12/30/2025
End of Kidding Season Update – Life on the Farm
Starting mid-September, we put 8 does in with our two bucks to kick off breeding season here at Sunflower & Bluebonnet Farms. We vaccinated, weighed, and did full health checks on everyone. By the end of October, we were lucky to have support to ultrasound each doe, which gave us a good idea of what was coming.
Fast forward 150 days, and kidding season arrived right on Christmas week.
It all started December 23rd with Mae, who went into labor and delivered triplets, one boy and two girls. All three are healthy, bouncing around, and keeping mom busy.
Christmas Eve, Cricket, one of the first goats we ever brought to the farm, surprised us with quads. Three girls and one boy. This was a first for us. Knowing the odds with quad survival, we expected to possibly lose one or two in the first 24 hours. As of today, all four are thriving. Cricket has proven herself to be an incredible mother, keeping all four on a steady feed and sleep routine and watching over them like a pro.
During all of this, California decided to throw in an atmospheric river. Heavy rain, flash flooding, and winds up to 60 mph flipped one of our sheep shelters into the creek, forcing us to pull it out piece by piece in the rain. A large tree later came down, destroying about 24 feet of fence and letting the sheep explore the neighbor’s pasture until we could get everyone back home and make repairs.
Christmas Day brought a more intense delivery. Cricket’s daughter Cedar, "AKA: Tree", delivered a very large single buckling, now named Yukon Cornelius. He was big for his petite mom, and it took careful, slow assistance during contractions to get him out safely. We’re incredibly thankful to have had Lauren and Lacee with us that day. Thanks to their help, both mom and baby are doing great aft6er delivery to help get him out safely. Cornelius is already one of the most laid-back kids on the farm.
The next day, just when we thought we might get a breather, Harlow decided it was her turn. She delivered twin girls. Harlow is new to our farm this year, as she was adopted from the Gronley’s, and we were unsure how she would do as a first-time mom. She did great. Nervous at first, but attentive and thankful. As Vickie helped dry off the babies, Harlow showed her appreciation by licking Vickie’s head instead of the kids, and Vickie just loves goat kisses (Not Really, she is still adding lotion to the spot).
December 27th, during a friend Christmas gathering, we were keeping an eye on the cameras like always and noticed a water line had broken, spraying directly into the kidding area, right where Cricket and her quads were bedding down. We rushed home to shut off the water and focus on drying off moms and babies, blow drying kids, cleaning pens, and laying fresh straw and shavings before tackling emergency plumbing repairs.
That same night, Maple, one of our easiest and friendliest does, went into labor. With Lauren and Lacee rushing back over to support us, "Because Maple is Lauren's baby on the farm", Maple delivered twins just before midnight. By 1 a.m., pens were set up and repairs were finished. At that point, we had only three does left.
At 6 a.m. the next morning, Smiley went into labor. By the time we got to her, she had already done most of the work herself, delivering two healthy boys.
That left Leah and Dolly. Leah is new to the farm and showed no signs on ultrasound. Based on what we’re seeing, she appears to be open this year.
Finally, Dolly, the first doe to ever kid on this farm and our most protective mom, delivered twins, one boy and one girl. True to form, she made it very clear she had things under control.
We get asked a lot during kidding season:
How many moms do you have?
How many babies?
How much help do they need?
This year, we bred 8 does. As of today, 7 have delivered a total of 16 healthy kids, 7 boys and 9 girls. We rely on experience, good mentors, and a vet we can call when needed, but nature still keeps you on your toes.
This week was a reminder that farming is never just about the babies. It’s water lines, storms, fences, mud, late nights, and constant problem-solving. But when you step into the pen and see healthy moms and kids curled up together, it makes it all worth it.
As we close out Christmas break and head into the new year, we’re already counting down to lambing season. In about 50 days, we’ll be welcoming lambs from 17 bred ewes, with an estimated 32 lambs expected in February. Our pigs will be heading off soon to help feed our family, while two will stay behind to start the next breeding cycle.
This life isn’t easy, but it keeps you humble, grateful, and grounded.
