Tilly bonded with Ida Mae

Is it already Thursday?  Can’t believe it!  I lost track of these last few days that have been like a whirlwind. “You’re a real farmer now”, Nick said over the phone after I shared with him the dramatic story of Tilly delivering her second baby.  I’ll spare the details here, but I will say that she has one healthy little doe, Ida Mae, and Venus has a doe and buck set of twins, Starla and Stymy.  Cute names, huh?  They all look like their moms!

Having the motherly instinct that I do, my routine since Monday has been to check on the new goat herd every 2-3 hours for the first two days; luckily, things seem much happier now, so the timing has shifted to every 4-6 hours now.  Call me a “worrier”.  I was concerned that Tilly wouldn’t bond with her first born since she lost the second one.  Bonding can be challenging after the trauma of losing one.  Of course, this makes sense, right?  Three days later though, they have bonded!!!

Venus was a total champ!  Being a new mom to her seemed completely natural.  Delivery was quick, both babies escaped their mama’s womb within half an hour.  Right away she was cleaning, cleaning and cleaning and nursing happened quickly too.

Venus cleaning Starla, second born, Stymy closeby

All of our instincts definitely prevail.  Mine, Tilly’s, Venus’, and the ‘little rascals’.  We have all play our parts well in this little goat family.  My role has to make sure they are overall cared for.  I bring Venus and Tilly treats, bring warm water, bottles (just in case), towels, water for myself, headlamps…my goat first aid kit is there too.  I make sure the babes look healthy and if they seem hungry I gently push them to their mamas for another feeding.  Today I even wiped one of them; she needed it!  This has all been in addition to the normal daily morning and evening routines of feeding, watering, cleaning the barn, pathways, their mountain that Nick built for them, bringing them fallen brush from the forest.  Sure, they are spoiled.

Those strong natural impulses are there, which has kept me on target with the rest of my life too.  I’ve been super focused on just the essentials.  Sorry to those of you I’ve not reached yet who have been in touch!  It’s coming today, right after this!!  I promise!

On that note, I guess that’s enough for now.  I better get in touch with you guys who are waiting for my email responses!  More photos coming soon!!

Delighted, energized yet a little exhausted…