Spring has officially sprung here at my mini farm, and you know what that means, baby goat season! This is one of my absolute favorite times of year, and I'm so excited to introduce you to our newest arrivals, starting with a very special little guy named Sprout. If you've been following along, you already know we had x-rays done on our mama goats to get a sense of how many babies we could expect. Buttercup showed at least three, Blossom at least two, and Bella at least one. What I didn't expect? That Blossom would beat everyone to the finish line!
Sprout's Unexpected Arrival
Blossom is a first-time mom, and I was certain Buttercup would kid first because her udder was much larger, and she had all the signs. But then Blossom's udder suddenly doubled in size, and she began keeping to herself, laying under the swing and distancing herself from the rest of the herd. That's when I started getting that gut feeling, something was happening.
Sure enough, I checked the cameras one night, and Blossom wasn't in the kidding castle with the others. I threw on my white pajamas and ran out to the pasture. I found her lying alone, vocalizing in distress. Now, goats are very vocal when they're in labor, so that wasn't surprising, but what was worrying was that she was straining and nothing was emerging.
I made my way into the tight spot she'd chosen and gently felt for a kid. I could feel the sac, and as soon as I applied a little pressure to help her gain momentum, she pushed hard, and out came Sprout! He was small, but strong. Sadly, just a couple seconds later, a second baby followed, but was stillborn. I believe the stillbirth may have triggered Blossom to go into labor early, before her body was truly ready.
Nurturing a Tiny Fighter
Sprout is a tiny guy, and I think he arrived a bit early. I gave him some colostrum right away to help get his strength up. Blossom was completely enamored with him, so much so that she wouldn't let him nurse at first, wanting to keep him right in front of her. But after some help getting him latched, the two became an inseparable little duo. Blossom has turned out to be an incredible mama, and Sprout is thriving now. He's still on the smaller side, but healthy, happy, and full of life.
Quad Squad: Buttercup's Surprise Delivery
Just when we were soaking in the sweetness of Sprout, Buttercup decided it was her turn. And what a show she gave us, four baby goats! We suspected there might be that many based on the x-rays, but honestly, we all talked ourselves out of it. Turns out, Dr. Emily was right.
Let me introduce you to the crew, in birth order:
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Baby Girl #1 – She's the diva of the bunch! Loud, opinionated, and drop-dead gorgeous. She looks just like her daddy and made her presence known from the very start.
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Baby Boy #2 – With stunning blue eyes and unique markings, this little guy is as handsome as they come. We joke that he looks part llama with those long legs and fluffy coat.
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Baby Girl #3 – She's the most subtle in markings but no less beautiful. She fooled us into thinking she was the last... until surprise!
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Baby Boy #4 – Born en caul, meaning still inside his amniotic sac. That can be dangerous if no one's there to break it, but thankfully, we were present to help him out safely. He's now thriving and covered in moon spots, absolutely magical.
We've started supplementing all four babies with bottles to ensure they're each getting enough to eat, especially since Buttercup has her hooves full with quadruplets. It's critical on a mini farm to keep a close eye on weight gain for newborn animals. So far, these babies range from 2.2 to 2.8 pounds, and we're monitoring their growth daily.
Life on the Mini Farm
Watching Sprout and the quad squad hop around the pasture in the evenings brings me so much joy. Our mini farm has truly come alive with the energy of these sweet baby goats. Every spring and summer, I feel like I could spend every waking moment out here, soaking it all in.
There's something magical about raising animals, especially during moments like these when new life enters the world. From the struggles of Blossom's early delivery to the surprise of Buttercup's four healthy kids, this journey has been full of emotion, learning, and love.
Thank you all so much for following along with me on this adventure. Whether you're here for the baby goats, the behind-the-scenes of farm life, or just to catch a glimpse of our ever-growing animal family, I'm so glad you're here.
Until next time, give your goats (or pets!) a little extra love from me and Sprout.
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