Photogenic dwarf goats

Goats are photogenic. I don't have many, but I enjoy taking their pictures. Louise had quadruplets this year, but one had to be euthanized (urinary problem) and another one died from an unknown cause. So, she's raising twins (both males). For the second year in a row, Thelma didn't breed. Bye Thelma.

The boyz

Louise and her two kids

My whole goat herd

Polled buck

When they were smaller

Newborn care

Quads: sadly only two survived past a week

Coming in from the field

Three plus three

Though there's been a least one year, I can't recall a year when I didn't have bottle babies. Several of them. It's common with a breed as prolific as Katahdins. I always say that I'd rather have a ewe that has triplets and only raises two than a ewe that births and raises twins. The extra lamb is a bonus. At the same time, many of the ewes can raise triplets.

Tippy: the lamb that had a broken leg

This year, I had two sets of three lambs that I bottle fed. They overlapped very little, so essentially I hand fed lambs for about twelve weeks. I wean orphan lambs at about five weeks of age. I could probably weaned them a bit earlier, but five weeks has been working for many years -- and I'm a softy.

The first bottle lamb (Doc) was a single out of a 10 year old ewe. She didn't have any milk. I shouldn't have kept her, but she used to be one of my best ewes. For the previous two years, she birthed triplets and I raised one of her lambs. The twins she raised were always quality lambs. Kept her one too many years. I kept Doc with his mom for bonding. For the longest time, he liked to be held for bottle feeding. Towards the end, he would feed with his two front legs up on my lap.

The next bottle lamb (Raúl) was a triplet. His mother had too much milk -- believe or not. The teat on one side was large. The lambs wouldn't nurse that side. I milked the side out several times (lots of milk--fed it back to them), but they never seem to nurse from that side. Raúl kept consuming full amounts of milk from the bottle. The ewe raised the other two lambs on the one side. Raúl stayed in the general population. Like Doc, he liked to be held for bottle feeding until he was almost five weeks old.

The third lamb was also a triplet. She had a broken leg, either born with it or injured shortly after birth. I figured she could complete with one sibling for milk, but not two, so I removed her (Tippy) for bottle feeding. She went up into the garage into her own pen. She had goats for neighbors. I set her leg with vet wrap and paint rollers. It healed nicely and you can't tell she ever had a bum leg. She's still quite attentive to me, whereas the boys have largely assimilated into the flock.

Lambs delivered via C-section

The first three lambs were just about ready to be weaned when one of the yearlings required a C-section. She hadn't dilated sufficiently. I/we couldn't get the lambs out. Both lambs were alive. I immediately began feeding them colostrum. The vet suggested I keep the lambs with their mom. She woke from the anesthesia quickly and seem to be rebounding, but didn't last 24 hours. She must have hemorrhaged.  Her lambs became orphans. I dubbed them Keith and Ray after the young vet that delivered them.

The final bottle lamb of the year was a twin ewe lamb out of another yearling. Her mom didn't want her. I probably could have eventually gotten the ewe to take the lamb, but her udder was small and she didn't seem to have a lot of milk. I was already feeding the C-section twins, so what was another one? I named her Heidi. These second three lambs were the most primal I'd ever fed. I was definitely just a big tit to them. They've been weaned for several days now and are eating and drinking well.

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish I didn't have a farm. Sometimes it can be hard. Sometimes it can be heartbreaking. Sometimes it can be frustrating. Sometimes I wish I didn't have a farm.

My goat Louise had quadruplets. One was smaller than the rest. I thought it was a doe. I thought it had a hernia. Instead it was a male. If I had bothered to check I would have seen that it didn't have a vulva. It didn't have a scrotum either, but you could feel the testicles in its body cavity. It had bad plumbing. The hernia wasn't a hernia, it was urine. The poor little guy's urinary tract was messed up. He was in pain. He was retaining urine. He had no future. He had to be euthanized. There's something especially heartbreaking about euthanizing a baby animal.

