Wednesday, December 12, 2012

It's beginning to look a lot like winter! First real snow of the season last Sunday. I was coming back from taking Patch home and got to drive in this. Very pretty. The goats weren't too impressed and spent the day in their nice snug barn....lol. 






                                        Welcome to Ripon, Wisconsin!


Thursday, November 29, 2012

Well, more breeding has taken place, yay! Although I look to have several does all kidding between April 9th & 12th....well, I guess I can camp out in the barn for a week if need be ;-)

My dear friend in IN let me borrow her sky blue eyed black & white buck so I'm using him for breeding right now, since I couldn't find a blue eyed black & white buck breeding age. He'll be going back home in a couple weeks but looking forwards to his kids come end of April-early May.


Gilly ended up coming back into heat, however when she was bred to Asche, it was his first time ever so that might of been why. So she got bred to the borrowed buck, and it's far enough apart so no problem telling who daddy is :-)

Zven bred Demi today as well. You can see Gilly and Patch in the front, and Demi and Zven in the back in their little "breeding pens". Patch thinks he should get Demi too! Makes it easy on me when more then one doe is in heat. Then when they are done having fun, the bucks go back in the boy pen and the girls go back with their pals. Works good and the bucks know now when I come with a lead rope, one of them is gonna get lucky so they line up.

Check out the 2012-2013 Breeding Schedule on my website www.tyedyeacres.com to see who's bred to who. I have to add Patch on there with his girls yet but gives you a good idea what to expect kid wise!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Love is in the air, for the goats that is!

Asche and Gilly, Pizazz and Solara, and Rosenrot and Phoebe all had a date today, and it was successful.

So we'll see if they take, and the dates are all wrote down. Keeping fingers crossed! :-)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Wow, been a whole four months since I've posted last...yikes! Well been super busy but in a good way. Does all kidded just fine and kids have all been sold or retained (I was good this year!). Now they are getting ready for breeding come late October. I hand breed (okay, I put them in a pen together while I do chores and make sure they do the deed) so I will know when they are due for sure. You can check out the list here: http://www.tyedyeacres.com/2012-2013-breeding-schedule-and-previous-kids.html

Still have a few does to add, not quite sure who I want to breed them to yet. When they are bred, their bred and due date will be listed under their picture.

Since we've had a lot of up and down weather and fall is here, this is a good time to really keep your eye on the goats for pneumonia. Even if it's not super cold, the going from warm to cold and back can cause it.

Things to watch for:

  • Listlessness. If you see a goat hanging back from the others, and not as active, something is up.
  • Hunched up. This is because they really don't feel good and a sign not to ignore.
  • Loose poop. Intestinal pneumonia can cause loose poop so keep an eye out for any who have it (could also be heavy worm load).
  •  Sub-normal or high temp. A temp below 100* is not good and the goat should be treated immediately, get them warm and in a draft-free (not damp) place A.S.A.P. A high fever should be treated with Banamine or animal Aspirin as soon as possible as well.
  • Green mucus from nose. This means the animal had mucus in their lungs and can cause breathing problems, and make them not want to eat. 
  • Cough. A deep hacking cough is another sign.
If you suspect you have a case of pneumonia, you should treat the goat right away. The longer you wait, the harder it is to bring them out of it.

First, if possible, put it and a buddy in a pen away from the rest of the herd so you know it is getting enough food and water and not having to compete. Make sure the hay is good quality and not dusty to avoid aggravating the lungs. Water should always be clean and changed as soon as it gets dirty or old. Give grain 2-3 times a day in small amounts as to not overwhelm the stomach. Also take the temp right away so you know if you are dealing with fever or subnormal temp.

