This is Pinky.
Pinky is a Nigerian Dwarf goat. I got her along with her brother Binky. Binky is the wether that came to replace Sweet Gum, the Alpine wether that died. The breeder sent us a picture of the two together and asked if we could consider getting them both. I said "Awww, they're so cute, it's too bad we can't get her." Jane said, "We're getting her!" So we jumped into Nigerians, without much more than a 12-hour notice.
This is Pinky right after she came home. She was really small.
This is Pinky right after she came home. She was really small.
This is Pinky's brother, Binky. He loves to be held.
Like all Nigerians, Pinky has an attitude, the "Nigerian Attitude." Pinky is Jane's goat. Okay, the papers say "Owned by Suzanne Tyler," but still, Pinky is Jane's. Pinky loves to be pampered. Of course, she has to be pampered in a certain way, and at a certain time, and so on and so forth. Every now and then, I carefully scratch her behind the ears and am careful not to annoy her, but Jane is pretty much Pinky's full-time pamperer. When Jenny kidded, Pinky got in a huff, and Jane said, "Poor thing, she feels her position as most popular and pampered goat is endangered," and Jane goes off to sit with Pinky, who has her ears back, because she has been insulted.
For the month of June, Pinky went off with Iron, a friend's buck, and a perfectly good match for Pinky. Of course, Pinky refused to settle, and came home unbred. We thought she was bred, though, so we weren't watching for heat cycles from her, and the little buck named Pecan, who can easily get through the fence and who was later sold as a result, bred her some time this summer.
This is Pecan as a baby, and then the day before we sold him.
This is Pecan as a baby, and then the day before we sold him.
Apparently, Pinky is a very grumpy pregnant goat. There is now no pleasing her. If she ever knew how to lead, well, not any more. She hates having her picture taken. This is her most recent picture.
I must have set her up for it a bazillion times, and she still hunched up her back and made her topline look horrible, yet Jane still pampers her. She does have a cute little udder, though. It's a little bigger now than when this picture was taken.
She is getting noticeably bigger in the stomach area. This picture was taken right after morning feeding one day, so she didn't have a whole day of eating behind her.
Her stomach has widened considerably since this picture was taken about two weeks ago.
Her stomach has widened considerably since this picture was taken about two weeks ago.
Here is another more recent picture. She is on the far right. The black, tan, and white goat (second from the left) is Hickory, Pecan's replacement. He turned out like Pecan did, often jumping fences, but at least we were able to elastrate him. We have decided not to get another Nigerian buck for a while.
This is Pinky this summer. She was a good deal slimmer.
Here she is during the February 2015 snowstorm. Binky jumped the fence to be in with his sister as the snow began to fall. The snow makes them look rather dirty!
Two days ago, Pinky lost her ligaments (or ligs) and her tail head raised, her lady parts got puffy, she had discharge, etc. I thought, "She is going to kid really soon. Maybe within a few hours." Well, the next morning (yesterday) came, and her ligs had hardened some. I knew that does could loose their ligs off and on for up to two weeks before kidding, but I could almost touch thumb and forefinger around her tail head. In the afternoon, her ligs turned to total mush again, and she still didn't kid. That night, right after feeding I saw her arch her back, a sure sign of labor! (See our other goat-kidding blogpost.) So we put Binky in with her, because Binky just had to be there for her kidding, and came out to check a few hours later. There were no kids and no more back arching. Oh well, maybe it will be tomorrow morning, but Pinky was the same as ever: no ligs, discharge occasionally, tail head raised, puffy and relaxed lady parts, change in behavior (she now is being very friendly and sweet, just like before pregnancy). These are all sure signs that kids are going to be here within hours, but of course Pinky has not kidded! She has certainly read the Doe's Code Of Honor! Our other goat followed the Doe's Code perfectly. I think she rubbed off on Pinky.
The Doe's Code of Honor
The doe's secret code of honor is as old as goats themselves and is the species' best kept secret. No doe shall ever kid before its time. Its time being determined by the following factors:
1- No kid shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your owner's house must be a wreck, their family hungry and desperate for clean clothes, and their social life nonexistent.
2- "Midwives" must reach the babbling fool status before you kid out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence mean the time is getting close.
3- For every bell, beeper, camera or whistle they attach to you, kidding must be delayed by at least one day for each item. If they use an audio monitor, one good yell per hour will keep things interesting.
4- If you hear the words, "She's nowhere near ready. She'll be fine while we're away for the weekend," Wait until they load the car, then begin pushing!
5- Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.
6- When you hear the words "I can't take it anymore!" wait at least three more days.
7 -You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are mandatory! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around in the bucket and then walking away from it, and nesting, are always good for a rise. Be creative and find new things to do to keep the adrenaline pumping in those who wait.
8- The honor of all goats is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your barn mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. OH, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.
9- If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have the kids, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action! The power could go out and you could have the last laugh. You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!
10- Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each time someone comes into the barn to check you. Your barn mates will love you as the extra goodies fall their way too.
Author Unknown
Here are some more pictures of Pinky. She was pregnant in this one, but not noticeably.
The Doe's Code of Honor
The doe's secret code of honor is as old as goats themselves and is the species' best kept secret. No doe shall ever kid before its time. Its time being determined by the following factors:
1- No kid shall be born until total chaos has been reached by all involved. Your owner's house must be a wreck, their family hungry and desperate for clean clothes, and their social life nonexistent.
2- "Midwives" must reach the babbling fool status before you kid out. Bloodshot eyes, tangled hair and the inability to form a sentence mean the time is getting close.
3- For every bell, beeper, camera or whistle they attach to you, kidding must be delayed by at least one day for each item. If they use an audio monitor, one good yell per hour will keep things interesting.
4- If you hear the words, "She's nowhere near ready. She'll be fine while we're away for the weekend," Wait until they load the car, then begin pushing!
5- Owner stress must be at an all time high! If you are in the care of someone else, ten to fifteen phone calls a day is a sign you're getting close.
6- When you hear the words "I can't take it anymore!" wait at least three more days.
7 -You must keep this waiting game interesting. False alarms are mandatory! Little teasers such as looking at your stomach, pushing your food around in the bucket and then walking away from it, and nesting, are always good for a rise. Be creative and find new things to do to keep the adrenaline pumping in those who wait.
8- The honor of all goats is now in your hands. Use this time to avenge all of your barn mates. Think about your friend who had to wear that silly costume in front of those people. Hang onto that baby for another day. OH, they made him do tricks too! Three more days seems fair. Late feedings, the dreaded diet, bad haircuts, those awful wormings can also be avenged at this time.
9- If you have fulfilled all of the above and are still not sure when to have the kids, listen to the weather forecast on the radio that has been so generously provided by those who wait. Severe storm warning is what you're waiting for. In the heart of the storm jump into action! The power could go out and you could have the last laugh. You have a good chance of those who wait missing the whole thing while searching for a flashlight that works!
10- Make the most of your interrupted nights. Beg for food each time someone comes into the barn to check you. Your barn mates will love you as the extra goodies fall their way too.
Author Unknown
Here are some more pictures of Pinky. She was pregnant in this one, but not noticeably.
Here she is eating kitchen scraps.
Pinky is acting annoyed in this one.
Here she is on the spool. She doesn't get up there much anymore because of her large girth. (While Jenny and Honey are called huge or big around, Pinky is called large of girth.)
By Suzanne Tyler
the Green T Goatherd
the Green T Goatherd
