Hi Everyone!
Our 2012 Kidding season is almost here! The momma goats are getting bigger by the day. Our very first kids could arrive as soon as March 23th (145 days gestation) if they got bred the first day they were put in with their assigned buck. Typically they arrive at 147-152 days gestation. Our major kidding will continue on through the month of April. As you can imagine, it will be a busy time on the farm very soon.
We have been busy preparing for our first arrivals. All of our Does received their annual CDT booster so the babies will be protected at birth. The kids will then receive their first CDT vaccine at 4-6 weeks of age, a booster 2 weeks later and then their last booster 4 weeks after that. By that time it should be just about weaning time!
Other things we have been doing around the farm to get ready are:
-We condition scored our Does and they are looking fat and happy. We did sorted out 4 of our older girls that we felt needed a little more tlc and put them on a richer protein diet.
-We recently replaced some of our old barn lights in our kidding area. I’m so excited to have reliable lighting this year!
-All pen card forms are printed out for each Dam and are ready to be filled out with the newborn kid information as they arrive. If you would like to see a copy of what our pen card looks like, here is the link to it: www.hmrpygoras.com/kidpencard5-19-01.PDF
-Our kidding supply bags are all put together and ready to go.
-Kidding supplies ordered and received.
Some things still left to do:
-We will be hauling hay tomorrow and filling up our barn so it’s well stocked throughout kidding season.
-This coming week we plan to clean get our kidding areas and layer them with fresh straw. (BIG JOB!)
-We will be wrapping up the last of the bucks that need shearing
-We will start crutching the bred Does that need it. (shearing their bottoms and udder areas only)
-Our “clip, dip and strip” supply tote put together.
Thanks for checking out our Blog! You can see more information at our website at: www.hawksmtnranch.com
Take care,
Lisa