Treatment:
  • Give LA200 or Nuflor (for treating the pneumonia) according to bottle directions/vet directions. Since both of these sting, I give them SQ over the ribs where there is less meat.
  • Give Banamine (for fever/pain) according to bottle/vet directions for no more then five days (due to possible liver damage). Due to the fact Banamine stings, I prefer to give it orally, it works quicker as well.
  • Start Probios to keep the gut (stomach) working, follow directions on label. 
  •  Vitamin B orally daily (to simulate appetite). Follow directions on label, draw up in syringe, remove needle, and squirt down throat (make sure to do it slowly and don't tilt the head straight up, go at an angle).
Contact a vet as soon as possible if you suspect pneumonia as Nuflor is vet RX and your vet can also give you advise. The sooner you catch it, the better recovery the goat will have. In this kind of weather, I will add Duramyacin to their water tank which is basically a water soluable form of LA200 and do it for 3-5 days to ward against any possible occurrence. Make sure it's their only water source and that any kids can reach it as well. 

Fall is a beautiful time of the year, just remember the temp changes can affect any animal and keep an eye out for anything unusual. If you breed in the fall for spring kids, you want all your goats to be in the best health before breeding so they don't have any issues while pregnant. Now is a good time to go through and deworm/hoof trim those who need it to avoid doing it while they are pregnant as well.

*Please note I am not a vet nor claim to be one. Any info on this blog or my site www.tyedyeacres.com should be used as a guideline. If you have any issues or concerns with your goats, you should contact your vet immediately.*







Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Bailey's boy.

Bailey had a blue eyed, polled buckling 04/28/12. She is a very good first time momma. So far, Rosenrot has thrown 3 blue eyed, polled bucklings, two are true red & white, and this one is a rusty red and white. So not complaining at all!

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Got myself an awesome birthday present!

Faint-Hearted Ranch Pizzaz. MGR #B2404.
 
Color: White and Red
Eyes: Blue
Horns: Polled
Myotonia: 6
D.O.B: 2-01-2011

Sire: Take Heart Gadget

Dam: Ahart Acres Mimzi  Valley of the Sun show #1: Champion Jr. Buck
Valley of the Sun Show #2: Champion Jr. Buck


(info taken from http://www.faintheartedranch.net/index.php?pr=bucks) 


Zazzy is a polled, true red and white blue eyed buck. He is just over a year and is built! If you follow the link above, you'll see his sire, Gage, an awesome buck! He came all the way from CA and can't wait to use him. I got him back in the end of February and finally shipping worked out and picked him up in El Paso, IL on Tuesday :-D
Well Ella had triplets! Two boys and a girl born 04/23/12. One boy and one girl where breech so I had to go in (yuck) and push them forward and get their hind legs out. Then it was easy. All are doing good and bouncing around. Now just waiting on Bailey to go, she is due the 25th, has a bag, but seems to be hanging onto that kid.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Nebel's bucklings.

Nebel had twin bucklings last night. What a surprise! I figured she would have one big one, lol. She had both without any trouble and is an excellent mommy. Had a feeling she was going to go, yesterday morning she was witchy, mouthy, and her udder was nice and tight, all good signs. Got there after work and she had just gotten the water bag out so I stayed and played with Holly's kids (and Seiden's boy who figured out how to get into the grain pen, little stinker!) and make sure everything was good. I dipped their navels, made sure they nursed, gave mom some grain, hay and water for the night and went home. Both are blue eyed, red & white, and look to be polled, yay! Rosenrot is the sire.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Baby boom!

Roxy with her doeling on the left, buckling on right.

Velvet and her twin doelings.

Holly with doeling on left and buckling on right.
Wow! Talk about a baby boom! Four kids born yesterday, Roxy had a buckling and a doeling in the AM, Velvet had twin doelings in the PM, and Holly had a buckling and doeling this evening! Everyone is doing great and now Nebel is not looking to comfortable...LOL.

Monday, April 9, 2012

Five of the kids enjoying the sun. Love being out there everyday with them and cuddling with them. Kids are the cutest.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Imitation is a form of flattery, I guess. Seems like there is a lot of copy catting out there these days. I listed what I do for my kids as far as care back when I put up the 2012 Kids page on my site and suddenly someone else is now doing the exact same thing a couple months later. Just kinda interesting, that's all :-) Have had a lot of nice kids born and so far all are sold but one doeling, but I've been busy and haven't gotten her on the site yet or informed my waiting list about her, going to work on that tomorrow.

