Salty and Pepper are two doelings out of some purebred Nigerian Dwarf goats I sold to a lady two years ago. Although they are purebred Nigerians, she was told they were Pygmy goats, which is what everyone calls miniature goats around here. There is a breed of goat called the Pygmy, a beautiful little goat built like a tank, but sweet and playful. I wish I had some. So the lady bred the kids to some random small goat and the result were Salt and Pepper , one doeling each from the doelings I sold to her. I bought Salty and Pepper from her when they were a few months old, cute as buttons, but not in the least bit friendly.
I tried to befriend them, and have not had a great deal of success so far. The bucks were in with the does for the winter breeding season and at the end of it, the doelings got in with the crowd. I hoped they were not bred, since they were just 5 months old at that time, but they were. Young doelings do not always make very good mothers, needing time themselves to grow and mature first, so generally I do not breed them the first year.
As time went by, I noticed that the doelings were developing udders, which could only mean that they would be having kids. I kept a close watch on them and would not sell them bred, in case of impending kid problems, as can happen with any goats, but especially with new mothers. Sure enough, Salty laid down and screamed and popped out her first kid. She looked at him and ran and the second was born on the run. I quickly picked up the first one and cleaned his airway and took him inside to get a towel, then returned to retrieve kid number two and clean his airway and dry the babies off. Unfortunately, Salty has zero mother instincts at this time.
That means that I have to get up every two hours to go out and hold her still so the babies could nurse. The option was bottle feeding with no hope of mother and kids bonding ever. I am holding out for the bonding, though this is day 2 and it is no better. At least in the next 24 hours, I will have to get up every 4 hours instead of every two. The boys are around 1 pound a bit each....tiny! But they are in great shape and full of life, jumping around today and playing as only goat kids do. They are adorable. The black one has blue eyes from his Dad and the brown one inherited his Dad's beautiful moonspotted coat and dual colours.
Salty's cousin is likely due today or tomorrow, following closely behind Salty, so I put her and Salty in a pen within the sheep and goat pen. The little boys have a shelter there and if Pepper kids I will bring another shelter box in so they have some privacy. Salty does go in the shelter where her boys spend most of their time, though they were out and jumping around today. She just does not talk to the kids and nuzzle them and feed them, like a mother should. Keep your fingers crossed that she does bond with them real soon and that Pepper is a natural mother, unlike her friend.
Thanks.
Now, off to bed and up to the alarm in 4 hours. Zzzzzz.
I tried to befriend them, and have not had a great deal of success so far. The bucks were in with the does for the winter breeding season and at the end of it, the doelings got in with the crowd. I hoped they were not bred, since they were just 5 months old at that time, but they were. Young doelings do not always make very good mothers, needing time themselves to grow and mature first, so generally I do not breed them the first year.
As time went by, I noticed that the doelings were developing udders, which could only mean that they would be having kids. I kept a close watch on them and would not sell them bred, in case of impending kid problems, as can happen with any goats, but especially with new mothers. Sure enough, Salty laid down and screamed and popped out her first kid. She looked at him and ran and the second was born on the run. I quickly picked up the first one and cleaned his airway and took him inside to get a towel, then returned to retrieve kid number two and clean his airway and dry the babies off. Unfortunately, Salty has zero mother instincts at this time.
That means that I have to get up every two hours to go out and hold her still so the babies could nurse. The option was bottle feeding with no hope of mother and kids bonding ever. I am holding out for the bonding, though this is day 2 and it is no better. At least in the next 24 hours, I will have to get up every 4 hours instead of every two. The boys are around 1 pound a bit each....tiny! But they are in great shape and full of life, jumping around today and playing as only goat kids do. They are adorable. The black one has blue eyes from his Dad and the brown one inherited his Dad's beautiful moonspotted coat and dual colours.
Salty's cousin is likely due today or tomorrow, following closely behind Salty, so I put her and Salty in a pen within the sheep and goat pen. The little boys have a shelter there and if Pepper kids I will bring another shelter box in so they have some privacy. Salty does go in the shelter where her boys spend most of their time, though they were out and jumping around today. She just does not talk to the kids and nuzzle them and feed them, like a mother should. Keep your fingers crossed that she does bond with them real soon and that Pepper is a natural mother, unlike her friend.
Thanks.
Now, off to bed and up to the alarm in 4 hours. Zzzzzz.
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