Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps

I do not tell many kidding stories.  A person tends to get used to the births, despite the fact that they are quite miraculous.

Iris had kids a couple of days ago.  It was a “different” experience. 

Iris is an average sized alpine doe.  She normally needs a bit of assistance.  I seldom need to help any of my other does.   I prefer letting nature do its thing.

The story unfolds as such…Sunday morning Iris was standing off to herself.  She is a bit more vocal when labor is in progress. 

I was concerned to see the remnants of a water sack hanging from her.  The order of things was not what I normally see.  In fact, I looked around for a dead kid.  I decided to put Iris in a small stall, with the notion that I would check on her every 20 minutes.   I headed up to the house.

A few minutes after I entered the back door I heard Iris grunting.  I also heard another grunt that was not hers.

I headed back down to the barn.  Snowball, a snubian, first time freshener, was in labor.  She picked a precarious place to have a kid, in a doorway.  Half of my herd was looking at me as to say, “Traffic jam!” I urged Snowball towards the middle of the barn, which was readied with clean straw bedding.

I turned to check on Iris, sounding more desperate.  I saw one hoof.  Just one.  Ugh.  Not good.

Snowball started grunting loudly.  One hoof, then 2nd hoof.  She screamed louder.  My goats normally do not scream, and normally I do not need to assist. 

I took another glance at Iris.  Still one hoof. 

Snowball began pushing again.  I looked at the hooves, made sure they were pointing in the right direction.  They didn’t look right.  I went in.  Felt one head.  It was positioned correctly.  I decided to pull.  It was a job.  Wow.  But we did it.  Mother and new buckling (male goat) are fine. 

I checked on Iris, talking to her, “I will not do anything until I see 2 hooves.”  Something seemed off.  Even the color of the discharge.  Dark yellow. 

Iris began pushing again, no progress.  So, I checked.  I felt a head in the right position, and said, “Okay, girl, when you push, I will pull!” Wow, another struggle, but we got that beautiful doeling (young female goat) out.

I knew Iris was not finished.  I said to her, “Well, momma, your next one will be fairly simple.”  I’ll stand back and wait.   I left the pen open.

It was not long before Iris laid down and grunted.  No hoof.  Not even one.  Then I see a tongue.  A nose.  No hoof.

I was tired, so was she.  I am tired a lot lately.  It tends to make me very careful and aware with judgement calls.

I went in, beyond the kid’s neck.  Shoulders only, legs back.  Oh oh.  Another push.  Out comes an ear.

I cleared the nose and the mouth.  The kid took a breath. 

And for whatever reason, Iris shoot out of the pen and ran to the back of the barn.  A very dirty end of the barn.

The kid’s eyes are open, the head was completely out, and Iris was going at a good trot.  Well, she doesn’t run well when her udder is that swollen, and especially while in labor. 

And…I was laughing.  I said to her, as I calmly walked behind her, “You are one crazy goat chick!”

I told her she was not going to have a kid in that dirt!

So I let her lay down.  I gently urged the kids head forward (not a good thing to put much pressure on).  I did get a tiny bit of forward movement.  I went in and found a leg folded back.  Finally, leverage! It wasn’t a difficult pull, I got the 2nd doeling out and I laid her on momma’s side. 

I’ll never forget goofy Iris flying down the barn.  Her legs were spraying outwards.  The kid’s eyes were open.  She was going for a ride! What a way to start a new life.

I shake my head and giggle.

The things we see and do.

Praise the Lord I get to experience these beautiful things.

Life is a miracle.