Never had a chance

I don't think I've ever had a ewe lay on one of her babies. It happened twice today. Both dead. One was a sick ewe with triplets. She was in a big pen (8x8) but still managed to suffocate one of her babies. She lays down a lot, seems to have some discomfort. She doesn't have much of an appetite, but is still chewing her cud. I'm treating her with antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory, and nutrition. Fingers crossed. Now she's only got twins to raise. That might be better. The dead lamb was a male. The whole litter is. It's hard to make money bottle feeding a male, if that's what I end up doing with her lambs (if she doesn't get better). Last year, she gave birth to a dead lamb (single). She was a yearling. Her time in the flock is probably limited. 

The other ewe that crushed her lamb, had a difficult birth and was also laying down a lot. Yesterday I pulled two lambs from her, plus a mummy. She laid on the bigger, more vigorous lamb (of course!).  She was in a 5x5 jug. I've tube fed the small lamb twice. Hopefully she'll raise it. A red ewe lamb. So was the dead one. I'm afraid she's going to lay on this one, too, but I can't be there all the time. Not sure why she couldn't deliver her lambs yesterday, but she was in distress all day and is still a little off. 

I kept a ewe from last year that had mastitis. In fact, part of her udder had sloughed off. So why did I keep her?  I'm asking myself now. Until last year, she was one of my best ewes, raising triplets each year.  A really good milker. Part dairy. I thought she might be able to raise one more lamb (on her good side) and I'd raise anything extra she had. But she's been sick for a week now. Still hasn't lambed. Big udder. No fever. Makes these strange sounds with her throat. I've been providing nutritional support: yogurt, molasses, and red wine. Don't know how this is going to turn out.

I kept a 10 year old ewe that used to be one of my best ewes. She raised two nice lambs last year. I raised her third one and kept it for replacement. I was glad when she only had a single. But I soon learned she didn't have much milk, even for one. I'm bottle feeding her ram lamb. I keep ewes I shouldn't. When ewes can't maintain their body condition, even with extra feed, it's time for them to go.  Another lamb I am bottle feeding is part of a litter of triplets. The dam has plenty of milk, but the lambs won't nurse from one side. The teat is bigger than normal. I've had to hand milk that side a few times. Too much milk. That's a new one!

Another ewe with triplet ewe lambs had one lamb with a broken leg. Don't know if it happened before or after birth. Since it would be too hard for the lamb to compete with two siblings I removed it for bottle feeding. It's in a pen by itself in the garage with the goats. I named her Tippy. I put a cast on her leg twice (paint rollers and vet wrap), but she's managed to get it off twice. Her leg seems fine now and she's doing well. 

Besides the aforementioned ewes, I've got ten ewes left to lamb:  yearlings and 2 year olds. Some don't seem to be bagging up or even look pregnant. Time will tell. I'm not sure I care anymore. I'm so exhausted, physically and mentally. I'm just ready for lambing season to be over. Maybe I'm getting too old to have so many sheep all on my own. Maybe I care too much about them. I try to do things right, but there are so many things I can't control and so many things that happen regardless. 

I started raising rabbits a few years ago. I started with good stock and invested good money in cages and other equipment. I went in thinking there was a good market for rabbits (for meat). There is not. I cannot find a consistent or decent market for the fryers. I'm able to sell some for breeders, but that is hit and miss. Plus, I hate having to use Facebook to sell rabbits. I'm planning to keep just a few rabbits (for now) to produce my own meat. The reds. I'm still trying to sell the whites. Bertha, one of my original rabbits, died unexpectedly last week. I found her dead in her cage. She looked peaceful. It was probably for the best. This way I don't have to sell her to someone else (or for meat).

Oh, and the basement sink is backed up.

So long . . .

Ivanka (1711) died a few weeks ago. Today I took 1665 to the sale barn. A couple of months ago, 1736 went to the sale barn. It's always hard saying good bye to the old ewes. 

