Well, after a bit of a dramatic entrance involving getting stuck on the way and needing a good old-fashioned pull, the first kid of the spring season is officially here! Leave it to goats to turn something simple into a full-blown production. Nothing like a little barnyard drama to kick off kidding season.
She made her debut yesterday afternoon—a single birth from a first-time mama who handled the whole event like she’d been doing it for years. Calm, steady, and with that natural instinct that always amazes me. No panic, no confusion, just a little huff, a push, a pull, and there she was: one strong, healthy doeling weighing in at 9.4 pounds. That’s a respectable size for a first-timer and a good start to the season.
Within no time, baby girl was up on her wobbly legs, ears flopping, tail wagging, and exploring her brand-new world like she owned it. You could practically see her curiosity bubbling over—sniffing the straw, bumping into her mama, and trying to decide what exactly her legs were supposed to do. Mama, meanwhile, was standing guard like a proud soldier, softly talking to her little one in that gentle goat-mama voice that always melts my heart.
And before anyone asks—no, I don’t do bottles. I raised my own kids; I’m not about to raise theirs too. Around here, mama takes care of her babies, and I’m just here to make sure everyone’s healthy, fed, and not getting themselves into trouble (which, with goats, is always a full-time job).
There’s something special about that first kid of the year—it feels like the true start of spring. The barn smells like fresh hay and new life again, and the long, cold winter finally feels like it’s behind us.
If this lively little girl is any indication, it’s going to be a fun, busy, and slightly chaotic kidding season. And honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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©2010 Sandy Davis | American Way Farm
6 comments:
That deserves a big AWWWW! I think goats are adorable! My kids think my dog looks like a goat. Perhaps that why I like her. :)
Sweet! God I love kids... and lambs... and kits... and calves... and kittens... and puppies.
I guess there is jsut something abiout the wee ones that gets me all sqwooshy inside! The news kids and lambs we have thus far have me completely wrapped around their fingers!
Farm life at its best!
It still amazes me how resilient young critters are when come into this world. Happy Spring!
so so sweet.
I just saw a blog today where the lady knits these cute sweaters and every now and then dresses her lamb in one.
If you go to Kathycalculates.com and then go to Kristens blog that she talks about (o:
I have some little red jackets made from fleece that I put on newborns if it's chilly, just until they dry off. They look so adorable when they're wearing them. Take at look at one here - http://americanwayfarm.blogspot.com/2008/11/new-lamb.html
Just so cute..hard not to want one.
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