Spring is truly spring when the goats start kidding, even if it is snowing again. So far Esme has had a single billy kid. He's very friendly and tolerates plenty of kissing and cuddling from the children! I was unsure if she was going to kid because she showed no signs of pregnancy that I could detect, probably because it wasn't her normal set of twins, just the one. When there are twins packed in there it's easy to feel them moving around if you place your hand on the underbelly of the goat. At first it can be tricky to decipher between the wriggling of the foetus and the constant gurgling of the goats many stomachs, but a bit of practice helps.
I became suspicious that she might well be in kid after all when I noticed changes in her behaviour around the field .... sleeping in the sunshine, grazing a bit further away from the 'crowd' and spending some time in the goat house during the day resting while the others ventured out ... sure enough after seeing this happen for about a week, along came Billy the Kid!
For more information on how to keep goats try the ebooklet available to buy from the Paypal store on the right hand column.
Oh how gorgeous. After the move, I cannot WAIT to get goats. Do you keep a male on site or bring in a stud?
<3
Posted by: Garden Pheenix | March 31, 2010 at 09:12 AM
This is a wonderful tip. I cannot wait until I have some "kids" if my own. :)
Posted by: Tabitha | April 01, 2010 at 01:14 AM
Lovely photo. Our goat proved not to be in kid this year after all!! Our pet sheep just had 3 lambs though, photos up today :-)
Posted by: Lorna Sixsmith | April 06, 2010 at 05:31 PM
wow! you look gorgeous and amazing! love it!that baby is so supet cute! wish i could get some goat too. LOL :D
Posted by: Nursing pajamas | May 31, 2010 at 01:46 AM
Aww what a lovely photo!
Posted by: Lawn feed | July 02, 2010 at 11:44 AM
We don't have sheep in our place. We only have goats. I want to have sheep because they are very cute and so sweet. That photo is a perfect shot. The baby sheep is so cute.
Posted by: dining tables | July 22, 2010 at 07:35 AM
What a lovely billy kid you have? I'm pretty sure it's now more cuddling than before. By the way, how old is Esme right now? I assume she can still give birth to more kids. Wish her a Merry Christmas for me.
Posted by: cheap international calls | December 23, 2010 at 03:52 AM