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<\/a><\/p>\nRegardless of her doubts, Charlotte received Merlin’s attentions with some interest back in September.\u00a0 And I threw her back in with him in October.\u00a0 Which is good for helping ensure that a goat gets bred.\u00a0 But bad for determining kidding dates.\u00a0 Nothing like turning a 10 day waiting period (kidding usually occurs 145-155 days from date of breeding) into 2 entire months of inspecting udders for bagging up and checking goat nether regions for discharge.\u00a0 It takes the old adage “Know your goat” to a whole, new freakish level.<\/p>\n
I actually didn’t have high hopes for Charlotte.\u00a0 She has 3 teats on her udder instead of the usual 2.\u00a0 I was beginning to think that was a sign that she had some genetic defect that prevented her from getting pregnant.\u00a0 Maybe everything wasn’t properly formed in her reproductive system.\u00a0 And she had an unpredictable heat cycle—often only seeming to cycle once or twice a year.\u00a0 That combined with her brassy bullying of other goats on occasion, made me think she might be a hermaphrodite.<\/p>\n
But just to prove the point that animals have every idea what humans are talking about (which is why most dog owners have to spell the word W-A-L-K rather than say it), Charlotte finally freshened.<\/p>\n
And she kidded 148 days after her first breeding session with Merlin.\u00a0 Which means I should have put my foot down a long time ago.\u00a0 Charlotte got a free ride for 2 1\/2 years.\u00a0 All feed, no production.\u00a0 Why are the pretty colored ones always so tricky???!!!!<\/p>\n She had a bit of trouble with kidding as her kid presented with a nose and only one foot.\u00a0 So I had to sweep for the second leg.\u00a0 Kidding can be shocking for first timers and she took in the sight of her baby with more wide-eyed surprise than maternal interest.<\/p>\n I hear ya, Charlotte.<\/p>\n Been there, done that.<\/p>\n But once Charlotte was encouraged to clean her baby, she got the idea and took it seriously.<\/p>\n So seriously that I was worried she was making the little one cold.\u00a0 And she wouldn’t let the baby nurse either because she wouldn’t stop licking.\u00a0 But I hesitated to interfere with bonding between a goat and her kid.\u00a0 I don’t like to use kid coats <\/a>of any kind because I think that slows the kids ability to adjust to temperatures.\u00a0 Although I recognize we are lucky with North Carolina temperatures and I probably would use them if I lived up north.\u00a0 And I know the kid needs to figure out nursing even with a reluctant mother.\u00a0 I settled for using a heat lamp for added warmth and feeding Charlotte some animal crackers to keep her distracted while the baby managed some initial nursing.<\/p>\n I was disappointed when Charlotte passed her placenta after only having one kid.\u00a0 But that’s not unusual for first timers.\u00a0 And this kid just happened to be a female!\u00a0 Here’s hoping this is the start of a doe-ish season!\u00a0 Even better, her father is Merlin (my polled buck), so she may turn to be polled.\u00a0 Meaning Charlotte’s first kid has quite a potential for profit.\u00a0 I mean, minus the 2 1\/2 years of feed it took to produce her. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n With the baby nursing well and Charlotte keeping her under the heat lamp, I figured I could head inside.<\/p>\n So congratulations to Charlotte for (finally) earning her place in the herd and getting to stay here at Woodland Pond.\u00a0 And good work on birthing a beautiful doeling, despite a difficult delivery.<\/p>\n Welcome to Cassie, a miniature version of Charlotte and the winner of the Kidding Opener for Spring 2013.\u00a0 You are first on base, sweetheart!<\/p>\n I wonder if Cassie will be as tricky as her mother.<\/p>\n Hmmmmm…….<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n