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”
We have managed to get to March…surely winter is going to leave soon!
Linda ♪♫❤
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
amen to that!
So very pleased about the salvaged chicks. And I have always secretly wished that you had goats on the farmy. I love goats and made friends with many over the years. They seem to have some kind of snarky, humorous wisdom. Now all you need are a pair of alpacas to complete the menagerie.
So happy you were able to save those darling chicks. They look so cozy and bright-eyed. Getting teary here–tiny stings in the old eyes (and ears,if you can believe.)
There’s something ethereal about goats. I think it might be the way their noses sit a bit receded above their lips. And their eyes! gold bricks. I visited Hawaii once, ten years ago. My husband had a kind of heart attack there and so we didn’t really see much. After he was released from the hospital we opted to stay another week. One thing I was determined to visit was THE SURFING GOATS on Maui. I got to hold a newbor, and actually hand-milk a goat. I was so happy.
I hope you have a lovely day, too, Miss C. The goats are just so adorable. So sweet. Your farm is just so amazing, and what is so very exciting for us followers is that we have been with you on the ground floor of putting together, of creating, an entire farm from scratch! It has been and continues to be such an incredible adventure for an armchair farmer like me.
I’m so glad there are survivors. I am sure Boo-nanny is very, very sorry he pulled the incubator off. I’ve spent the last couple of months photographing tortoise eggs in various stages of development. I can’t wait to share. It’s a much, much slower process. One species I am working with takes around 145 days, give or take, depending on so many variables. We don’t write dates on the calendar like you do with chickens. We just wait and see. I did watch one small embryo moving in the egg this morning. So exciting!
Good news all the way today. Six little balls of fluff annd the news of two new does to arrive shortly. Now I am dancing my way to the kitchen singing! “Doe, a deer, a female deer….!
I love that you are getting goats! I actually feel excitement. And I’m always so intrigued at how this blogging world elicits emotion. With the love and enthusiasm you have for your current four-leggers expect that and more to come. Their individual personalities are fascinating- but that is not news to you I’m sure. I have 2 nubians and a Lagerian- She is a cross between a La Mancha and a Nigerian Dwarf- they are a little bigger, a little more milk production and the higher butterfat. I’m crossing my fingers that we have babies coming around April 20. Our first:)
And I’ve got to add- I’m so sorry for the egg crash- must have been miserable but I think you are good at recovery. Hope you are having a good Sunday.
I think 6 live birdies is a pretty miraculous number after the events of last night. I feel rather sorry for Boo. He so loves babies. Accidentally getting tangled in a cord and pulling babies to there death is definitely not something he would intend to do. Poor Nanny Boo. I LOVE THE GOATS!!! Oh my goodness. They smile almost as beautifully as baby Marcel. You are right…you and smiling animals! If you had a coat of arms, it would have smiling animals on it. xx
Lovely .. 6 yay!
babies *sigh*
Thank goodness most of the chick survived! What cute looking goats. One of the very few things I simply cannot eat is goats’ cheese.
As many as 7 chicks have a chance? That’s really good news, Celi. Your first reports sounded no where near as positive. I’m not at all familiar with the various goat types but this breed sure looks “handsome” as was mentioned earlier. They’ll make fine additions to the farmy.
Good luck with the cheepers – they must know that they’re coming to chick heaven. I knew Boo would come up trumps. Looking forward to llots of goaty pictures and caprine namesl
Enjoy your day, love, ViVx
O Celi: you really should be writing thrillers . . . you made the ‘chicken episode’ totally captivating. And then added these absolutely beautiful baby goats. Hmm! It seems that instead of working a whole lot of little boys and girls I know are going to be ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ in a few minutes when I send your post over 🙂 !! Well, my very favourite 2 1/2 year-old boy has just not only crossed the Gulf of Finland from Tallinn to see a pop-art show in Helsinki but absolutely love it: methinks when mother reads your post he will love that too 🙂 !
Such a wonderful international world we live in and all on touch instantly! Have a lovely day Eha. c
I’ve been on the edge of my seat, breath held as I whizzed through the posts I missed while away on the weekend… whew… everyone meant well… and there are a good number of chicky survivors. None of the doors in our old house latch properly either. Now I can enjoy the goats. They are cuties.
We will have to watch our hearts when the goatlings arrive.. there is something so ethereal about them.. c