They really got my goat!

[Ontario Chick]

Little off the subject, but just listening to a US broadcast why the flu vaccine missed this year?
The targeted virus had difficulties growing in the egg base, so it mutated to make the growth more successful, but then it was no longer the original targeted virus.
Blows my mind completely

[Farrier1987]

Things really looking up. Went out to feed Cleo her bottle and she wasn't very hungry. Some investigation says that one side of Priya's has most likely been partially drained. That would be great if there was no more bottle feeding! Will keep going tonight and tomorrow and see.

[Brebis]

Good to hear it’s all working out. I know when I had problems like this with my sheep if I fed the lamb a bit less so it was hungry it would figure out pretty quickly where the rest of the meal comes from!

[Farrier1987]

So going as anticipated I think. Milk volume going up. Getting 1 3/4L twice a day now. Bottle feeding Cleo. Disbudded this morning. I know it hurt her, but 30 seconds after I let her go, It was like nothing had changed for her. Jumping and kicking about. Looking for me, following me. It amazes me, if someone did that to me, they would NOT be my friend ever again.

Something I have never seen before. You know how a mother hen drops food in front of the chicks and shows it what to eat? Well Priya the other day took one kernel of corn out of her feed dish and dropped it in front of Cleo. I have never seen anything but a chicken do that. Amazed me.

[Farrier1987]

Teach them about the milking stand early. Priya and Cleo.

[kenya]

Cute!

[Farrier1987]

Well some days are better than others. Today is not that great.

My old girl Priya. hasn't been well since I got her back in Feb 2018. She had a retained fetus that I didn't know about until about this time last year. Got that straightened out, bred her in Feb or so. She aborted, and had some serious problems. Antibiotics and she really didn't feel good. Came in heat once this fall, but I wasn't going to breed her anyway. That resulted in some nasty green discharge for a week or so. She just hasn't been right. Laying in the goat house a lot.

And last week she started shivering all the time. Lots of food and water, grain twice a day, and she still wasn't doing good. Eating and bossy with the others, but not right.

I have had her seven years, I think she is 9.

So I could leave it, and I thought about it. Drag her dead body out of the goat house some cold day. Or end up shooting her because she was hurting too bad. Her not right for the rest of her life. And that might have been ok.

Its hard to know for sure what to do. But this morning I took her to the abattoir. Neighbor will use the burger. She doesn't suffer. I wont be down about it, seeing her losing vitality every day, though I am down now.

I just don't know the right answer, but it is done. I will miss my friend, but I have her daughter who will come forth with some new babies in a couple months. I made this choice for her and for me. Dam some things are hard.

[kenya]

Hardest decision to make, sorry for your loss.

[Jaye]

RIP, sweet Priya.

[Killerbunny]

You made a tough decision and the best one for her (and you). She was a lucky girl.
RIP Priya.