Brownie's Birth Story - May 4th, 2015

I realized recently that I never blogged Brownie's birth story as I had promised. Oops! Better late than never, right?

Well, this will be a short tale. Brownie has always been a very stoic, sneaky doe when it comes to giving birth. The first couple of times she did so, I missed it all together. The second time she gave birth, my dad and I checked her before leaving to get lunch at Taco Bell, which is roughly 10-15 minutes away from us. When we came back, she had twin bucklings all dried off and ready to go.

On the morning May 4th, 2015, Brownie seemed pretty much normal. She was a little reluctant to be moved from the barn to the pasture, but honestly that isn't unusual for her. She doesn't like to be walked on a leash, so not wanting to be taken to browse didn't send up red flags for me. I was also in a little bit of a rush to get everyone moved, for reasons I can't remember now, so I just did a quick once-over of her, got everyone moved, and went about my business. Since she didn't seem eminent, I didn't bother to do any extra mid-day checks other than looking out the window. In the back of my mind, I really thought I had at least several days before she gave birth.

That evening when it was time for everyone to go back to the barn for the night, Brownie was also reluctant to go back "home." That struck me as unusual, because the goats are usually ready to make a bee line for the barn when it's time for them go back up for the night. I think they understand that the barn is safer than the pasture, so when dusk is getting closer they want to be tucked in safe and sound.

Noticing this, I stopped to pay more attention. Light bulbs went off. This goat was about to kid! Not in a week or a few days, but tonight! Her behavior and non-existent ligaments were a big tip off, but the main give away was a small amount of amber mucus. A little bit of white or opaque mucus can show up weeks before the doe actually goes into labor, but once you've seen both types of mucus you know the difference. The "I'm about to go" mucus is amber in color and will be present in larger amounts. At first there may only be a bit visible -- on Brownie that night there was perhaps a teaspoon or two early on -- but when things really get going it will come in a long stream. (I should note that I've also had does kid who didn't present significant mucus beforehand. They like to mix it up and keep us on our toes.)

Aye yi yi. Let this be a lesson to you: don't put things off thinking you have plenty of time to do them. I didn't even have the kidding stall ready! Before each doe kids, I like to completely clean out the kidding stall (if it hasn't been already), spread some diatomaceous earth (DE) on the floor, and put down fresh straw or shavings to be sure that everything is nice and neat.

Now it was nearly dusk, the stall was not ready, and the goat was going to kid soon. I have never prepped a kidding stall so fast! I quickly spruced it up, hastily put down some DE, and spread out fresh straw. Then I moved Brownie over, filled a water bucket and hay manger for her, and ran to get my kidding kit from the house.

Then I waited, but I didn't have to wait long at all. She gave birth to single chamoise buckling. Nothing terribly eventful there. He came out feet and nose first just like we like, and nursed fairly quickly.

If there's one thing I can say about Brownie, she is an excellent mother. She kids easily and quickly and takes care of those babies like a pro.

 Way to go Brownie!

Cheers

Brownie's Twin Doelings May 9, 2014

Yesterday was a long, impatient day for me as I waited on babies. I noticed Brownie exhibiting the early signs of labor around noon or one in the afternoon. She was nesting, being vocal, getting up and down frequently, her ligaments were completely gone and her udder had gotten huge and shiny.

Brownie's ligaments hours before giving birth.

I spent the better part of my afternoon and evening camping out with her. I realized in the process that I really, really want to get a barn monitor so that I can stare at goats from the comfort of my living room! She progressed pretty slowly through the first stage, which is not unusual. I was starting to be convinced that I'd be camping out literally all night, though. I eventually drove my car down to the barn and waited in it with the window cracked so I could hear her. (My car seats are much more comfortable than a hard plastic chair or the barn floor.) It was about 8:30pm when I posted on my facebook page, "It's going to be a long night. Please send prayers and good vibes to Brownie and I; she appears to be in the early stages of labor." She had actually been in the early stages for a while, but I didn't feel like elaborating at that time. 

Brownie fixing her "nest."

It was from my car, and not long after I posted on my facebook, that I heard a loud bleat. I rushed out of my car right away, because this sounded like a "I'm getting serious" bleat. I could tell at this point that we were getting a lot closer, so I texted my mom that I needed a lantern from the house, because my phone battery was about to go dead and I couldn't keep using its flashlight app. (Did I mention my barn has no electricity?) It took her a few minutes to find a lantern with operable batteries (I should have planned that out better), but my parents got to the barn just in time. They probably hadn't been present five minutes before a bubble emerged. 

Getting a bit uncomfortable!

It was about 9:00pm when the first doe finally made her entrance to the world. I had a moment of panic as she first emerged, because I initially thought I was looking at the head of one huge single. Thankfully I was actually seeing a leg and a head and thinking that the two were just one large head. She was born with one front leg back. My mom -- who has the smallest hands in the family -- was in the process of trying to get the leg out with the nose and other leg (which is the proper position) when Brownie gave a biiig push and out she came. We had to re-position Brownie at this point, because she had gotten too close to the wall and was in danger of squishing her. I began to suction the doe's mouth and nose and rub her down with a puppy pad, but before we'd even gotten the first doe around for mom to lick, the second came shooting out like greased lightning. I opened her bag and began suctioning and drying her as well. At this point Brownie started helping, too, and licking them off. The afterbirth came right behind them, and I knew we were done. I wish I had pictures of the labor, but with no lights it just wasn't possible to get any good ones.

Finding food for the first time!

After giving me nothing but bucks her past two kiddings, Brownie finally gave me does! I was honestly surprised to find that I was lucky enough to get two does and no bucks; that's a dream come true. They are beautiful and healthy, and didn't take hardly any time to find the source of food. It always amazes me how quickly goat kids get up and know exactly what to do to get fed and get moving.

The next day.

Brownie's kids are named after desserts or chocolates, so these were christened Oreo and Cookie. Oreo was the first one out, and she is black with an almost perfect white belt. 

Oreo.

Cookie was the second and is a vary dark brown with white. She has a white goatee that looks like she spilled milk down her chin. (Her registered name will probably be "Milk n Cookies" or something similar.)

Cookie.

One will be available after they are weaned, and it will probably be Cookie. My mom is already attached to Oreo after helping her be born. 

Brownie's udder less than 24 hours after kidding.
(Word to the wise: don't use shavings in a kidding stall if you can avoid it.
Unfortunately we couldn't, because straw prices were ridiculous.)

I also have to say that I am extremely pleased with Brownie's udder and her progress in general. I have never been able to milk Brownie. She was my very first goat, and when I first bought her she was completely wild. The first time we tried to milk, my mom was helping and got her hand gashed open with Brownie's sharp back hooves. I had given up on ever milking her, but Brownie has improved so much over the time that I have had her, and I think this may be the year I finally milk her!

Moments like these remind me of why I love doing what I do.