Our Valentine Surprise



The farm's newest edition!

Wednesday morning, Philip went out to the barn to do the usual morning chores. Let the goats out as usual and went on sleepily to feed the pigs outside. While out there he heard a funny noise - one that was not a typical early morning on the farm in mid-winter kind of noise.... it was the sound of a very young goat bleating for its mother.

On investigation he discovered a baby kid born only hours before. He must have missed seeing the new arrival when he let them all out but sure enough, Louise had had a new baby!

Now what made this all that more surprising was that we were not expecting to kid until May! Our rent-a-buck had only arrived on the farm in mid-December and with a four and 1/2 month gestation period... well you do the math.... was it immaculate conception??

Puzzled, I dug through my records (after checking on Mom and baby and getting them settled in some comfy private accomodations), to see when was the last time we had a male goat on the farm. Sure enough, we sold the male kids (born only 7 months before) at the end of October. I guess they were a might more mature than we had thought!

So now we are wondering just how many other February births to expect and did we rent this buck in vain! Luckily its been a very mild winter so we shouldn't have to worry too much about dangerously cold weather should we have more births earlier than planned.

I must admit, while unexpected, the birth was a wonderful Valentine's surprise - a much needed boost in the middle of the February blahs!

Louise and babe are doing well. We are not yet certain but it looks like its a girl (these things don't always "reveal" themselves right away!).

Stay tuned for more follies on the farm we call home.