More Babies

Cupcake kidded on Thursday evening. She and her twins didn't form a very solid relationship, so this week has had many challenges. She really didn't seem to have enough milk for them and ignores them most of the time, not paying any attention to their cries and sleeping across the barn from them. It's sad to see. I'm keeping a close eye on them, and have had to do a few bottle feedings. It seems that her milk is picking up now, but I'm not positive. Her kids are a lot more lethargic than Japanzy's. I'm hoping I don't end up with full on bottle babies. I'd so much rather they were dam raised. Any way, they're adoreable! We're enjoying this adventure a lot.

Too Busy and Tired For Words...

...but seriously happy. :)

Shamrock

CLICK HERE to see our first kid born at North Forest Farm! It was so exciting! Japanzy really gave us no warning. I knew she was going to kid soon, because her tail ligaments were loose and she wanted to stay inside the barn. I put her in the kidding stall and let Dani, 7, stay with her while I went to the house for warm water and molasses, having already assembled my other kidding supplies. I was on my way back to the barn when Dani came out the barn door at a run, shouting, "hurry, she's having it!" Sure enough, I got to the barn just in time to see a hoof poking out, then two, then a flapping tongue. Oh, what an awesome experience! :) I still have one human birth and two goat births on the itinerary, then I can rest. Ah, sweet bed, to stay in you all night: what bliss it will be!

Easter Eggs

As Easter approaches, we're getting lots of lovely eggs from our hens. Thirteen out of fifteen today! I love eggs, so beautiful and so tasty.
Speaking of eggs, we decided to break open the eggs abandoned by our broody hen. I felt that since she'd done such a great job setting for over two weeks, she must have known something we didn't. I had suspected that our rooster wasn't doing his job on the full size hens, but only the banties. Upon breaking open all eleven eggs, only two had chicks inside. There were only three bantam eggs in all, and two of them had the chicks developing in them. So, I guess if we're going to have hens hatch eggs, or incubate eggs, we'll need a full size roo. Only I like this little guy. He's nice. Nobody has been bruised or bloodied by him. We don't have to carry a stick with us. He's nice to the hens too. So now I'm praying for the right rooster for this little farm. Nice as well as...well, I can't think of the word I'm looking for...potent? Virile? What's the word I'm looking for??