Kidding and Snowmageddon – Fable Farms

For those that don’t keep up with our Facebook page, we have
been one of Western Washington Snowmageddon victims. We’ve been snowed in for a
week now and were without power for 4 days. There were some challenges for
sure, such as cooking on the woodstove by candle or flashlight and very cold
PTA baths (for those that aren’t familiar with the term….let’s just say the
initials represent parts of the body that need addressing sooner than others)
but overall we managed ok.

One of the biggest challenges was that kidding season
started during the snow storm. Those of you who raise livestock understand all
too well that the coldest, wettest and most inhospitable conditions seem to bring
on goat labor like nothing else. Thankfully, for the most part, the goats
needed little help because assisting by headlamp when your fingers are barely
working from the cold makes things difficult. So I was grateful that little help
was required…..until yesterday.

Yesterday Ursa let out a scream like she was being tortured,
and I guess in a way she was. We arrived in the barn in record time and found
her with one hoof out and the kid obviously stuck. We managed to push the hoof
back in and fish around to locate both feet and a nose and Ursa thanked us by
expelling the kid like she was shooting a rocket out her rear.

Since kidding season is usually pretty uneventful around
here and we mistakenly we thought , statistically speaking, we had managed
through the only issues we’d have this year. We were wrong. This morning Hubs
went out to do chores and yelled in the door that Vessie was kidding. Since
birth is rarely quick, in human or animal, I figured I had time for at least
one cup of coffee before bundling up to face the cold, but alas that wasn’t
meant to be. When Hubs didn’t return I figured I better get outside and help.

Vessie is an excellent mother and usually manages to have
her kids external, cleaned and fed before I can even get on scene. This time
was different. We arrived to find two kids born, she had apparently started
cleaning the first one when the second arrived. It was stillborn and she was
stunned. When we got to the barn we tried and tried to revive the baby but
nothing worked. At this point Vessie seemed as confused as any first time mom. While
we all would have appreciated a minute to process the loss of the baby Mother
Nature rarely works that way. Life, as usual, continues on whether or not you
are ready and able to keep up. Vessie had stopped cleaning the first kid and
stood vaguely stunned when a third baby arrived. We got the 2 healthy babies
cleaned, cords tied, trimmed and dipped but the last (and smallest) baby
obviously had some fluid still in her lungs. We swung her for a bit but she
still sounded a little raspy.  It was
concerning. Vessie at this point had awoken from her stupor and was back to be
the awesome mom she usually is, cleaning the looking after her two babies.

We made sure they had latched on and were fed the all
important colostrum and even gave them a squirt of goat vitamins and nutrients.
We cleaned them and placed them in the warming box and then we went into the
house for our first cup of coffee while we waited. Sometimes Mother Nature goes
against all your best efforts and sometimes she is merciful despite a million things
that could go wrong.  Experience has
taught us there really doesn’t seem to be a rhythm or reason to these things.

I went out to check the babies a while later and found the
Vessie’s first kid up and actively nursing. The smaller kid was in the corner,
pushed up against the water bucket, with her head flopped over backward. My
heart caught in my mouth and I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.
I had so hoped that she would make it. That despite being small, being born in
the cold and having a bit of rasp in her breath she would persevere.

 I unlatched the gate
and went to gather up the little one. I reached down and picked her up, she was
still warm to the touch. I ran my hands over her wondering if maybe I could still
resuscitate her when suddenly her eyes popped open and she opened her mouth to
let out a surprised yell. I think I might have given off my own yell of
surprised mixed with laughter. Apparently she had just been sleeping super
deeply, in a position any yoga master would envy and decided the cold water
bucket made a better bed friend than the warm heat box.  Goats…..they sure do keep you on your toes. She
bounced back quickly, once she (and I) recovered from the surprise- her the
surprise of being awaken in a strangers arms and me the surprise of her being
alive. When I left the barn she was playing with her sister and romping around
the kidding area full of vigor.

I share all of this for two reasons, like Vessie make sure
you surround yourself with people who will step up and help when life knocks
you a curve ball. Sometimes we just need a minute to catch our breath and since
life doesn’t slow down for us at these times make sure you select your tribe
based on who will be there when you need them. The other thing is to remember
not to  ever give up. Even when people
may think you are done and out of the game, you may just be taking a little rest
to gather your energy.