Life on the Ranch: Baby Goats, Mud Pits, and Gardening Goals
This week at Stock and Steeds, we’ve been juggling kids, goats, and a whole lot of dirt! It’s the perfect example of what life on the ranch looks like during springtime—full of surprises and a little mess.
We’ve added three new little kids to the ranch! Two of them are adorable twins—a buck and a doe. The buck, in particular, was a big surprise. He was so large that April had to assist with his delivery. It's not common to need help with a goat birth, but sometimes things don’t go exactly as planned. The little guy got stuck in the birthing canal with only one hoof coming out, while the other was preventing mom from progressing. With a little extra help, we were able to safely deliver him. The next night, we welcomed another little buck to the family, which was a huge relief!
Due to the chilly weather, we brought the new kids inside immediately. We’ve been bottle-feeding them four times a day and providing them with plenty of colostrum to keep them healthy and growing strong. They are definitely getting spoiled with all the attention!
Meanwhile, the ranch has officially become a giant mud pit. With all the hills surrounding our homestead, there are plenty of areas that turn into muddy messes when it rains. Of course, our boys love it! They play and run through the mud all day long, leaving plenty of extra laundry for April to tackle. But, true to form, she handles it with a smile—though we’re pretty sure she’s looking forward to drier days!
On top of all this, we’ve started our garden seeds! April’s got a little corner in one of our rooms with perfect lighting for growing plants. She’s turned this space into her "Hospital," where she nurses the plants that need a little extra care. This year, she decided to make it the starting area for the garden, prepping the space and labeling each spot where she wants the different plants to go. She asked me to plant the seeds, and now we’re eagerly awaiting the first little sprouts to pop up—hopefully in a week or less!
Savor, Flourish, Enjoy the Ride—and don’t forget to close the gate!
Trevor Moller, April Johnson
And the team at Stock and Steeds