mamas must have gotten spooked and ran out when the dogs went in when DH opened the gates this morning.
Here's pics of the new babes:
Goldie and her one baby girl:
And Bella and what I think are her three sons:
They all look identical except one has a little floppy ear. When I first discovered them this morning, he was all curled up and I thought it was a rabbit.
Now the fun begins.......... We'll see if the mama's co-raise all four babies or decide who's who.
Now there's four babies, three little boys that look like identical triplets and one large girl and they are running up to both mamas and both mamas are licking and letting the babies nurse. So now the puzzle - who da mama?
I've taken my best guess. Bella is not a first time mama and her backside was dry and clean and the three little boys were all dry and clean and running around so I think they belong to her. Goldie still had blood and gook all over her backside and the baby girl was still soaking wet and had just been born so I think that's her only kid. In any event, they are all in the tack room and the babies, now in there a half hour, will still run to either mama and either mama will lick and nurse them. So do I try and separate them so they can each bond with only their babies (assuming I guessed right) or should I maybe give one of the little boys to Goldie so they each have two babies to raise and so Bella doesn't have to try and raise triplets?
What are the odds both mamas would give birth simultaneously, especially one I didn't even know was pregnant. And, by the way, my dogs did great. They were just all in there all excited about new babies and are still running and pacing outside the tack room wanting in. Unfortunately, the new mamas must have gotten spooked and ran out when the dogs went in when DH opened the gates this morning.
Here's pics of the new babes:
Goldie and her one baby girl:
And Bella and what I think are her three sons:
They all look identical except one has a little floppy ear. When I first discovered them this morning, he was all curled up and I thought it was a rabbit.
Now the fun begins.......... We'll see if the mama's co-raise all four babies or decide who's who.
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