The Miracle of Birth

So today Pete met me over at Fraga after I'd finished milking and helped Steve clean the bulk tank (that's were the milk chills, literally, until we turn it into cheese).  We ate burritos and went fishing (caught nada) and played with the dog by the river.  Good times were had by all.

Before we left the farm around 3 o'clock to take a hike with the dog, we thought we'd clock a little kiddie play time, since god knows these little goats won't be kids for long.  They grow fast.  We happened into the barn at just the right moment.  I saw a kid on the ground, fur all matted and mama sitting beside it in the corner, not even in a birthing pen.  Pete couldn't tell but I knew that kid had just been born.  I sat with mama and sent Pete to go get Jan.

While he was gone I watched the still un-named mother (who is only a teenager herself) give birth to another little buckling.  Out of her vagina a sack of fluid was hanging like a crystal ball.  She lay down and all of a sudden a little black and white foot appeared in the ball of fluid.  Another foot, a head and before I knew it she was pushing with all her might, upper lip curling up in pain.  In just a few second the baby was out with a splash!  My only other first-hand experience with kidding was less than positive, so for a moment when the kid was flopped onto the barn floor I was sure it was dead.  Luckily, I was wrong.

I cleared some of the gunk out of it's mouth and within a second the wet little goat was gasping for air and vigorously shaking the excess glop and goo off its tiny head.  Mama starting licking him heartily.  It was a happy scene.  It's amazing what chaos birth brings.  So wet and messy!  So risky and precious!  Within just a few minutes the kids were standing up, looking around for a teat to suckle and mama was happy to oblige.