Chat
10-12-2017, 06:32 PM
Well, it looks like we might not be done with kidding in 2017. 
Petunia has been looking very "healthy" (read that FAT!) all fall and during the last two weeks I've noticed a sizable bulge growing steadily on her right side. She's the only doe who hasn't come into heat. Most of mine didn't start cycling until late September this year, but by now all of them have--except her. Remembering back, there was a brief time in July when the bucks were still running with the herd during the day without aprons. I remember thinking that Petunia would likely be the first doe to cycle, but I didn't have to worry because she has the noisiest heats in the world. When she starts, she wakes the whole county so I figured I'd be very well notified to keep the boys locked up. Well, there was one day in July when she seemed to be flirting with the boys in the pasture, but they weren't in rut and didn't seem overly interested, and by the next day she had lost interest too. I figured it was nothing and forgot about it--until now. Now I'm slapping myself for not paying closer attention because if my calculations are correct, it looks like we'll be welcoming babies just in time for Christmas. I'm not sure if they'll be Rocky's or Rambo's or both. The killer part of it is that I was planning to breed her to Sox because I thought they'd make a beautiful match. I even paid the pricier fee to get him registered with ADGA as a buck. Dang it! Sox's new owners have been keeping him intact for me. I'm just kicking myself right now.
Oh well. I'm sure the babies will be adorable, and I couldn't ask for a better Christmas present than baby goats (even if I don't want winter kids!). Petunia is a strong, healthy doe and an excellent mama. As long as she has twins and not triplets she should be ok. She's herd queen so she never has to worry about not getting enough to eat. I wish I had an exact due date. I may send in a blood sample just to be absolutely sure she is actually pregnant and not just fat.
Petunia has been looking very "healthy" (read that FAT!) all fall and during the last two weeks I've noticed a sizable bulge growing steadily on her right side. She's the only doe who hasn't come into heat. Most of mine didn't start cycling until late September this year, but by now all of them have--except her. Remembering back, there was a brief time in July when the bucks were still running with the herd during the day without aprons. I remember thinking that Petunia would likely be the first doe to cycle, but I didn't have to worry because she has the noisiest heats in the world. When she starts, she wakes the whole county so I figured I'd be very well notified to keep the boys locked up. Well, there was one day in July when she seemed to be flirting with the boys in the pasture, but they weren't in rut and didn't seem overly interested, and by the next day she had lost interest too. I figured it was nothing and forgot about it--until now. Now I'm slapping myself for not paying closer attention because if my calculations are correct, it looks like we'll be welcoming babies just in time for Christmas. I'm not sure if they'll be Rocky's or Rambo's or both. The killer part of it is that I was planning to breed her to Sox because I thought they'd make a beautiful match. I even paid the pricier fee to get him registered with ADGA as a buck. Dang it! Sox's new owners have been keeping him intact for me. I'm just kicking myself right now.
Oh well. I'm sure the babies will be adorable, and I couldn't ask for a better Christmas present than baby goats (even if I don't want winter kids!). Petunia is a strong, healthy doe and an excellent mama. As long as she has twins and not triplets she should be ok. She's herd queen so she never has to worry about not getting enough to eat. I wish I had an exact due date. I may send in a blood sample just to be absolutely sure she is actually pregnant and not just fat.