Full Moon Surprise

The Full Moon seems to have quite an affect on living things.  If you ask people who have worked in nursing homes, you'll get stories about strange things happening during the Full Moon.  And, if you talk to nurses who work in maternity wards, you'll find out that more births happen during the Full Moon.  I know the Full Moon sure affects goats and kidding!

I had put the 4 yearling does who are due to deliver early next into the kidding pen area yesterday.  It's a good thing because Caramel decided the pull of the Full Moon was more than she could resist.  Today is day 144 for her. She's not really due til the 23rd.

But ..... when I got home from making a quick trip into town..... I started to take my things into the house ... but saw the Full Moon rising and decided that I'd better go check on the does in the kidding pens first.  When I stepped into the barn I saw the cutest little kid beside Caramel.  She had just delivered him a few minutes earlier.

 Caramel's little boy

Caramel is Myrtle's yearling doe from last kidding season.  She is Nubian/Alpine.  His sire is Cappuccino.  Cappuccino is Emily's yearling buck from last kidding season.

 Caramel giving her baby boy kisses

He is colored so pretty.  He has gray Moon Spots.  How appropriate for being born on the Full Moon!

Caramel's buckling

Finding that Caramel had kidded was a great surprise .... but not the only surprise of the evening!

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Angel delivered a buckling while I was in town also.  If you don't know Angel's story and how she came to live here at the farm you can read the full story here

When she arrived on December 10th, she was extremely thin.  When I posted the photos of  her on January 7th, she had gained quite a bit of weight, but was still very thin.

 Angel on January 7th

By the end of January, I was getting suspicious that she may be pregnant.  But, I didn't quite know ... maybe she was just gaining weight and growing a better rumen with all the good food she was getting now.

 Photo taken late January

By the first of February she started making more of an udder.  That's when I knew for sure that she was pregnant!  I was really hoping that she would be in good enough shape to have a healthy baby and stay healthy herself.  I watched her every day ... several times a day.  I had no idea of when her due date would be.

 Udder development

 Here she is just a week ago.  She is still thin, but does have a baby bulge.

Here's her big baby boy born this evening.  It's hard to imagine this big baby was in there.  He is strong and healthy. And, Angel is doing great too.

 Angel's baby boy

 Angel is a really good momma

Angel and her baby

I'm glad both Angel and Caramel delivered their kids without needing any assistance.  They gave me a very nice Full Moon surprise.  Their babies are so pretty.

So, I guess this means that Kidding Round 3 has started!

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