Ivanka was 8 1/2 years old. She lost her first lamb, then went on to raise sixteen lambs, including triplet ewe lambs this year. Her death was heart-breaking. I blamed myself. Perhaps, she only needed a good deworming. I saved Ivanka's daughter last year. Her name is Hollywood. Like her mom, she lost her first lamb.

Ivanka with her triplets this year

Ivanka as a lamb (she was a favorite)

Ivanka, 4 months old

Ivanka in her prime, age 4

Another set of triplets (2021)

1665 was 9 1/2 years old. She'd raised twenty lambs, including twins this year. Unfortunately, she had gotten very thin and I couldn't put any weight back on her, despite preferential feeding. She was always recognizable due to the big black spot on her left front leg. 

1665 with her triplets from last year

1665 as a lamb, a single out of a yearling

1665's first lambs as a yearling mom

She raised twins in 2021

A set of black lambs in 2023

1736 lambed late this year, in May. She had triplets, but milk on only one side. I had to supplement the lambs:  two rams and a ewe that I dubbed "Rock, Paper, and Scissors."  Pretty lambs, out of a clean-up buck. Due to her age and udder issue, I couldn't keep her another year; so, I took her to the sale barn when she "weaned" her lambs. She was 8 1/2 years old and had raised 17 lambs for me.

1736 in her prime

Her first lamb

She had the first lambs in 2023, twin rams

Leading the pack in 2019

Three good ewes. Now part of the past.  Always hard. I have several ewes that will be 8, 9, and 10 next year. More hard decisions.

Threes

Fourteen of the ewes had triplets. Eleven ewes are raising triplets.  I removed one of the lambs from a 9 year old ewe that had triplets. One ewe had a dead lamb in her litter. Another ewe only milks from one side. She's a good milker and can usually raise two good lambs. If she has three, I raise the extra one. This time, I had to feed two of her lambs. I think one of the lambs couldn't figure out which side to get milk from. Regardless, she only raised one, so it's time for her to go.

Ivanka has triplet ewe lambs

It was Rosie's first set of triplets:  also three ewe lambs

One of the Week's ewes with her second set of triplets

Her third set of three, first time raising all three

Her second set of three

This ewe was very sick when she lambed last year.
What a comeback!

Triplets grazing together with their mom

#1949: her first time raising three

The goat (Louise) had triplets, too.

Some ewes have triplets every year. Some have one or two sets in their lifetime. Most ewes have triplets at least once. Nigerian Dwarf goats are very prolific, too. I expect Louise to have three every year.

Looking for trouble

The goat kids are about two weeks old. They're fun to watch. They're always getting out of their pen and going exploring. Wherever they can go, they go. At the same time, they never venture too far from their home in the back bay of the garage. Stretch doesn't like them to leave the garage. He always herds them back in. Of course, they come back out. Sometimes they get into the pen with the orphan lambs.

Looking for trouble

Sheep: goat encounter

Contemplating their next move

Who me?

Who's your Momma?

This year, I had seven lambs that I raised artificially. Six of the lambs I separated from the flock. The other one, I kept with its mom. Four of the lambs were from the two sets of quads. In total, there were four males (all quads) and three females (all triplets). I always name the bottle babies. This year's names are Niner, Decker, Darlene, Eddie, Toby, Timmy, and Katie. 

I decided to bottle feed instead of bucket feed. It uses less milk. I'm not sure bucket feeding saves much time, since it takes longer to clean the equipment. To me, the labor is in making milk. I can more closely monitor the lambs with bottle feeding. They drink very fast. I feed two at a time.

Darlene front and center

The first ewe that had quads was a 4-year old Weeks ewe. I thought she would be able to raise at least 3 of the lambs, but after a day or so it didn't look like all of the lambs were getting enough milk, so I pulled two. The other ewe that had quads was a ewe I would have least wanted to have quads. I had to help her raise her first set of twins (as a yearling). Last year, she did better. I removed two of her quads for feeding. The artificially reared ones are bigger than the dam-reared ones. I'll probably cull the mom.