Sierra's triplets.

Okay so this is a goofy picture of Sierra's triplets born 04/06/12....I used my camera phone and it uploaded weird...lol. She had a moon spotted, blue eyed, polled doeling, a red/chocolate & white blue eyed horned doeling, and a blue eyed, black polled buckling. The buckling is sold as a bottle kid as you can see how small his sister in the middle is, and he'll be going to his new home on Tuesday, I want to make sure he gets plenty of colostrum.

Harriet had a chocolate and white buckling 04/02/12. He is already sold and super cute. He is a big un as well! ;-)



China had a black and white doeling on 04/01/12. She did fool me! She was eight days early from her due date, had not dropped or anything. I came out of the barn that evening and here the cutest little black and white doeling was already running around. I put China and her kid in the kidding pen for the night and sprayed her navel with iodine.

Mirage had twins, buck and a doe on 03/38/12. The buck is sold and the doe is retained for now. Updating my blog quick as I've had several kids born over the past few days! :-)

Sunday, March 25, 2012

This is Gilly and her other buckling today. He is a little spitfire. Gilly is such a good mom, I'm so glad she has one to care for. This buckling is totally normal, he is the brother to the little guy with no anus who had to be put to sleep. I was cuddling him today.

Seiden had triplet boys today! Two tri-color and one black and white with blue eyes. Guess I called it right since I said she would have triplets....LOL. And I thought she was going to go today. She passed the afterbirth and ate it while I was at work (thank you!).

Saturday, March 24, 2012

This buckling has no anus. He was born 03/21/12 in the afternoon. At first he appeared normal, but the next morning when I was out there he was acting like he was in pain and I checked his hind end to see if he had pooped and lo and behold. I had seen this in a bull calf years ago and knew what it was. It's called Atresia ani & Atresia recti.

Atresia ani simplex occurs when the anal membrane fails to perforate or disappear. The exterior opening of the intestinal tract is then closed. This can be surgically corrected and if not the animal will die within 7 days or so. The feces builds up in the intestine and will eventually burst.

Atresia ani et recti refers to congenital closure of both the anus and rectum. This takes place during fetal development when the rectum and anus openings fail to develop.

Atresia recti simplex refers to the condition in which the lumen of the rectum failed to develop, but the anal opening is normal. There may be malformation of the genito-urinary tract associated with abnormalities of the colon and rectum causing the intestine to empty into the vagina or bladder. Atresia of the gut, particularly the colon, may result from external pressure on the amniotic sac during rectal palpation between days 35 and 40 of gestation.

This info was taken from Goat-link.com.

If you see this in a kid, get it to the vet right away, if it's simply the anus opening failed to form, they can preform surgery with good results. If not, put the kid right to sleep, as it's feces will build up and cause it's intestines to burst causing a horrible death. This buckling was ultrasounded and had no large intestine and was put to sleep right away. He died in my arms peacefully. It hurts big time. But I hope his death is not in vain and will teach others about this condition. 
Rest in peace little guy, you may be gone but you'll never be forgotten. First time in 13 years of having goats I had this and I really, really hope it never happens again. Luckily Gilly had twin bucklings so while she still misses him, she at least has one to care for and she is a wonderful mom.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Well we got the snow. Kids weren't too sure about it at first but they got used to it. The little tri boy is so friendly, every time he sees me, he comes running up with a little prance to his step, he has gotten big, can't really call him little anymore. Supposed to warm up to mid-40's and possibly 50's for the next few weeks, which means I can scrape down the yard around the barn so the goats don't have to step in mud. They really hate mud!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Well, supposed to get 4-8 inches of snow tomorrow, saving putting hay out until Saturday. Not sure if we are going to get it or not, but am really glad the first does to kid will be at the end of the month :-) The picture above is from last winter....the snow is 4-6 feet high in places from drifting.....

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Decided to do a blog for the farm. Think it will be interesting :-) So far have had three kids born. Two bucklings and a doeling. Can't wait until kidding starts again end of March.