Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

Welcome to Relaxed Farming

Sultana Sage has given birth three times before so is now an experienced mother. In giving birth to Sultana and Currant, she proved just how good at this kidding business she is. It was what a vet would call a 'textbook' birth in that everything went according to plan and at the expected times. Our job was simply to sit and watch: what a fabulous job to have!! Sultana appeared first and Sage then began an incredibly vigorous licking of her. Within about fifteen minutes she was looking quite dry and fluffed up by which time Currant decided it was time for her to put in an appearance. When pygmies have twins, the second one is usually born without too much trouble because by that time mum is very slack and open at her back end and so does not need to do too much pushing. Both kids were on their feet within minutes and looking for mum's teats. This was perfect because as soon as they get that first drink of milk (with all that yummy colostrum full of goodness), they warm up and are protected from nasty bugs and illnesses. Sultana found a teat first and Currant was not too far behind. Within the first hour, both had had at least three/four drinks. Again, perfect!!

Currant All this time Sage kept ‘talking’ to both kids: this involves a low bleating which the kids get to learn is ‘their’ mum! In these first few hours, it is very re-assuring for the kids to hear mum talk to them like this. They proved they each have a good pair of lungs too and at one stage we had Mushroom joining in as well. The reaction from the rest of the herd has been quite fascinating. Sage has been wonderfully protective of her kids and any other goat in the herd that has wandered too near has been seen off with a lowering of the head: goat speak for threatening a head butt!! Most of the time, they have all kept a sensible distance and as it should be, all has been quite peaceful. Sage 'has' allowed Parsley and Satin to come and say hello, probably because they are the goats she is closest too. Friendships in goats are similar in a way to friendships in humans!! We felt confident leaving Sage with her new babies and returned to the house for a cup of tea. Later on we came back to check and found two very warm kids with wonderfully round bellies full of milk, all curled up with mum having a jolly good sleep. It’s hard work being born!!!!