1911 is a ewe that has only milked one side for several years. She has been raising two good lambs on one side; so I keep her. She's an excellent milk producer. Last year, she only had a single, a big ram lamb that was first to sell for breeding. This year she had triplets. I immediately took one of the lambs, tube fed it colostrum, and began bottle feeding it. I figured she'd raise the other two. But either she didn't have enough milk (this time) or the second lamb couldn't figure out that only one side had milk. Regardless, I began bottle feeding a second of her lambs. 1911's tenure has probably come to an end. I'll likely cull her after she weans the lamb she is raising.

Niner:  one of the quads

1621 has been one of my best ewes, but she is 9 years old now. Last year, she raised a beautiful set of twins. I kept the ewe and used the ram as a clean-up. The previous year, I pulled one of her triplets for artificial rearing (it had gotten sick). I had to rear one of her triplets this year. It would have survived on its mother, but bottle feeding has made it do much better. In fact, it's probably the heaviest bottle lamb. I named the lamb Eddie after her grand sire.

All of the orphans are doing well. Two are weaned. Three will be weaned in a day or so, and the other two will be weaned next week. I have used five bags of milk replacer for the 7 lambs. Hopefully, I'll have a little left over from the last bag (for next year).  I wean orphan lambs at around 35 days. I could probably wean them earlier, and should. After weaning, they stay together as a group for awhile, before being merged with the younger ewes' lambs (in the back).

Eating some hay

Orphans are inevitable with the prolificacy of my flock. Most of the ewes raise their triplets. Unfortunately, neither of the ewes that had quads this year was able to raise all of their lambs. I've had ewes raise four lambs in the past. One of my ewes (#1773) has raised two sets of quads.  I'd rather have a ewe that has triplets and raises twins than one that only births and raised two lambs. The third and fourth lambs are bonuses: gifts. They are free. Plus, I can only identify ewes that can raise triplets if I have lots of triplets and occasionally quads born.  Besides who doesn't love bottle babies, a.k.a. bummers?

2025 Lambing Summary

The 2025 lambing season is finished. One ewe lambed early, the result of a wayward ram. One ewe did not lamb. She is either open or will lamb late, hopefully the latter. The 1 and 2-year-old ewes were bred to lamb three weeks later than the mature ewes. This is the summary:

38 births
1 ewe late or open
3 births assisted: 8 percent of ewes, 9 percent of lambs
First lambs born: (February 18)  March 11
Last lambs born:  April 18

34 mature ewes
5 yearling ewes
Age range:  1 to 9 years
Average age:  4.6 years
Median age: 4 years

38 ewes lambed in 2025

90 lambs born:  88 live
2 dead (2.2 percent)
47 male (53 percent)
41 female (47 percent)

89 percent multiple births
2 sets of quads (5.3 percent):  8 lambs
14 sets of triplets (36.8 percent):  42 lambs (1 dead)
18 sets of twins (47.4 percent):  36 lambs
4 single births (10.5 percent):  4 lambs (1 dead)

14 sets of triplets

Lambs born per ewe:  2.37
Live lambs per ewe:  2.32
Lambs raised per ewe lambing (n=38): 2.13
Lambs raised per ewe exposed (n=39):  2.08
7 artificially reared

Lambs born per mature ewe (n=34):  2.48
Live lambs per mature ewe:  2.42
Lambs raised per mature ewe:  2.24
Percent triplet moms raising three lambs:  85 percent

Lambs born per yearling (n=5):  1.6
Live lambs per yearling ewe:  1.4
Lambs raised per yearling: 1.4

Yearling ewe with twin ewes

Average birth weight of quads:  7.6 lbs.
Average birth weight of triplets:  8.7 lbs.
Average birth weight of twins:  10.1 lbs.
Average birth weight of singles:  14.0 lbs.
Average birth weight of ram lambs:  10.1 lbs.
Average birth weight of ewe lambs:  8.8 lbs.

