Author Topic: Our first goats kids!!! ...and urban foxes (Read 5817 times)

macgro7 · « **on:** June 10, 2021, 07:32:09 am »

Our goat finally had her first (successful) twin birth!

2 boys.

The mother and both babies are fine, however today i was so worried about them that i woke up at 4.40 and couldnt sleep ever since. I was woken up by crows and ducks who saw a fox. Then heard the goat kids cry - so I quickly ran outside and saw a big (probably male) fox next to the goats.
Just now (7.00) I heard the kid cry again but this time he was OUTSIDE the goat enclosure gate - a fox pulled it outside. A different fox - female.

I will put them (with the mother) in a smaller, enclosed pen (chicken aviary type of thing where I normally keep hay).
How long do you think I should keep them secure? A week? 2 weeks?

harmony · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2021, 09:31:27 am »

How exciting......and worrying at the same time!

I would keep them in at least for a week. And maybe at night for longer.

macgro7 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2021, 10:01:29 am »

I was thinking of separating them for the night from their mother after they are around 2 weeks old - for morning milking (she is a dairy goat).

I have another one due probably within next 2 weeks or so - they were together with the male.

Anke · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2021, 03:28:02 pm »

How come a fox can get into their shed at night? And where was the dam - was she not protecting them?

macgro7 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2021, 07:32:53 pm »

They were not locked in the shed. They spent the first night in the main run with the other goat.
The vixen entered it underneath the gate.
Tonight will lock them up for the night with their mother

Bare in mind this is her first birth ever and she has twins. She is taking care for them very well I must say though.
Every time they make noise she is up

harmony · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2021, 09:17:56 am »

Quote from: Scarlet.Dragon on June 17, 2021, 01:29:39 am

You separated newborn kids from their mother on the first night and put them in with another goat???

I think Macgro7 put the mother and kids in a pen with another goat the first night not just the kid[member=132794]Scarlet.Dragon[/member]

macgro7 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2021, 10:41:25 pm »

Quote from: Scarlet.Dragon on June 17, 2021, 01:29:39 am

You separated newborn kids from their mother on the first night and put them in with another goat???

No no no!
I meant all the goats - including kids, mother and the kids aunt were in the main pen.
I separated the mother and both kids in a smaller pen since then.
No problems since then.
From tomorrow will let them (I.e. mother and 2 kids) run in the main paddock with the other goat, and in the evening will lock them up again.