"Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." - Dr. Seuss

#ThisRuralLife

I went to the feed store in Veneta today to get two bales of wheat straw. There's nothing quite so quintessentially American as the feed store and this one checks all the boxes. I like going there. The owner looks to be in his 80's, is severely stooped over, and walks with a cane. The four or five other people who work there all look like they were in 4-H two years ago, but they're very friendly and helpful. Besides all kinds of feed and animal supplies (chicks in season) they sell straw hats, overalls, flannel shirts, and jewelry. Yep, you can buy the missus a nice necklace or bracelet from the jewelry cabinet.
Love it.

I spent most of the morning moving wood from the stacks along the goat pen to the woodshed behind MoHo so it will be dry and convenient this winter. I can do that for a couple of hours before being ADD and 66 means I should move on to another project. Which in this case was lunch.

Today's word in polyestrus.
Most mammals are monoestrus, meaning the females come into heat once per year, or in the case of most goat breeds, two times per year (biestrus). Boer goats are polyestrus, coming into heat every three weeks throughout the year. The signs of a doe in heat can be ambiguous but often include a wagging tail, increased vocalization, and a mucous discharge.

Marta saw signs indicating that Sundae was in heat so she put her in the separate pen with three bucks (partay!). The problem: she acted like she was in heat again three weeks later so Marta put her in with Mondo, an absolutely monster buck, in the boudoir stall in the barn. She brought Sundae over to us a week later and told us that of the two due dates (goats have a gestation of 155 days) the late one, July 11, was more likely than the early one, June 20.

A couple of weeks ago, when Marta was over to check things out (she's our MVM - Most Valued Mentor), she saw the size of Sundae's udder and agreed - no way she's making it to July 11. She's got a basketball between her lets. Think triple-D. A goat's udder expands to the bursting point as they near kidding and Sundae is there.

Marta stopped by last Sunday on her way home from church and shook her head. Expansive udder, but not the belly girth befitting a goat 5 days past her due date. Marta's guess: Sundae was going to give birth at any time but probably only have one kid, not the normal two or even more desirable three.

But here we are 8 days past that early due date and she's showing no signs of being close. As they near going into labor they stop eating, but Sundae is devouring her mash and alfalfa with gusto. And none of the other signs are there either - some of the same signs of estrus.

By Saturday we'll be halfway between the early and late due dates. At this point she's going to be either unusually late or surprisingly early. Or she'll hang in there for another 12 days because the later date is the correct one and Mondo is her baby's daddy. And if July 11 is the correct date her udder will be MASS-IVE and she'll almost certainly have multiples, two or three. (Four is not unheard of.)

At this point I just want her to kid. I don't leave for more than about 30 minutes at a time (like a trip to get straw) lest I be gone when she goes into labor. Think: cabin fever.

Stay tuned!