Peaches' Triplets

About an hour after being born.

After the death of our beloved Fern, we devoted our time and attention to making sure the same thing didn't happen to our other pet goat Peaches. She missed Fern very badly and looked for her constantly. We tried to make up for her loss by spending more time with her. With her due date coming up fast we knew that Peaches wouldn't be alone for long. And then finally Sunday about 11:00 AM she started to go into labor. We spent the next nine hours sitting with her, waiting for her to give birth.

A contraction.

Wifey had to help get the first one out. She grabbed hold of the tiny little front legs and gently pulled to help get his head out, the rest came easy. A beautiful little brown buck with a blaze on his forehead  While she was busy cleaning him off, the second one popped out. I hurriedly broke the sack and started cleaning him up. Another buck, this one totally dark brown. We got them cleaned off and placed in front of their mother so she could lick them dry. As we sat there admiring her two babies, we debated whether she was going to have any more. 20 minutes later she popped the last one out. A little girl this time, and beautifully multicolored.

When Peaches finally started to deliver the afterbirth, we could sit back and relax for a while. Now it was time to call friends and family, and take photos. Then we tried to get the babies to nurse. This was a problem. Peaches was not too keen on the idea. The babies were ready and willing, but mom wasn't. When we finally got her to lay down and accepting nursing, the first and last born were more interested in sleeping than nursing. After finally getting at least a little milk into each one, we decided it was time for us to finally go get a well deserved rest.

Before.

After.

A few short hours later, we were back to trying to get the little ones to nurse and to get mom to eat. We didn't get a whole lot of luck with either endeavor. So all day Monday was spent trying to coax somebody to eat. The second born buck seems to be doing the best, he is the biggest and strongest of them all. We finally got our first six hours sleep in weeks. We've been making do with naps and maybe four hours of sleep at a time.

Tuesday things seem to go a little better, even mom ate a little bit. However she has me worried as she is just nibbling at her "Goat Chow" but not eating any hay. The baby goats were out and about a little bit more, and they are developing their own personalities. Wifey is talking about keeping the boys and sending the girls to live with our eldest daughter so she can start her milk herd.We will probably have one of them neutered and keep the other as a stud.

Peaches and daughter.

We got our first full night sleep, it was wonderful and much-needed.

Wednesday morning and the goat babies were doing well. I got Peaches to go outside to eat a little browse and some grass. This was a big step, but we still need her to eat some hay. She also ate about a quarter of her normal ration of food. Hopefully things are going to get better in the days to come. Things are looking up, finally.