That's Life

Bedtime for the kids last night was chaos.  Because Sheila and the babies are in Tessie and #19's stall, the two-year-olds had to go into Poppy's room.  Ruthie wasn't sure where she should go, but she went into her own room.  That left poor Poppy out in the hall and she was not happy and she was very vocal.  Poppy is very much a creature of habit and gets discombobulated if her grain dish is not in the same place every night.  Sheila and the twins are doing well.  I didn't get to spend too much time with them yesterday...was still fuming about my irresponsible neighbor.  I haven't yet heard back from Animal Control, so there's no end to that story yet. 

I contacted the new owners of Uma and #21.  They will come to get the kids on Sunday or Monday.  Lottie (aka Queen Latifah), one of the goats I had sold them last year, just had twin doelings and Hannah, their other doe, is due to deliver any day, so the kids will have plenty of milk.  Kids are normally taken from the mothers after twenty-four to forty-eight hours and bottle fed until they're weaned at two months.  This seemingly heartless practice makes for much better goats in the long run, people friendly and much more gentle.  It's harder on the mothers and me than the kids. 

One always hopes for doelings.  Bucklings have an uncertain future.  An intact buck can only be used for two generations in the same herd without risking inbreeding complications.  Wethers aren't productive, but are good pets and brush eaters.  They are usually sold for meat, as was Buck #20 and most of my other wethers.  It's emotionally wrenching when I let go of one of these little guys, but...that's farm life.  Sarah and Guy haven't decided what they're going to do with #21.  Once they leave Farview, the fate of bucklings is no longer in my hands.  #19 will probably live out his days here, useless and loved. 

At dusk, the traumatized free-range chickens crept out from hiding places and made a dash for the hen house.  Little chicken brains don't seem to figure out that they can get back into the pen the same way they got out.  Due to Bess's diligence, I think real tragedy was averted yesterday.  That's life.