Blossom is one of our Guernsey goats, and she is black, which is quite rare for a Guernsey. I purchased her as a registered adult doe immediately following her first kidding. In fact, her young buckling accompanied her!
She was bred to our registered Guernsey buck, Mercury, a handsome golden dude, last fall. He stinks like most bucks, but don't tell him that as he thinks he is quite the stud.
The due date passed, which is typical for my Guernsey girls. They seem to think that the usual 150-day gestation schedule is more of a suggestion than a rule. It's like they’ve all decided that “late is the new black.” So, at a fashionable 154 days, Blossom finally decided it was time to labor in earnest. She had been dropping hints about labor earlier, but it was more like she was waiting for the right moment to make her grand entrance—like a diva holding out for the perfect spotlight!
I hadn't slept through a full night for several days (or should I say nights?) because I kept waking up to check on the goats. I really appreciate our barn cameras, which allow me to use my phone to monitor each goat pen. Sunday night was particularly challenging as I woke up multiple times to check the cameras. Many experts recommend contacting a vet when a goat reaches 154-156 days of gestation. And yes, I do pray about my goats, so I spent a lot of time praying that night.
Morning light finally came and I asked my husband for his advice. He suggested to wait the day with the plan to contact the vet Tuesday morning. The decision was made and I stopped worrying. But I kept a close eye on the barn cameras.
Blossom was more than ready. All of our goats are given an injection of BoSe and their yearly CdT vaccine about 4-6 weeks before kidding, not only to benefit themselves but also the goat kids.
Monday afternoon Blossom's contractions were hard and she was weary. She would have a contraction and then stretch out on her side and close her eyes. She was weary. That morning I gave her a dose of CMPK, and I gave her a second dose at supper time. What is CMPK?
CMPK is an oral drench containing a calcium-phosphorus-magnesium-potassium-dextrose Vitamin D solution. It can be used to treat milk fever, stress, and as a proactive supplement. Since Blossom seemed to be stressed with a long labor, I decided to use the CMPK. Her body would flush out what it didn't need and I wanted to be proactive with her stress and to guard against a calcium imbalance as Blossom labored.
Blossom also got a bucket of warm molasses water to help her energy levels. She guzzled that right up! She was offered alfalfa pellets and I got dinner on a plate delivered to the barn by my husband. I kept watching Blossom as she labored on.
As her labor continued, it did not seem like she got any closer to delivery. She did not dilate. I looked at my watch and decided if she had not dilated by 6 pm, I would glove up, disinfect and use lubricant and begin to manually dilate her. I also decided that if she had not kidded by 8 pm, I would be calling our vet.
Six o'clock came. Blossom's respiratory rate had increased. But...she was beginning to dilate! Hurray! I do not like to intervene and increase the risk of infection if I don't have to, s0 it was a huge relief.
However, poor Blossom had run out of energy to push. Her contractions came but she was exhausted. It was time to intervene. Fortunately, a friend was there and one of my milkers showed up. I held Blossom's head or, rather, she leaned into my shoulder and pushed me while our friend gently guided the little feet and head out with each contraction, working with Blossom and never pulling. My milker had the towels ready and the bulb syringe ready for suction if needed.
The first goat kid arrived! And... she was a doeling! Sorry guys, that's what all farmers get excited about...usually, we all need more females and less males. Blossom helped clean up her first baby and in about fifteen minutes later, she began to have more contractions. I love the master design of animals...they have a short period of time usually between the births...enough time to clean up their baby before the next one arrives.
The contractions began again so we all took our same positions. Only this time, there was just one foot coming out. Normal goat birth presentation is two hooves, followed by a nose or a little mouth with a tongue. There was only one hoof and no nose or tongue. So, Blossom needed some help to get the second goat kid situated correctly. It's head was tipped up and back while the second leg was bent back. With some careful maneuvering, it's leg got straightened out and the little head was able to be pushed back and then down into the right position. Sometimes its easier to close your eyes and “see” with your hand how the goat kid is positioned and how to fix any problem.
Blossom kept leaning hard into my shoulder...it's okay, Blossom. Just a couple more pushes. You can do it. The goats respond to our voices and the tone of our voices. And Blossom leaned hard once again. Out came the second goat kid! And it was another doeling!! Oh my goodness! Twin doelings and we were ecstatic! This looked to be Blossom's last kidding so twin doelings was such a gift!
Our milker got the second doeling all wrapped up, dried off and I got a bucket to start milking Blossom. We needed her colostrum to give to the babies right away. Goat kids will often die or become very sickly without colostrum. Our goat kids here are separated immediately from the mama and bottle fed. Makes for some super friendly goats and then we have the mamas milk available. We usually have one or more goats who are super milkers and we use that milk for all of the babies after they get their mama's colostrum the first twelve hours.
So, I knelt down beside Blossom, congratulating her on her twin doelings, and began to milk her. Usually that helps with more contractions and helping to pass the placenta. As her rich colostrum streamed into the bucket, I felt or perhaps heard a heavy plop. I instantly thought, "Wow, she passed her placenta so fast and it seemed heavier than most." Uhm... it was not a placenta.
Blossom just delivered a THIRD goat kid! I was in shock! I exclaimed to our friend, "Blossom had a third baby! It's right here!" And, lo and behold, Blossom outdid herself. It was a third doeling.
Triplet doelings! Blossom really decided to end her career with a fireworks show! This is her grand finale in the kidding department and we are so thrilled. Beautiful sweet Guernsey doelings.
One of the triplets will be staying with us, and another has already been reserved, which means there is one still available! Reach out to us right away if you're interested in bringing a Guernsey doeling to your farm.
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