crazy-goat-lady

Awaiting the first kids of the season...

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:53:25 +0100

We are anxiously awaiting the first kids and kidding season here at the Promise Ranch. I think our herd queen and matriarch will go first. Of course, I've been wrong before! And, I always try to keep in mind the Does' Secret Code of Honor.

The Does' Secret Code of Honor is as old as goats themselves and is ultimately the species best kept secret. No Doe shall kid before its time. Its time being determined by the following factors:

No kid shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your owner's house must be a wreck, their family hungry, and desperate for clean clothes, and their social life nonexistent.
"Midwives" must reach the babbling fool status before you kid out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence means the time is getting close.
For every bell, beeper, camera, or whistle they attach to you, kidding must be delayed by at least one day for each item. If they use an audio monitor, one good yell per hour will keep things interesting.
If you hear the words, "She's no where near ready. She'll be fine while we're away for the weekend." Wait until they load the car, and then begin pushing!
Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.
When you hear the words, "I can't take it anymore!" wait at least three more days.
You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are mandatory! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around, and then walking away from it, and nesting are always good for a rise.
The honor of all goats is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your barn mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. Oh, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.
If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have the kids, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe Storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action! You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!
Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each time someone comes into the barn to check you. Your barn mates will love you as the extra goodies fall their way too.

Remember this code of honor was designed to remind man of how truly special goats are. Do your best to reward those who wait with a beautiful doeling to carry on the Doe Code of Honor for the next generation of those who wait.

Storms are coming. Mama doesn't have a radio to keep her company, but she knows they're coming... Maybe, just maybe' she won't kid in a mud puddle...

What IS all this white stuff?!

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:21:35 +0100

In the last 24 hours, the DFW area has experienced the "snowiest 24 hour period" in 111 years of data!

Suffice to say, our herd is NOT happy! They WILL NOT touch the white stuff. They won't go eat hay, or get drinks. Yesterday I took them hay and buckets of water. I did get them INTO the barn, where they'd be out of the wet. I hope they come out today!

Doc's Recovery Journal - It's so hard to say, "Goodbye"...

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:18:31 +0100

This is the final post in Doc's Recovery Journal... On February 2, 2010, we made the very difficult decision to put Doc down. While he had beaten the polio completely, he could not overcome the shoulder injury that rendered him immobile.

GOD SAW YOU WERE GETTING TIRED
AND A CURE WAS NOT TO BE.
SO HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND YOU
AND WHISPERED 'COME TO ME'

A GOLDEN HEART STOPPED BEATING.
HARD WORKING HOOVES NOW REST.

GOD BROKE OUR HEARTS TO PROVE TO US
HE ONLY TAKES THE BEST.

RIP Pruittville's AC Angelo

They're HERE! New Does for the Promise Ranch!

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:05:45 +0100

After making the decision to start breeding and milking Nigerian Dwarf goats, I was looking for a few does to get me started. I found these little girls, and couldn't resist! There registered with NDGA. They're heavy bred, and due to kid in April.

I picked up our new girls on Sunday, and they're making themselves at home in our kid pen for now... My big LaMancha doe is the queen of the T-bone headbutt, and I don't want to take chances... Maybe next week they'll be ready to enter the herd...

First is Delilah checking out the tiny wolf with the squished face...

Not a very good pic, but little Delilah is already as wide as she is tall! She's not due until April!

Tina is a little more shy...

These two are thick as theives. I'm glad they have eachother. They're checking out our pug, Lola, again...

Both girls are bred to this little guy... It was an "oopsie" breeding, he got into the doe pen!

I'm so happy they're here!!!

Doc's Recovery Journal - You've come a long way, BABY!

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:06:14 +0100

Doc's recovery has been nothing short of a miracle! He's BEAT the goat polio! Currently he shows absolutely no signs of polio at all...

It has become increasingly apparent that Doc has one more obstacle to overcome. At some point, during this ordeal, he has sustained a catastrophic leg/shoulder injury. He can not move his right front leg at all. I know that he has feeling in the leg, but it just doesn't obey...

To help facilitate healing, I've made him a new sling that will enable him to stand for MUCH longer periods of time, giving his shoulders and legs a break, while he strengthens his other muscles and his mind! I used old horse tack to build it! There's an old girth strap, breast collar, and part of a halter! It fits perfectly, and he appears to be much more comfortable!

I've also been working on a way to immobilize that leg, so that he can brace himself with it, as it heals and strengthens... Again, I used my horsie equipment! There are two horse boots, and inside is a wood strip to help keep his leg straight!

Doc is fighting through this new development as fiercely as he's fought through this entire ordeal. When I go out to put him in his sling, he's trying to stand. And, yesterday, he was on his front knees, standing tall, pretty as you please. This is an improvement from laying on his chest with his back end in the air!

I've made a video to document Doc's recovery to this point. I hope he has it in him to continue fighting, healing, and getting stronger!