The sires of the lambs were the two new North Carolina State University rams (named Munchkin and Thunder) and Falkirk, a homegrown ram out of a Weeks ewe and USDA ram (both NSIP). Sterling was a clean-up ram, also sired by the USDA ram.

Munchkin: 46 lambs
Thunder: 22 lambs
Falkirk: 19 lambs
Sterling: 1 lamb

Born Outside

Almost all of the lambs are born inside the barn:  hoop house or carport. This ewe decided to have her lambs out in the field. I waited until she was done to put her in a jug in the carport. It was a split set of twins. The red ewe is a 2 year old, with her second set of twins. 

Video of 2324 cleaning her lambs

Two more ewes to go in the younger group. Two mature ewes failed to bag up and are either open or late. I hope late. Ditto with Thelma the goat. Winding down this year's lambing season. Yesterday, I tagged the 82nd lamb.

The Baby Goats Have Arrived

Louise gave birth to triplet kids five days ago:  2 bucks and a doe. It doesn't look like Thelma is pregnant. Else, she is very late. I think Ramen may have prevented the buck from servicing her. Ramen still tries to nurse his smaller mom. He's an annoying goat. I wouldn't mind getting rid of him.

Baby goats are adorable, a different kind of cute compared to lambs. Nigerian babies are so tiny. Because of their size, they can easily get in and out of the pen they're in -- which they do. It's fun to watch them, as they explore their surroundings and prance around on all fours. 

Video of Louise and her babies

Birth of third kid (video)

I plan to let one of the bucks, probably the brown one, breed his mother. Yeah, I know it's inbreeding, but the kids will be fine, and I'm only raising the goats for fun. I'm not spending $200 again to lease a buck that only bred one of my does. Hopefully, I'll be able to sell the little doe kid (all white). Wonder if any or all of them will sprout horns. I don't plan to disbud.

1 day old

Three in a row (4 days old)

Two thirds of the way

Twenty-six ewes have lambed. Thirteen more to go. One third. I have 67 lambs, a few more females than males. Two sets of quads. Lots of triplets. Twins. No single births except a dead lamb delivered by a yearling ewe.

Three ewes had pairs of backward lambs (hind legs first). I pulled all of them. Two of the ewes had third lambs that were in proper position, but I pulled them anyhow. Backwards can be a normal delivery, but there is always a risk. None of the ewes showed a water bag. They weren't making progress so I intervened.

One of the backwards lambs

Rosie's triplet ewe lambs

I didn't have any quad births last year, but this year have been two. I am bottle raising two lambs (all rams) from each litter. I thought the first ewe could raise at least 3, but it didn't turn out to be the case. Domino had the second set of quads. She's one of the last ewes I wanted to have quads. She's barely had enough milk to raise twins in the past. She raised twins last year, but the year before I had to supplement both of her lambs (for awhile).

Second set of quads

The first lambs were born on February 18. They were the result of one of the new NCSU rams (Thunder) clearing two gates and jumping off the loading ramp into a field of ewes. It was a set of triplet ewe lambs, so I'm not complaining. Otherwise the first lambs were born on March 11.

The early lambs:  all ewes

Gabby holding one of the lambs

Four mature ewes haven't lambed. Only two of them are bagging up. I concerned that the other two are either late or not pregnant. I hope they're not open. The yearling and two year old ewes have yet to lamb, with the exception of the yearling that delivered a dead lamb. At least it was dead when I found it. It was a big lamb. Not sure why it was dead.  One other lamb in a set of triplets was dead. Same scenario. Same question. All other births resulted in live lambs.

Only one of the two goats (Louise) looks pregnant and soon to deliver. Thelma is either late or not pregnant. Hopefully, not the latter. I spent $200 to get them bred! Hopefully, Louise will have three again; in case, she has to make up for Thelma.  Ramen is just getting fat.