While we were in Wisconsin, visiting a great  llama farm and chillaxing at Great Wolf Lodge. Our llama, Mac, miscarried her baby cria. We found the baby in the shed. It had no hair and was really small. We think it may have died when the dog attack happened and just now was miscarried.  While we were outside looking at the little guy, we heard cries from the back pasture. Low and behold, our youngest female goat had had 2 babies while we were away too. We thought she might be bred, but we could not figure out how, because we did not expose her to the buck. It had happened..

The baby goats are really small. These would be the smallest babies yet. We are crossing our fingers that they continue to thrive. They look good, just small..

I had my shoulder surgery on Thursday of last week and am still recovering. It is hard to not go out and cuddle babies and hug the llamas and horse. Next week…

Sage and Crinkles the llama

By the way- the llama farm we visited in Wisconsin was fantastic. Fran, the owner, was very forthcoming with her advice and knowledge. We have gathered enough information, to intelligently start planning on bringing in more llama linage, building more shelters and focusing on a specific market for our llamas. We are excited.

Here is a small photo documentry of this past month..

1. The baby goats are alive and well. We are keeping Oreo, the one with a white nose. Milkshake is going to go to a new home that raises Aussies and has other goats.

2. Sage’s photograohy skills are manifesting. She took the 2nd photo in this set. That is Dave the kitten. Dave got fixed this month.

3. That is Milkshake cuddling with us.

4. Took that photo of my chuck norris sushi with the iphone.

5. Burned some boxes. Kids love fire. Should we be scared?

6. Nice photo of Dave, in black and white.

7. This month we all got our teeth cleaned.

8. Jinx holding a goat.

9. If Sage and Xoe get up early and we get out the door early, sometimes I reward them with a trip to the coffee shop.

We have gotten several inches of rain over the last 24 hours. We officially have a few big run offs going through our property.. There is actually a loud current of water going through the goat field. I hope the kids do not try out swimming! The horse coral is knee deep in mud and muck. I closed the front pasture to save the ground from getting muddied from horses treading through the over saturated ground.

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We have babies! Today while we were at work, our goats decided to multiply! We have 2 little guys. We have not sexed them yet.. Check them out.

It has been a real cold December at wind ranch. Literally no riding and as much time bundled up or indoors as possible. The horses and goats have thick fur now and the dogs have spent more time inside.

We realize Jami Lynn either puts on a lot of weight in the winter or she has a bun or 2 in the oven. We are researching and asking for as much advice as we can to learn how we are to care for baby goats in the cold months. Jan and Feb tend to be the coldest in Iowa. I guess our buckling has some live ones already.. Good note- boy goats do not stink as much in the winter. Yay!

No I am not kidding.

Jamie Lynn looks thinner and is very sprite. I think she is not pg after all. That’s ok.. We could use some more time learning more about our goats and goat husbandry.. If she kids, then we will be pleasantly surprised. If anyone reading this has any suggestions about how to tell if your goat is pregnant (she was supposedly due this month) please share.  We are always up for learning more from those more experienced..

I think she is looking bigger and bigger.. her nippies are getting larger..

Soon..

Perhaps the 3rd week this month?

stay tuned

Yes she is…

We adopted a nameless bred pygmy goat yesterday and my lovely daughters appropriately named this new addition to Wind Ranch- Jamie Lynn Spears..

So far, Jamie has been rather bitchy, maybe she does not like her new digs.. She has been asserting herself as the alpha. At first we were worried that Awesomeow might get hurt from her, but we have been watching. He is starting to run when she comes his way..  Poor “NutBoy”.

She is due to kid in Mid September. The breeder said she has twins in there and she has had one set of twins before. She knows what to do. Whew.

After we get the horse shed rebuilt, then we are going to tackle the goat fence and little goat shed. These little goats can clear a 4 foot fence with no problem. We continuously have to rethink the fence situation. Right now the only thing that works is using the horse round pen with cheap welded wire attached inside. They use their little horns and lift the wire to get out, so we end up attaching meal posts to the bottom to make it harder. We found “goat fence” at the Tractor supply store and are going to pick some of that up and put it in, then attach a string of electric fence near the bottom and top, to keep these little geniuses in.

I feel so country..