Doc's Recovery Journal - One step forward, two steps back...

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 12:31:42 +0100

It's been a discouraging couple of days for me, as Doc has had a difficult time dealing with his recovery in the freezing temperatures we've been having. He had a coat, a heater and a heat lamp, but when he tried to get up, his old body just couldn't do it. Thankfully, we've gone back to more "seasonal" temps! Yesterday, when in the sling, doc was doing much better. He was putting weight on his front legs again, and even tried to jump toward the banana I was offering him for incentive!

Thanks to my dad and my friend, Unka Tae, I now have a pulley system to hoist Doc up, insteaed of a rope over the rafter in the barn. Man, it makes it so much easier!

I've also let Doc stay out under the cover with the does. He needs goatie company, and I think it did him some good. Does can be mean, but as long as he's laying down, and not standing, they don't challenge his presence there.

I am looking forward to more progress from my big man. I hope soon, he'll be standing on his own, and walking, and just being a goat!

Doc's Recovery Journal - I won't give up, if you don't give up...

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:23:24 +0100

This cold weather we've been having has taken it's toll on Doc, and greatly slowed his recovery. It feels like he's giving up, and my heart is breaking. Doc is no longer trying to stand, I know his legs are tired, as is his old body. I'm hoping that with warmer temperatures in the week ahead, we'll see continued progress!

I love this big, stubborn, stinky ol' goat! He has to keep trying to get better. He HAS to get up and stand...

His personality is back completely, down to shoving his head in the bucket with so much enthusiasm, he'll knock it right out of my hand...

Yesterday, I moved him to the door of his stall, so he could look out to see the does. I also thought the fresh air and sunshine would do him some good. When I returned, he had scootched until his head was pressed against the wire screen door that separated him from the great outdoors... He fussed and hollered when I took him back inside for the night.

This afternoon, after he stands in the sling, we're going to take him all the way out of the stall... Maybe he'll be more inspired to continue the hard work in this, the fight for his life...

Doc's Recovery Journal - He stands!

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:22:40 +0100

Great news today!

After being in the sling for about 30-45 minutes, I untied the ropes to let Doc down. Only, when I did so, he didn't go down. He stood on his own! His right front leg is still pretty useless, but I could see him putting weight on it, and figuring it all out. He laid down on his own, in a very controlled motion, after about 15 minutes. He was exhausted, but what a triumphant day!

I got him a coat in preparation for the cold week ahead... It wouldn't be necessary, except he can't move around on his own to stay warm...

As usual, I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings for my big guy! Way to go, Doc!

Doc's Recovery Journal - On the move!

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 04:37:34 +0100

I already blogged about Doc today, but tonight, he amazed me yet again!

I took him a lovely dinner of spinach and mustard greens, along with his apple juice cocktail. When I peeked cautiously through the crack in the door, I was elated when I saw that Doc had remained in the sternal position! He hadn't tipped over! It was 5 hours since his PT session, and my last visit. I noticed, too, that he wasn't in the same place that I left him in... He hadn't moved far, but he had scooted about 2' forward...

When I gave him his Thiamine shot, he fussed at me, and he did tip over. I helped him back up, and he was hollering for his dinner. I obliged.

After dinner, I got him set up with fresh hay to munch, his heat lamp and heater pointed toward him, and covered him with a warm blanket... It was then that his back end popped up, he started fussing and hollering, and he crawled (sort of on his front knees, sort of on his chest) another 4'! I couldn't believe it. Through all of this, he didn't have one seizure, or tip over!

Doc is determined to get better, and making tremendous strides every day! I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Doc's Recovery Journal - When the goin' gets tough...

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 22:54:32 +0100

... Doc just keeps on goin'!

Last night I was so worried about Doc. He just looked so tired and depressed. I took him treats, and stayed longer with him than I usually do, but he remained very solemn...

This morning, he was very much the same. He ate his breakfast, and is drinking some, but his head was low, and not much like the proud buck I know and love.

After his breakfast, I had a lot of running around to do. I hated leaving Doc alone for so long, but it had to be done! When I returned home, Doc had tipped over, and was down. I don't know how long. But, when I helped him back up, I got a more familiar and cheery, "Oh hi!" from him. He began looking for the treats that he knew I had in my pockets.

We put him in the sling for a bit of standing and weight bearing. I truly believe that he is regaining some function in his front legs. He's correcting on his left side, and trying to move the right much more. I also noticed that when I was positioning him in a fresh part of the stall, he tried to get up. That is not unusual. He pops up on his back legs quite often now. This time he was trying to get up with his front legs too. And, he made it to his knees...

Another not so small achievement made by Doc today was that he repositioned himself without falling over! My proud buck made his adjustment, and was laying with his head so tall and straight. He's so beautiful and strong.

His medications continue, and if I spike his water with a bit of apple juice, he greedily drinks it up.

Doc turned what looked like was going to be a day of "backsliding" into another day of triumph!