Nothing like newborn kids…

There is nothing like newborn kids to show you how much the older kids have grown in two months time.  All four of the babies born in March are now in the big goat pasture and Millie and her twins have the maternity paddock to themselves.   So far the older kids have shown only a mild interest in their new half siblings.

Millie continues to be a great momma, and is very attentive.   At least for now it appears she will be an easy milker, but the proof will be in what happens once she is actually up on the milk stand in a couple of weeks.    While she is definitely a one finger milker (which I’m used to) the flow has been very fast,  and she has stood still while in the pasture.   In fact Bekah even snuck over and tried milking her and Millie mostly tolerated it.

We also settled on names for these twins.  The doe is going to be called “Rita” which means pearl in Spanish.   And the buck will be called Rochester – Rocky for short.

Ari & Bekah feeding Molly's babies - Rudy & Ramie

"Rocky" and "Rudy" getting aquainted through the fence

Rita with her momma Millie looking on

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Millie had her babies early!

Millie wasn’t due until the 6th of June, but she surprised us with an adorable set of twins this afternoon.

The doeling is mostly white with gold spots and it appears blue eyes. The buckling is very flashy and could very well end up as a herd sire like his half brother Ricochet! So far we haven’t come up with names for them yet.

Bekah and Ari went out to play around 5pm and came running back into the house yelling “Millie has babies!!!!” I didn’t believe them at first, but sure enough, two brand new little ones.

It was a great day to have them, sunny and 74 with only a slight breeze. And I am happy that I won’t have to be sleeping out in the kidding shed waiting for their arrival!

Buck kid born to Millie and Sunshine

Doe kid born to Millie and Sunshine

Bekah holding the buckling while a worried Millie looks on.

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I’m selling my Dexter Heifers

I love cows, and have always wanted a few of my own. But after almost a year it is plain that I am the only one in my family that loves them, and since everyone else is happy drinking goats milk and I’m the only one that wants cows milk, I think it is time, for the sake of family harmony, to put “my beautiful ladies” up for sale.

You can see my Cragislist ad for them here.

A beautiful morning

It was a beautiful morning for doing chores today.   Not quite warm enough for a t-shirt, but I didn’t need a coat either.   The cows were in a mellow mood and I was able to give Matilda a good brushing and even Maggie stood still for a few strokes.  It seems the more pregnant Matilda (blue halter) becomes the mellower she gets, although she still won’t allow me touch her unless there is food involved.  At least I can now pet her before I actually give her food.   (Her EDD is July 11th.)

The girls enjoying a sun break

Now on to the goats.  The bottle babies are doing well and Bekah is a big help with feeding them.  Last night she went out and fed both of them on her own.    All three boys have been sold to the same family and will go just as soon as they are weaned.

If there was a “wide load” contest I think Millie could easily win it!  With three weeks to go until her due date she is looking very large and uncomfortable.    Needless to say, since she is a first timer I will be camping out with her until those babies arrive.   Allie is due one week later and is also looking large, but last year she looked huge too and then only had a single large kid.  This will be her 4th kidding, so I’m not as anxious about her.  She is a good mother and knows what to do.

Allie (left) and Millie enjoying some clover