If you have been following along. You know that I have three adult Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Two doe’s; Holly, and Ivy. One buck; Beau Jigalow. Now the full story of Button Adventures Goat Male Mania can be read here. Yet, for those who are like me, and want people to get straight to the point. Here is the Coles notes version. In November 2020, Beau Jigalow got Holly and Ivy pregnant. Approximately 5 months later, and two weeks apart. Holly, and Ivy both gave birth to two bucks each. For those who need a little more clarity, that makes for, FOUR BUCKS! From this I researched that the sex of a goat kid is determined, alas, like a human, by the male. From those four bucks; two passed away, we kept one (named Champ), and sold one to an amazing lady and her daughter in Chance Cove, Newfoundland.
Now. I left that blog article with the question: Will Beau Jigalow be able to perform and give us doe kids the next time around? Well. We have the answer folks. However, this time SANTA’s Involved. So get ready for a little 2021 Holiday, Ho ho ho ho ho ho.
Unlike the fall of 2020. 2021’s fall, well, it went a little different. God. The Universe. Alaah. Whoever you believe controls the forces of life, and the rhythms we lead. Has gotta have a quirky sense of humor. Not sure if you think or feel like I do. Yet when I think I may have a little bit of a handle on learning, and applying some knowledge. That over seeing force reminds me, YO LADY. You still have A LOT to learn! Fall 2021, was another little lesson in applying what life has to teach me.
October 2021 rolled around. This is the time most “rutting” animals bring females into heat. They then procreate and carry on the lineage of their species. I kept looking for the signs of Holly, and Ivy to be flirty and in heat. I kept saying to myself all through October, and half of November, “ok Holly, ok Ivy. Anytime now!” Then it dawned on me. I am missing something. My other half and me. We figured we missed their heat. Which means, most likely they are pregnant. Talking on the phone to a goat farmer in Nova Scotia. He validated our thoughts. Except he was a wee bit more visual in his explanation. Our conversation went something like this. Me “can I ask your opinion and experience about does and bucks” Goat Farmer guy “absolutely, anything I can do to help” Me “Well. Would doe’s be able to be pregnant, even if you have not observed them in heat?” I explained how Holly, Ivy, and Beau normally live with one another out in their pasture and occasionally in pens. Farmer: “Oh yes. Most likely what happened is that they went into what we call a soft heat. Then, because your buck is with them most of the time, he was on top of them NON STOP. You would not catch it when they were in actual full heat.” “Oh boy. That’s what my other half and I loosely concluded” He goes “This is good because your doe’s are pregnant. Yet now you’re not really sure when they are due” “Yup” I said. “It is what it is. Thank you so much for your amazing help” Yes. Validation from an outside source. I began observing Holly, and Ivy. Anticipating pregnancy growth. Last time when they entered the last month of their pregnancy, approximately two weeks before going into labor. besides getting bigger. The only real sign was their udders got REALLY FULL of Milk. The same sign happened this time close to the middle of December. I was like okay. Well now, based on this, it can be anytime this month and into January.
The first step. I made sure to keep Beau separate from the girls. With a buck who thinks his only task is to be mating with females, no matter what state they maybe in, keeping them separate can be a little bit of a chore. Nonetheless, I am the goat herder. It was done!
Christmas Holiday week rolled around. With owning, and running my own fitness business. It is the only consistent scheduled week I take off throughout the year. I love my work. Yet, like most holidays, it’s a time for people to take needed breaks. Now, I could spend a little more time, focused on family, relaxing and nurturing my animals. Oh, and also eating. Hehehe. I love to eat. I often feel I have a seafood problem, and it’s why I love to exercise, and do workout challenges. I know I would be 40lbs fatter if I didn’t. What can I say, I am human.
Christmas eve rolls around. I visit my family. Tried not to get depressed about the B.S of the pandemic, and how it was affecting the behavior of my extended family. I come home to my other half on Christmas afternoon. Goats are good. Happy. Nothing unusual. They got broccoli, carrots, and cabbage as their Christmas dinner. Tucked into their separate pens soundly for the night. I head into the house. I end the day with treats, and Christmas movies with my other half. I wake up earlier than I typically would on a day off (6am to be exact). My spidey senses are tingling. The first thing I do is bring water for the animals out to the shed. Check in on the males. They’re good. Check in on the females. Low and behold. Two little wee ones tucked in around the hay. Oh Ivy I say. Look at you. You had your babies. Both healthy, and alert. Yet, yup, they are…BUCKS!
