Hands down spring is my favorite season on the farm. There’s something magical about the last bit of snow melting into the earth, the first green blade of grass timidly peeking out in its’ search for sun, the birds launching into their “cheeeeeeese-buger-burger-burger” singsong, and the gurgling sound of the creek as it brings new life to the plants and animals eagerly drinking it up.
I get energized by the warm sun and longer days, and I love watching new life coming into the world! Baby goats have got to be among the cutest animals on the planet. As a young child, I remember tagging along with mom to “check the goats,” hoping to be there to see the births. To be honest, I thought the whole process was a bit icky, but as I matured, I loved to be involved. It’s grounding and humbling to be able to assist our momma goats as they bring their babies into the world. I’ve been awed to watch the bond created as the mother cleans her babies, reassures them with her mommy talk, and patiently waits for them to stand and nurse.
From the moment of birth and into the next several weeks, the cute little kids grow from wobbly-legged 5-pound delicate creatures into independent, playful animals, curiously exploring the world around them and generally getting into everything!
For those not familiar with goats, here are a few fun facts:
- Baby goats are called kids. When a mother goat gives birth, it’s called kidding!
- Baby goats are born fully developed and can usually stand and walk right away or within a few minutes of birth!
- Baby goats are very playful. King of the castle is one of their favorite games as they each fight for position on top of rocks or hay piles.
- Goats can be taught their name and to come when called!
- Mother goats recognize their kids by their sound and their smell, not their sight.
Learn more about angora goats with this blog post: Meet the Angora Goat
