Life on the Farm Known as Critterhaven

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Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats in Southern Middle Tennessee

Going Quiet for Awhile

If you don't hear from me for a while, do not be alarmed.  After the start of what I thought was going to be a wonderful kidding season, things have been a roller coaster ride to say the least.  We started out with bucks and does which is what every goat breeder loves to see, then it turned heavily buck.  That is okay.  I have enough demand for wethers I can make it work.

I had the minerals right, the feed right, and soda out...everything was right...feeding hay daily and turning them out to grass in the front field at least every other day.

Then Sargenka died, one of our blue eyed does.  Ellington Kord lab could not determine a cause but could not rule out toxicity of some sort due to lack of urine.  Her son died not long after, and her daughter Rain was looking poorly too.  After telling a good friend my theory about mushroom poisoning she recommended milk thistle.  I got some, and have been giving it to Rain in her bottle daily.  She is happy and healthy, still a little on the frail side but gaining ground every day.

Then Zorro our foundation herd sire was found dead in one of the igloo's one morning.  I could not bear an autopsy on him so we buried him under the willow tree.  From the looks of him I believe it was a severe blow to the head by the bigger buck.  I had been meaning to move him and had not.  So I feel his was my fault.

Then Susie had her two kids...one we found dead..the other lived a day.  Premature by a week I figure.  So far she is okay and is headed to a new home tomorrow.

Then two days ago Sky kidded with our first set of quads.  I think Blaze had 4 when we first moved here..but they were not registered.  One of Sky's was deceased when we found them...a little malformed boy.  But she had a healthy girl and boy standing already.  Then she lay down to kid a 4th.  Strained and strained and finally we ended up giving a little tug and out popped a girl bigger than the 3 put together.  But she was a girl.  Thank goodness.

Then yesterday morning I found the big girl near death.  After an hour and 1/2 of lying in the bathroom floor with her with the heater, the hairdryer, and the heating pad on her, I couldn't get her temp to register and she died. 

This morning I went out to let Sky out of the stall and she and her boy were dead.

I am taking her to Ellington today.  The only thing I can assume is maybe she retained her placenta.  But last night she was eating and everything okay.  So I just don't know.  Hopefully Ellington will have some answers.  She was sold so now I am waiting to see whom else the person who had bought her may want in her place.

I know I should be thankful for the doelings and bucklings that I have gotten this year that are happy and healthy so far.   But I am constantly on the brink of paranoidism wondering are they okay, and wondering if I'm not neglecting the rest of my family because of it.

So I'm going to be out of pocket for awhile while I deal with all of this and decide what the future of the farm might be.  I know in the long run it is worth it...but in the meantime I just don't know.  I'm just so tired of dealing with it all.

Thanks for all of your kind words and encouragement.  They .really are appreciated.

Your little taste of Job's trials

12:19, Friday, October 17, 2008 .. Posted by husbandfirst

I guess that is why people who deal with animals and crops become strong and steady. They have to deal with such immense disappointments that come on like Job's trials, except it happens more often. We can certainly be so thankful we have a God in heaven Who cares about these deaths and Who cares about you! He sustains and enables!

Untitled Comment

01:44, Friday, October 17, 2008 .. Posted by heritagehill

I am so sorry you are having to go through all of these trials. There must be something they are eating in the pasture to cause this. It is so hard to know sometimes. I know what you mean, everytime you go out to the barn you are wondering what you will find this time. I pray that things will begin to change for the better now for you and your sweet little goaties!
Marilyn