Chicks and Goats

So this is what I think happened. The night before last a chick began to peep in the incubator. Just after three in the morning. The dogs rose up from their beds and Boo opened the incorrectly latched door (all our doors are old) they went to investigate, Boo put his nose up there to look, caught the cord and pulled the lot down. The incubator fell apart and most of the eggs fell onto the floor. And the dogs scarpered.

The shell shattered off almost all of the eggs. The bad ones broke apart and water poured out of the incubator. It was a terrible mess. Ton rushed back into the bedroom to raise the alarm and Boo proceeded to lick the hatched chick.  A number of the eggs were broken and the chicks inside died straight away, a number only had the shell fall off. The chick was terribly cold and sopping wet from the licking and I thought it was dead but popped it back into the incubator anyway.

I was very pleased that Boo did not eat anything. You never know with Boo Bum. He is not always so good with birds.  But he did us proud and only licked it clean. It took a long long time for the poor fella (or felless) to dry too.

Thank goodness the incubator still worked. I laid all the eggs that looked alive and the chick in the incubator to warm up .

The little chick awoke miraculously and began to launch himself about the incubator like a drunken sailor loudly cheeping and one of the eggs almost immediately began to break open as another chick struggled out. Then Ron (one of the Fellowship) told me it might be best to break the membranes of the damaged eggs that were peeping and let them out.

I did this and released three more alive chicks. (one died) the rest of the damaged eggs were dead. The first little black chick who we will call Lick could not believe his luck when he saw the other chicks being laid back into the incubator. Friends to cuddle up with. The sun came up, the Coop warmed up and the wee premmies slept and gained strength.

So late yesterday morning, once all five of the chicks had been blow dried by the hot fan and thoroughly warmed up in the incubator, (see top picture)  I popped them into their extra warm brooder,  right under their heating table, water and feed at their sides, and my goat partner and I climbed into her jeep  and went here.

We had come to look at their La Mancha milking goats. We were greeted with smiles and shown around the goat nursery.  Prairie Fruits and Creamery is a wonderfully welcoming farm. They love to have volunteers come and you can actually work with the little goats.  I spent so much time in the nursery with the babies that time ran out and I think I may return as  a volunteer another day so I can see their milking operation.  Evidently they make great cheese too!

I have put a deposit on two La Mancha does and my Goat Partner has done the same for two unrelated bucks.  They will all come to the farmy in early April and I will raise them for a few months, then the bucks will go up to live on the ridge and I will take the does up to visit when they are older. My friend is also an excellent cook and when the time comes I hope she will make the cheeses.  But let’s not put the horse before the cart.

First let me show you the baby pictures. The American La Mancha have tiny, tiny ears harking back to one of their Spanish Forefathers who, rumour has it, came into California with Spanish missionaries in the 1800’s. They have been crossed and rebred by American herdsmen and women resulting in this statuesque animal. The La Manchas are very adaptable to heat and cold and are known for their consistent milk production. About a gallon a day I discovered yesterday. They also have sweet friendly natures. I know many people prefer a goat with big ears but I  think that they smile and you know how I love animals that smile.  Here. Have a look!

Actually I think that is more of a smirk!

They come in a variety of colours -I even saw two who looked like mini Dutch Belteds. Such serious quiet wee goats.  And such happy wee chicks, under their Brinsea heating table. 

When I got home I checked the chicks immediately and they were warm and happy, even eating. All five look good for prem babies and are still alive this morning.

Good morning. One more chick hatched in the night. nd is still drying in the incubator.  Another little black one, the other egg is still thinking. So now there are Six chicks. 

I hope you have a lovely day. And I hope I have a lovely day too.

Love your friend on the farmy

celi

PS You know that gate I had chipped out the day before yesterday? Frozen solid again yesterday afternoon. A little thaw then a lot of freezing. Sigh. Snowed again last night.