Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats Blog - Triplets born - New baby pics

[chickiebaby]

This is all amazing, especially when one reads about the human triplets expected a lovely member on another thread. What good goat-mamas you have, and what good goat-mamas you ARE, as well!

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Well, that's why I went with the Nigerian Dwarfs - I knew I'd end up having to carry them and man-handle them. Thus far had to take Bitsy back and forth to vet - she rode in my lap. Now had to man-handle and tie Confetti. I think Bitsy weighed 18 pounds on that first vet trip with the broken leg. She's gained a lot since then and Confetti is much bigger than she is but still.....nowhere near 175 lbs. Probably more like 40 pounds. If I had to guess, I'd say these babies weigh less than 2 lbs.

DH originally wanted cows but I said "no way" cause I know I'm the one who has to care for all these animals and I would be the one out in the storm, carrying it in so it could stay warm and dry.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Ruth - Very glad to hear that all is well with your babies and mom. I must say, this thread is better than many books I have picked up. Once I started reading, I had to read everything.

Congrats on your babies!

Some day, I might let one of my girls have babies, but not right now. Your experience does give me hope that someday, I will be able to do it.

 

[greenthumb89]

wow, after reading this whole thread i only want goats more...after i move out and after vet school "crosses fingers" but im thinking around 6 would be good...until they had kids then what ever the number of kids i had would stay at the farm...im kind of a sucker for animals...and those babies are just so adorable.

and im so glad that confetti decided to take both kids on, and you got the best thing a doeling and a buckling from such good lines what more could you ask for?

 

[Thunderhill]

Sounds like everyone is going to be fine.
Congrats!! You have some good bloodlines there as well!!

 

[joebryant]

Really enjoyed reading this exciting adventure. About the time Anne brought a goat into ... strike that ... three goats into the house... Never mind!
Ya gotta admit it was fun and DIFFERENT.
I'm anxious to hear how much milk you get from your mini doe once you start milking her for your own milk.

 

[ruth]

Well this morning's update isn't good. Confetti is definitely rejecting the little boy. She's head butting him and even acting like she's going to bite him by grabbing at him with her mouth. She did allow me to hold her by her collar, she's much calmer about that now, and allowed me to put him on her to nurse. He's noticeably skinnier than his sister who Confetti dotes on. If she takes two steps away, Confetti follows her and calls to her and is constantly licking her. I feel so sorry for the little boy. You wonder if they have feelings and understandings - that mama doesn't love me.

Will she seriously hurt him? I'm o.k. with leaving them all together and holding her every couple of hours so he can nurse but from what I see, it's worse than yesterday. Every time he gets near her she really butts him. Poor little thing is having a hard enough time keeping his balance on those hardwood floors even though I covered a lot of area with newspaper first, then old sheets and towels. Of course, Confetti keeps finding spots, like on the antique commode that's in there, to do "her business" and I mean there's a lake when she pees.

I'm hoping to get DH to help me today so we can enclose a small portion of the tack room to put them in. It will stay plenty warm in there if I put the heaters out there. There's electricity and water in there and I'm going to install a sink with hot/cold water so it can be my milking room. I plan to use the other half for my Sportmans and to put a small hutch in there. That way, when people come to see the chicks I have for sale, they don't have to go into my coop, and risk spreading disease and I can get baby chicks out of the other bathroom. It's a really large room and can serve a dual purpose. It used to be the prior family's game room.

They had four little boys at the time, now all playing football for different high school and college teams. I'm hoping they make it really big and famous because their names, footprints and handprints are all in the foundation/slab/floor of the tack room and all around this place wherever concrete was poured. If one or more gets famous, I just have to get a jackhammer and cut out a hunk of slab and there's their footprint, handprint, and where they wrote their name and some colored pebbles or marbles where they spelled out their name.

But, back to the original purpose of this post - will she seriously hurt him and should I separate them and only take him back for feedings until her behavior changes? I'm thinking last night she was just confused on their smells since I had had them together all day they probably smelled alike. I have tried rubbing them together and rubbing him all over her but she isn't falling for it this time. What to do?

 

[helmstead]

Sounds like you have a bottle baby. Yes, she could hurt him, esp if she manages to pin him against something. You'll just have to play it by ear. Once you get him on the bottle he'll stop chasing her around and perhaps she'll stop being aggressive. If not, he'll have to stay inside and be human reared.

My last bottle baby, Sugar's doe kid, was treated the same way until I got her on the bottle. Then, Sugar became indifferent to her. Keeping him with goats would be beneficial if you can.

 

[bheila]

Ruth-Sorry to hear that Confetti is being difficult. At least he's still alive though.I'd take him if you were closer.

 

[Thunderhill]

I agree, she will seriously hurt him. You have a bottle baby