The Poultry Keeper

stephen

We went out this morning to let the animals out, ducks etc all fine. Little Foxglove (the goat) wasn't that keen to go out today. I said to Nigel her udder looked a bit bigger than usual, and she was red at the back. Nigel thought maybe she was coming into season or a virgin milker.

Two hours later we went out to walk and she's got a strange bulge at the back... Seems that when her mum was getting jiggy with Prince Igor, her daughter was having it away with Adonis!

So we suddenly have yet another little kid on the farm. We had no idea she was pregnant, not the slightest suspicion! We now wonder if the other "under one year" is also in the family way.

Whilst we were wrestling a newly born goat kid and her mum into the barn, rather than the field she chose, Snövit decided it was a good time to lead The Great Escape and run off for the forest, taking her son and crew through a neighbours garden, over a hill and far away... So on the one hand we were trying to check the kid was ok and her mother was, whilst simultaneously bringing Snövit under control, and take a dog back into the house who found it all highly entertaining.

So, a quiet Christmas all round here!

nigel · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:09 am Post subject:

here's the new arrival less than ten minutes old

pleased to say that order at Alledal has been restored, the great escape was foiled and the goats are back behind bars [well an electric fence]

poultry poofs · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:15 am Post subject:

Congratulations on the new addition Cool

debcat · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

congratulations Laughing

how manys that now

stephen · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:31 am Post subject:

Erm, Blåblomma is still pregnant. Snövit had Baldr earlier this Autumn. Mimi has had 2. Foxglove has had 1 - we don't think a second is on the way, but we didn't think one was on the way, either. And Bluebell isn't pregnant, but then neither was Foxglove... So that's 9 so far.

debcat · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:

she'll probably just have the one being so young herself Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 11:44 am Post subject:

That's probably a relief. I think we're reorganising the barn the rest of Christmas, now, and the milking machine now goes up the top of the list for the tax refund.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:19 pm Post subject:

Its a lovely christmas present Very Happy

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1721 Location: Clawddnewydd

Sounds like a typical Christmas eve down on the farm Rolling Eyes

I'm off now to make sure mine are all safely secured in the fields they are supposed to be in Wink

Have a good Christmas Stephen

NannyP · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:05 pm Post subject:

Wow, I am amazed you've found time to post the story Laughing

stephen · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:22 pm Post subject:

Er, that's because we've still not got round to breakfast yet. We've got to prepare our Swedish julbord yet!

BTW, it's a boy.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

fantastic news ,sounds the ideal way to have a kid ,,good luck with the milking ,sounds like choas Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 9:25 am Post subject:

Just a little bit! We've got some of the goats outside today, and Mimi and Foxglove are busily feeding each others babies, and not worrying too much about whose kid is whose.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7368 Location: isle of lewis

it's nice when they are like that Very Happy

CP · Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 11:59 am Post subject:

Congratulations on the new (& unexpected) arrival! He's gorgeous! Very Happy