Gotta love mother nature. She always knows how to do her thing. I say a little prayer of thanks that everything went well with Ivy and the kids. I give Ivy Molasses water and some goat electrolytes. This helps get her energy back after birth. I check the kids over. I cut their umbilical cords properly and disinfected them with iodine. Then I go back to Ivy’s udder to see if they have been suckling and gotten their much needed colostrum. Yup. Her teats have been well used by the baby bucks. I observe them a little more, and make sure they are both feeding evenly from Ivy. Yes. All good. Ok. Now we gotta get Holly separated, because she could go any day now. We get her own pen easily put together in the middle of the other two pens. In She goes. I try to take her for a walk with the other goats and animals (not Ivy and the kids, they need bonding and rest time, birthing is a hard process for any creature).
What a disaster. Beau went crazy with trying to constantly mount her, and other crazy male behaviors. In the human world it would definitely be LABELED as serious PHYSICAL abuse! Needless to say, the walk did not happen. With quite some effort Beau and Holly went back into their own pens. I had to really wrangle and “man handle” Beau. Holly, I literally picked her up and carried her into the pen. Animals will always do what animals do. Act like animals! Even if they are dwarf goats in size (they don’t generally get heavier than 40lbs). I think to myself, yup, another reason as to why I train. I train for life’s situations. Just like this!!! Then my dog, Star, starts acting all funny. She begins extensively sniffing and winning all around Holly’s pen. I go to my other half. Animals always show signs about things. They are definitely telling me Holly is due soon. If she doesn’t give birth in the next 24hrs, I would be really surprised.
With the birth of Ivy’s babies. Everyone, but especially Ivy, and her kids. Get a lot more attention. That evening, we spent most of our time in the shed. I keep saying to Beau, if Holly has another buck, your time with us will be coming to an end!
Finally it’s time to turn in for the night. Everyone tucked in with hay, water, and the kids have a hanging suspended heat lamp. Off to bed we adults go. It’s been a wee bit of a long couple of days. 330 am in the morning when I wake up, I hear Holly making a major noise through the baby monitor. Oh she’s ready to deliver. I go up into the shed. Sure enough she’s crowning little hooves. I grab a few towels. Because Holly is not as attentive to things as Ivy is. I must watch that she will respond properly to a kid when born. So, I want to be ready as soon as she delivers. But she does well. I just gently put the towels under the kid, and rub the placenta off the nose. It’s warm in the shed. Probably about 6-7 degrees. For goat kids being born, there is no threat of death by hypothermia. However, the kid needs to breathe. Hence my rubbing the stuff off his nose. All good. I let Holly do her Mom bonding thing. She’s constantly licking, and making little cooing sounds to her new baby. I am praising her the whole time. Such a proud human Mom I am. After she’s done, I check his sex. Yup. Sigh. ANOTHER BUCK!
Oh Beau Beau. Your time has come dude. One way or another, your use on this little goat farm, has got to come to an end. The question remains. What and where shall Beau Jigalow go?
In the meantime, we are loving our temporary, buck kids. I know how much joy they bring us. I feel greedy in not sharing this joy. Then I think, I love to give back. And what better way to kick off 2022 by giving the joy of Buddy 1, 2, and 3, while they are with us at Button Adventures. I had a video call with my cousin and her four human kids and they loved the goats. So, I think, why not do this for more families who have kids.
So, if you’re looking for education, excitement, entertainment for YOUR Kids. From January 7th, to February 26th, I am offering free 30 min goat education and animal movement sessions. You can book here. All I ask is that you make a donation towards the beginning building of Button Adventures Fitness and Farm. You can view the goal and fundraising page here.
If you enjoyed this story and are curious about what will happen next with Button Adventures Fitness and Farm. AMAZING!! Make sure to subscribe, and share.
