Sunday evening one of our young does kindled her first litter (8) and all seemed to be going well until this morning when she ate hardly anything, 2 kits were dead and the others unfed (Maggie has been helping me out on another thread)
Monday Dora (Alpine goat) went into labor, day before her due date. I stayed near to keep an eye on her and she just wasn't making any progress. Joanna, my daughter and the goatherd, finally decided she ought to check things out. Could find 2 front feet but no head forward with them. Mostly our goats have kidded without assistance--once needed a vet to untangle 2 kids and Joanna helped so she'd know what to do another time. Finally got the first one out--dead on arrival. A second the same. The doe managed the third, a live buckling on her own. The vet came and checked her out, gave her an anti-biotic injection and left syringes for Joanna to give a day for through today. Doe and kid now doing well. (We have so much milk!)
Wednesday a new wwoofer arrived, had scheduled to stay 2-3 weeks. Knew in 24 hours this just wasn't going to work. He's leaving Sunday and the time until then feels awkward. I'm too tired for it to still be April.
Trying to let the hard things go, to focus more on the new green everywhere, the trout lilies and marsh marigolds just starting to bloom, the birdsong in the morning and frog chorus in the evening. Getting out at first light for a walk around the fields and along the brook before I start to deal with the problems of the day.
Monday Dora (Alpine goat) went into labor, day before her due date. I stayed near to keep an eye on her and she just wasn't making any progress. Joanna, my daughter and the goatherd, finally decided she ought to check things out. Could find 2 front feet but no head forward with them. Mostly our goats have kidded without assistance--once needed a vet to untangle 2 kids and Joanna helped so she'd know what to do another time. Finally got the first one out--dead on arrival. A second the same. The doe managed the third, a live buckling on her own. The vet came and checked her out, gave her an anti-biotic injection and left syringes for Joanna to give a day for through today. Doe and kid now doing well. (We have so much milk!)
Wednesday a new wwoofer arrived, had scheduled to stay 2-3 weeks. Knew in 24 hours this just wasn't going to work. He's leaving Sunday and the time until then feels awkward. I'm too tired for it to still be April.
Trying to let the hard things go, to focus more on the new green everywhere, the trout lilies and marsh marigolds just starting to bloom, the birdsong in the morning and frog chorus in the evening. Getting out at first light for a walk around the fields and along the brook before I start to deal with the problems of the day.
Also, crossing my fingers your mother rabbit perks up here and soon!
