Prof. Sam LawlerI thought the #BabyGoatCountdown was probably over for the year. But one of the goats I wasn't at all sure was pregnant is now in labour! She's extremely unhappy that I put her in the barn, even though I went and got a friend for her. And she's so loud I think I'm actually going to grab some ear protection before I go back out there to check on her...
#BabyGoatCountdown update: no babies yet. But it looks like the friend goat I grabbed to hang out with her in the barn is also in labour! (She's the other goat I was really not sure if she was pregnant or not). So yay lots of babies soon hopefully?
Meanwhile, this goat who I've thought was about to go into labour every day for the last 2 weeks, is still not in labour.
This experiment with a lot less control over breeding time has taught me that even though it's a lot more work and time investment on my part, I like my control-freak methods better! Not knowing the due dates very well has been a bit stressful.
Still no babies. Labour is progressing. One goat is close, one goat is probably going to wait until 2am. #BabyGoatCountdown
Still no babies. It's going to be a 2am barn check night. SIGH. At least it's clear so I'll get some good stars, and possibly auroras?
#BabyGoatCountdown
#BabyGoatCountdown
One baby! From.... the goat who I didn't think was in labour at all yesterday. Figures.
He's a chonky replica of his mama. It's (finally!) going to be warm today so I'll get him out in the sun after my morning meetings.
Keeping an eye on the other 2 mamas who I was pretty sure were in labour yesterday, not sure what's up with them. But they are not nearly as grumpy about being in the barn today, so hopefully that'll help. #BabyGoatCountdown
This latest baby was born sometime between 1:30am, when I got up to check on them, and 6:15am, when I got out to the barn for milking. No babies at 1:30am, but there WERE great stars just before moonrise, so I took advantage of already being awake and outside. (There were satellites, too, of course. Dammit.)
It's actually warmer outside in the sun (as long as you're sheltered from the wind) than in the barn, so the newest baby and mama are outside enjoying the warmth. Of course, everyone had to come sniff the new herd addition. Everyone approves.
Emily_S@sundogplanets welcome little one!
Andrea Kamphuis@sundogplanets And ... did the black baby fit through the ladder? 😍
Katrien M Michiels@ak_text @sundogplanets ha! I came her to ask exactly that same question!
Dr. Eric J. Fielding, PhD@sundogplanets Nice to have some sun! The new baby goat shows how much the other babies have grown in a short time.
cratermoon@sundogplanets if your goats had a blog, I’d read that.
Helen Clayton@sundogplanets baby goats are the best. How do you get anything done?
I saw a post on insta the other day where a homesteader was in charge of the animals while husband away. Her one job was to keep an eye on the llama who was due to give birth. She videoed and uploaded a delightful video of a baby goat playing. A few hours later her friend messaged her and told her to check the video. In the background was a llama with baby llama legs sticking out. Both were fine 😅
Rasmus Lindegaard@sundogplanets hey, i wonder what you do use the goats for?
Milk?
... Cheap lawn mowing?
Regendans@rasmus91 @sundogplanets Or timeline cleansing on Mastodon ? 😇 Good vibes for lots of us in these terrible times.
@regendans @rasmus91 All the above! Milk was my primary reason for getting the goats initially, but they are useful in many ways.
Estarriol, Terrorist Dragonthis the last of the babies?
Outfrost@sundogplanets that is absolutely gorgeous. 💚
(except for the starlinks.)
Mikko Tuomi@sundogplanets Wow, that amount of satellites seems a lot.
@mustapipa This is pretty much at solar midnight, so this is as good as it gets for this time of year :(
Khleedril@sundogplanets That is a lot of stars, have you got a camera with a nice big lens on it? I guess you are rural enough not to be much bothered by light pollution?
Reinald Kirchner@khleedril @sundogplanets this would have been my question - Smartphone or some dedicated camera?
@Reinald @khleedril Last year I was able to invest in a fancy camera with a fancy lens and a nice tripod. And yeah, I have great skies - as long as I'm looking away from the city of Regina.
@sundogplanets @khleedril awesome. I probably would try to get a weatherproof mount out there, so you just need to slam the camera on. Ideally with some tracking for longer exposures. Sigh. Enthusiasts dreams 😂.
Uilebheist@sundogplanets Those satellite streaks make me want to scream.
I just hope one of them falls on the FCC.
I just hope one of them falls on the FCC.
Deborah Preuss, pcc 🇨🇦@sundogplanets I live in the city and I'd forgotten there were sooo many stars. 🤭
Harleck@sundogplanets Yes, but BABY GOATS!
YAY!
YAY!
Leonieke@sundogplanets Another one! Welcome, little one, to this crazy world which unfortunately is not ruled by goats.
Mees 🔻@sundogplanets how lovely
Erika@sundogplanets Oh! Short ears! A minority baby goat.
Taran Rampersad@sundogplanets meteor shower in the pre-dawn hours, if you're up that early/late.
@knowprose Ooo yes thanks for the reminder!
U.S. Elaine@sundogplanets
My faves are still Marmite and Vegemite, especially the all black one whichever she is.
My faves are still Marmite and Vegemite, especially the all black one whichever she is.
Matt Griffin@sundogplanets what is time to a goat, really? good luck!
a.k.a. low-profile 
@sundogplanets What kind of goat factory assembly line you got goin' on there!? Henry Ford would be proud.
IcooIey@sundogplanets happy goat night!
BashStKid@sundogplanets Could you get a scan?
Elle Adam🇨🇦@sundogplanets At least your weather is nicer for when your goat goes into labour!
Compassionate Crab
Roy -- the dull onePoor girl! Is she a first-time mama?
@oldclumsy_nowmad yeah. She's also just an extremely loud goat to start with...
Schmutzie.Poor anxious girl.