Just wanted to let you all know that I'm still "alive"!! I've been birthin' baby goats here and it's been COLD!! Lots of heat lamps and late night feedings. Plus....worst thing is that my son, granddaughter and family are in Disneyworld ("Dinghyworld") right now and Harry and I are almost frantic with all the terrorist talk that's been going on!!!!!!

One thing for sure is that I'm DEFINITELY ready for Spring! Anyone else out there?????????

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2003

Answers

What did you get? My two little ones are doing great. The doe is so friendly that I have to make sure she gets a home. I have to find someone to dehorn her. The others are due in April. Nicer weather.

Remember the Turks...

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2003

Thanks...Dee, for reminding me about the Turks!! The whole situation is just so emotionally exhausting!!! And the nightmares we've BOTH been having are unreal!

My first doe had triplets...after I miss-calculated her due date!!! I waited til 2 a.m. Tues. for the delivery...then fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and went out and checked on her she had delivered two bucks and a doe. One buck was very tiny and weak...and did not survive. But the other two are doing great. My other doe is bagging up seriously right now (10 p.m.). I sure hope she lets me sleep tonight and waits til tomorrow to deliver!!!! Temps are supposed to be around zero tonight, but wind chill will be much less!!! Guess I'll set my alarm for about 2 a.m. to check on her. Dehorning is my worst job...'cause they hollar soooo bad!!! I'd rather castrate. My FIL built me a kid box (years ago) which helps me alot. Now I can do the "dirty deed" alone :-(!!!

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2003

Boy I sure wish you guys would buy one of those digital cameras So I can see some baby goats! I just ordered a cheap camera from heartland for about 40 bucks. Shoot, people who drive Saterns and eat lobsters can surely aford a cheap camera so friends can see baby goats!!!...Kirk

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003

Kirk...Guess we're just too lazy to drive to the "big city" (Bangor) where the nearest Circuit City store is to buy a digital camera. We'd have to be positive that it would work with webtv and I think Circuit City is the most knowledgable about that stuff. Harry and I are both technologically stoopid!!

Previously, I MEANT to say that the wind chill is supposed to be much worse...not much less! It's really windy here today. Air temp is 0 with wind gusts up to 40 mph. Anyone have a wind chill chart?? But the "kids" are doing fine and follow me around the barn. My horse is really curious about them!! Did you find anyone to dehorn your doe, Dee? Hmmm..that was a tongue-twister :-)!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003

Kirk, I have a picture, just am not really good at posting it. Did it once....maybe I can send it to Joy and have her do it.

My regular large animal vet office(the associate I used to use left so I wasn't sure if there was anyone else who could do it)said they will do it. I told them I will hold and don't want anestesia like they did last time. Will see on Tues when I bring her in.

Lastly, I think this is probably a safe time to go to Disney since security is so tight. And I found (since we have gone every three years) that after toddler and before teenager is the best age to go. Who knows what will happen in the next few years. I'm due this year for our three year on Disney. I had told my husband we should rent an RV and travel Florida to see if we find any place we wish to settle. He's having doubts because of bugs and heat. I love the heat but we never went there in the summer so...

Stay calm

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003

Are you dehorning or disbudding, Dee? I've never heard of using anesthesia for disbudding. Years ago we had a Holstein dairy cow that needed to be dehorned. What a yucky job!! The vet came right to our barn, gave the cow a "relaxant" so she laid down, then he preceeded to saw through her horns with one of those wire saws. He sawed deep enough to see into her sinus passages!! We had to keep gauze on her head (and fly dope) for weeks afterwards!! If you were closer I'd bring my kid box and disbudding iron over :-)! I usually disbud for some friends here in town every year. It's really an easy job...and I always have a bottle of warm milk nearby!!

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003

Gee, wish you were here too. My breeder doesn't disbud and I haven't found anyone to show me. Last year I was thinking of experimenting on the meat goats but chickened out. Vicki at Dairy Goat said you can use a piece of 1" copper pipe and a blow torch. I'd have to make a kid box because everyone here wouldn't cut it. My son refused to hold the doe because I thought there may be another one in there (I saw her side move) I told him he didn't have to look, just hold her head and he replied that he told me that he would feed, clean but birthing....I was on my own. City boy

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2003