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.
The Kitchen's Garden 
103 responses to “Chicks and Goats”
Here’s to six chicks who seem to have come through…will you let these grow up a bit first or do you plan to jump in soon and start the process all over again? Plus GOATS!!!!! Miss C you are my hero this morning. I know that you are still working on the Godot in flight tail full throttle picture (and have been close) but when those goats arrive can you think about capturing some smiling-hopping-jumping-funny goat action to add to our galleries. I am officially putting my voice in for goats on next years calendar, preferably with smiles all around.
…oh, little goat videos would be lovely…although I don’t know if you have that ability with cameras, and time constraints and such.
I have been thinking about video, but there is always a financial constraint actually as I don’t own one. Though I have a feeling my D90 has a video choice. I will have a look today!.. I love the idea, vids are fun on Face Book.. c
Your D 90 has a video mode i have the manual in pdf form if you need it i can email
I have a distant memory of that too. In fact i think I have my book manual somewhere in the piles in my office, If i can’t find it i will get back to you! Thank you skip. Is it easy? have you used it?
I have used the video features on both the d 7000 and d 610 they function quite the same. you use live mode and the video button instead of the cameras shutter release too records the video.
6 chicks, maybe 7 that is fantastic 🙂 I too hope you have a good day today. Laura
We will see what this last lonely egg does, give him a few days just in case. But all six were up eating this morning, they are so comfy in there.. c
Good news, Miss C. Lively, living chicks, and more smiling creatures for the happy Farmy. I do like goats, they’re so adaptable and interested in everything. Of course, that does mean they’re into everything and out of everywhere. World’s greatest escape artists, bar none.
I have a number of areas that need cleaning up – so they will have jobs to do, in the big fields we will be ok, but temporary fencing to clean up areas may be a worry.. we will see.. c
I’m glad you included a shot with human legs – gives perspective on how little these goats are (for now!) That Boo – what a special guy! Really can’t blame him for being so curious. I will never know how you find the time for keeping us updated on all the activity there, but THANK YOU! Good day!
Morning Elizabeth, you are very right about perspective. i need to think about that more often.. c
Oh goodie! Goat milk and cheese and soap in the future 🙂
Yes I am looking forward to that soap.. c
SIX chicks! Hooray!!! So happy to hear this! And good for Boo, too. Well done.
The little goats are adorable. You’re so lucky to have them to look forward to. Can’t wait to see more pix.
I know! I am looking forward to it. c
So excited you have decided on Lamanchas Celi!!! I had a feeling you would not be able to resist them!!! 🙂 Talk about sweet and loving animals!!! Get ready for even more big fun on the farmy with them!!! They will be in the midst of everything that happens, that’s for sure! They will also be on the porch peering into the windows with Tina in Tane if they possibly can! 🙂
You were very good not to twist my arm, but they have such fine lines.. When it comes to milking time, I will be asking questions, I cannot wait for the goats milk soap actually! c
Ah, the resiliency of chicks. They’re a tough little bunch. Some of ours have survived conditions that simply astounded me. Those goats are lovely… I fell in love of course. Now I must go back to an email a friend sent me about the menagerie of animals and birds she has and look up the reasons why one doesn’t need goats – sort of a pro and con comparison of the many critters she has (and she has had just about everything you can imagine!). And of course I have to consider Daisy deer. Everything we have here has to be deer compatible you know! 🙂
Just think of the SOAP! c
I will send you some and then you don’t need goats. I love Daisy deer and all her wild friends.. c
You took the camera! YAY! Thank you for the goat pictures. They are precious. So much to look forward to this summer. Great news about the chicks. Best hopes for a lovely day at the farmy. 🙂
I am thinking I might time a batch of chicks to hatch when you are here for your farm stay! Would that be fun?
That would be great. A good learning experience for me.
“The Goats from La Mancha ” maybe you call one of them Don Quixote. Cute little goats, I can see them jump up and down. Hoorah for the little baby chicks.
Ah yes! We might need a spanish theme for the naming. Well done. Not for a month or so yet though, hopefully not ’til after The Conference. c
GOATS!!!! Absolutely, the most difficult part of putting our homesteading plans on hold is having to wait for goats. They were going to be our primary source of dairy and entertainment, with a side benefit of meat from time-to-time. Now we’ll have to make a trip out to see them.
Happy to hear you have a few chicks that survived.
As soon as spring is sprung and warmed up a bit you simply must bring the girls down. I expect the kids (of the goat kind) in April. I am miserable that you have had to put your plans on hold.. I hope it is not for too long, there is a barn out there waiting for you!
Sitting here going awwwwww! and ohhhhh! and awe! at those wonderful La Mancha babies. You’ve clearly found your breed! I’ll be watching your goat adventures with interest. We are contemplating raising a few pigs for the freezer and some meat hens this summer. no goats in our immediate future. But those faces! I can totally see how they won you over, along with the promise of all that lovely milk. I love the short ears. And quiet and calm, hmmm, we’ll see! Mischievous too, I’ll bet! How the heck do you milk a goat?
I feel so sorry for Boo, just trying to do his job. Will you set another batch in the incubator immediately?
Same way you milk a cow, just two cups instead of four.. c
Never a dull moment! But lots of interest happening. How exciting! Lots of fodder for Camera House!
Brent would really love to have a goat. I see fencing and goat get-away problems. Though, Lucy’s favorite cheese is Chevre, so I may soften. Love to know how you plan on fencing those escape artists?
very carefully, though John has already fenced the exterior of the fields in deer fence – not expecting goats but because daisy jumped all the other fences.. c
Oh C. I’m so excited that you will be getting goats! You’ll notice some have a bit more ear flap than others..we call them, gopher ears! So adorable! Are the two that you bought in any of the photos? I also think their smiles look a little like a monkey’s smile too, don’t you? And if you cross a LaMancha doe with a Nigerian buck, you will have a Mini Mancha! 🙂 The goat’s milk soap is the best in the world…so rich and creamy, although I would love to try yours. Are you selling it yet?
Go little peeps, it wasn’t a total loss after all! I love little Lick, she is one tough Chick! 🙂