Goat things

Poppy, the bigger goat of the two, must have over eaten on Tuesday and by Wednesday morning was looking bad, green cud drooling out of her mouth, teeth grinding etc.
I called the vet asap and asked for help through an internet forum and went about the day nursing her and hoping for signs of improvements. Which by Tuesday night I thought I detected. Then Wednesday morning she looked worse and I packed her and the children into the car and drove to the vet. He checked her, said she looked better than he had expected from my description and gave her a colic relief injection. Went back home, she showed some interest in the greenery and I left her outside for a bit. As evening drew nearer though she started shivering again, and I made a coat of an old apron and polyester duvet and put her in the shelter.

Anyway, before bed I went down to check and she gave me one heck of a fright: white froth coming out of her mouth and hardly moving. I gave her some fresh water which she greedily drank and ran to call the vet. He recommended getting more warm fluids into her, so I warmed up milk and took a thermos with hot water to warm the other water with me and some hay.

She drank nearly two cups of the warm milky water and then just looked like she was going to sleep. Her breathing was very easy and slow and deep, to me it sounded good. And then her whole gut started rumbling and gurgling and swoosh, she had a proper mouthful of cud in her cheeks and started chewing it. And this time it must have been the right stuff because it sounded like the normal chewing, and not the teeth grinding we've had in the past day.
So I sat and watched her for 15-20 mins chewing the cud, and it kept coming up pretty constantly, and she got a look on her face that I interpreted as : "Finally!"
No drooling, and it was all, going down and up the way I had observed at other times, so after a while I left her to it, plenty of water and hay, and wrapped up nicely.

This morning I went down, with a bit of trepidation because I saw her sister out by the gate, and not under cover, but when she replied I could hear a little reply coming out of the shelter.

So, she made it through the night, and when I offered her warm milky water again she just gave me a disdainful snort and nearly kicked the container away! She got up and walked to the water bowl and drank the cold water, then walked around and did a normal pee and poo, and went back in the shelter.

When I took her sister out for grazing she followed and stood by the gate complaining in her usual voice

Anyway,
thanks for all the support from my very special LSB so far,
it sure has been another steep learning curve, and today I'll be getting the sewing machine out to sew a coat together properly and look for some weather proofing spray for the apron.

It makes me so sick to the stomach to go through this, I want to help, but as with all our animals there are financial limits we have to observe, and we NEVER would let an animal suffer if it was beyond our help, and the thought of maybe having to end a goats suffering.
Fortunately not today, but I will have to seriously investigate these things to be prepared when/if the time comes.

Queen's Birthday Monday

Another day alternating between rain and sun.
Spent it so far baking nut bread, peach&white chocolate muffins and prepping dinner, Duck with Spaetzle.
And really looking forward to getting properly into the garden.
I've always believed that I just don't have a green thumb, but I'm not going to believe it any longer. I reckon if I follow the "instructions" for each plant properly I will be able to grow what I want to.
This morning I walked through our covered garden and saw that the Pineapple Sage plant, which was just plucked out of the ground by a very friendly and knowledgeable lady, had starting sprouting new leaves at all the tops of the branches.
It gives me hope, that the rest of the greenery will flourish as well.

Having a wee rest before staring dinner, I feel weirdly connected to earth, maybe the glass of bubbles might have something to do with it, or having read a nice article on Worm- and Southernwood.Or knowing that in a fortnight I will pick up more plants from the lovely Heather, and gather more useful tips and friendly chat.

Learning curve

Three and a half years ago I decided to try raising my own chickens and the first, of dozens, were about to hatch.
Since then we've acquired bunnies and a couple of goats. Yesterday I had a controlled mating of our NZ White cross with a Flemish Giant cross. And I'm looking for a Billy goat to get at least one of the girls pregnant, so that in Spring I can start milking them.
Tonight I was sitting on the couch in the dark and wondering why my head feels as if it's going to blow up pretty soon. And I realized the enormous learning curve I have been having in the past years.
On top of parenting!
Since we started with the animals I have learned to raise, grow, kill and butcher chickens and rabbits. And despite everyone telling me that I wouldn't be able to do so, I have!
Also, I have learnt to make my own Quark and Camembert, and will start on a new cheese next week.
Not to mention that I'm preparing myself to get into larger farm animals, the goats. Their needs are quite different, and to a point more substantial, especially regarding housing and containment. And I kid myself, excuse the pun, to be able to handle a goat in kid, and giving birth and then looking after it. Hopefully, if and when it happens, Mama doe will instinctively know what to do.

Not only am I learning about animal husbandry, I'm also trying to improve my gardening hand: so far I've managed for a second season to successfully grow tomatoes. I'd like to expand that, and start growing herbs and veges for family and animal use. To achieve that I'm also improving my building skills, well kind of, I suppose I'm a sloppy builder, but at least so far none of my constructions have fallen over and they're doing their job. Keeping the rabbits and goats in their enclosures! And bracing the roof on the goat barn. Next up are raised beds for next seasons veges and herbs.  And another fenced garden within the goat paddock to grow medicinal herbs for them.

My husband is constantly discussing with people what a beneficial medium the Internet can be. And I'm his prime example: without the Internet, and various lifestyle forums with enthusiasts and specialists lending an ear and advice I would NEVER have dared to go where I've gone. I could have gone to classes, wasting a lot of petrol and time for theoretical knowledge, instead I contacted people through the net, borrowed books from the library and just got my hands dirty.

Not only is my head popping with all the new information, but I'm also dealing with the difference of RL and virtual life, as I'm trying to teach my children the farm ways through plain exposure to everything.  As well as letting them use the computer and discover a totally different world there.

And they are learning, what I don't know precisely, but as long as they are interested to watch, observe and help, I'm happy.

Who knows what will grow out of the knowledge that caused the following remark: "That's pretty hardcore for such a sweet mama".  While observing me skinning and gutting a chicken!

Take heart, and if you don't succeed the first time, keep trying til you do!
And while doing it, whatever IT may be, make sure to wear the right safety gear!!!!