Goat Kidding Stories

Selene - When first-timers prolong labor until everyone gets bored.

• Carol is sitting inside of the "kidding hut" (what will become the pigloo when the pigs arrive 3 weeks later). It is about 40 F, the wind is howling, and Carol is huddled up inside with Selene, a first-time mother-to-be. She has a flashlight, a blanket over her legs, a hat, and a heavy barn shirt on. And she is still cold. Carol has been singing to her. I have been inside grading finals - coming out every half an hour to check on her.
• Around 11pm I come out and sit down outside and hang out for a few minutes. Eventually... Carol started passing the time by doing shadow puppets with her hands :D They don't tell you about this in goat books, but it must happen.

Erica - the big baby on your lap. Emphasis on big.

• Erica is a big goat. A big dwarf goat. This is her third breeding season and she hadn't carried a kid to term yet, so this was our last best chance.
• We weren't sure about her being pregnant, because she is, ummm, "well-conditioned" as Molly at Fiasco Farm would say. But when her udder began filling in about a month ago, we had a good feeling. But how many were in there?
  
• So last week, on the day when Erica began to show signs, two other does popped before her. Moonlight (a first-timer) and Johnny (a second timer). Still nothing from Erica.
• About this time, Carol begins to formulate the thought that Erica is holding back on the labor. We keep Erica separated, she is "gooing" and upset and pacing.
• That night Carol stays out with her... singing and passing the time in the pigloo. Finally, Carol gives up on her around 11pm.
• Next morning, Erica is anxious and waiting. Waiting for Carol to come in. When she does, Erica starts labor contractions. She fights/clenches back the contractions. She gets really anxious. She lays down and places her neck and head on Carol's lap. "Pet me. Soothe me. This really hurts."
  

Mina - Her second set of kids would be different than the first, right?

• Last year, we knew something was up, but she didn't show any good signs, so we sat down to lunch. Three minutes later we hear her screams from the barn... come running down... and there is the first kid with her nose sticking out.
  
• This year would be different. We had separated her, but she didn't show any signs. Maria and her kids were visiting and we had just sat down to begin lunch when... Mina's screams came from the barn! We come running and there is the whole head of a kid poking out! Third time is a charm.

not Mina, but this is the idea.