The goat yard was full of wild activity today, with tiny goats exploring their new world with youthful friskiness. It is quite a humorous sight to watch them and their silly antics.While they were playing in the yard, mama Bree was giving birth in the goat barn.

We’ve been checking for new babies every day, knowing she was due anytime. In the early afternoon I was peeling and chopping beets for tonight’s soup and for a new batch of beet kvass. I had the kitchen window open to feel the fresh breeze on my face and listen to the birds in the forest. Suddenly, I heard Bree and knew she was giving birth. I finished what I was doing and headed down there with some treats (all the beet skins, stems and ends we don’t use.) 

Sure enough, Bree was eating her placenta when I entered the goat barn and two newborn babies were by her side. I went back up to let Jeff know to come down. I watched her quietly. She ate her placenta last year (when she gave birth for the first time.) I was so happy to see that she was doing it again this year. She’s the only goat we’ve ever had who has done that. It is a very wise practice that gives incredible nutrition to the mother at a time when it’s greatly needed. 

I entered slowly and offered her some beet treats. She gobbled them up (the goats LOVE them.) Bree gave birth to twins, one boy and one girl. Jeff came in and we got to watch them start walking and nursing for the first time. I could see Bree’s relief when they nursed, she was so full and needed to get some of that milk outta there!

We are so close to Bree and it was wonderful how welcoming she is to our presence, even when she has just given birth. We sat quietly and she came over to have her neck stroked and get some affection. She talked to her babies and they talked back. It was truly precious to witness. 

I didn’t get any pictures of her new babies because they were all cozy in a dim part of the goat barn (lighting not so great for picture taking.) I’ll get some pictures of the new twins soon. So instead I took some pictures of the rowdy, older kids that were running around outside (where the lighting was much better for pictures.) Pictured above are two bucklings that we need to find loving homes for.

All of our mama goats have now given birth and we have 10 goats!! Wow!

Feeling so incredibly blessed…..