When I got into goats, I did a lot of reading and searching on the internet. But nothing can prepare you for the challenges that can arise in birthing in farm animals. Everything you read, while pertinent, kind of goes to a dull roar when things are happening fast and furious on the kidding floor.
Meet Hunter. She is the bottom of my goat herd, by dint of being the grand daughter of my herd matriarch, Willow. Hunter's mom, Artemis was purchased from her original owner, and we attempted to acclimate her here on Caldwell Acres. It didn't go very well, Willow was highly abusive to Artemis, and Artie got very very sick after delivering Hunter and her sister Wren, with a still born triplet sister. After she recovered, I had to sell Artie, and she is in a new home where she is second to the matriarch.
Hunter is one of the most easy going goats, and we love her, and will take most of her supplements without even being in the stanchion. Never one to miss a meal, she is a beautiful girl. Fast forward to her first freshening, and she (of course) tries to deliver a solitary buckling. This means the baby is HUGE, and it hurts a LOT to try to get him out. I step in and help ease baby Bow into the world.
While I won't retain Bow as a breeding buck, he will make a wonderful wethered pet for someone who has goats, and is looking to add a little more clearing power to their blackberry management. Being that Mini Nubians are a bit smaller than full sized goats, but significantly bigger than their smaller counterparts, they eat more. I will miss Bow when he goes to his new home, as he is one of the prettiest goats I have ever seen!!
