caring for animals | one_local

She seemed quite rotund for her first time pregnancy, the little dwarf goat named, Cookie, that our daughter and her husband own.

There is such excitement in waiting for a new baby of any sort. Anticipation is such fun. Being a first timer for baby goats made our daughter pretty anxious as birthing time neared for Cookie.

She knew the signs to watch for and had her birthing stall all ready. She’s going to be a good midwife I thought to myself last week when I was there for a visit.

As we were preparing lunch , we heard an odd sound from outside.

“What was that?” Helen said. I did not know, when suddenly she exclaimed, ” It’s Cookie!”

She was right, for Cookie had birthed her baby in front of the grain barn.

Helen quickly got to work rubbing down the big baby with a towel.

She needed to be in her birthing stall away from all other livestock. So we pushed and pulled Cookie into her stall, where she gave birth to number 2 baby.

Husband Jon and I were running around doing birthing jobs, while Helen tended to momma and babies.

Number two was healthy and responding well, when suddenly Helen announced the third baby coming!

Helen did a fine job of the attending midwife to momma goat and her sweet newborn babies.

To me birth of any sort seems a grand miracle. You did a great job, Helen, and Cookie is one good momma!

*The first born was the largest, and a male.*

*Cookie tending lovingly to her babies.*

It was great being a midwife assistant!

Oh, the joy and mystery of birth! Thank God.

That is her name, Doris. You know, the chicken our “good” dogs attacked last week? She is recovering very well. She has been out of the infirmary and free-ranging since Tuesday.

I could not deny her ‘request’ to go outside. I found her standing directly in front of the stall door staring at it early Tuesday morning. As if she knew staring at it long enough would open it. Well, it did!

I thought if she wants out that badly, she must be feeling well enough. So I opened it, and out she came.

We have only two chickens (a fox got the rest), and I watched the other one carefully. Doris still has bare spots on her little body, though feathers are growing back. All seemed well, and indeed all is well.