Kidding Season – Zipporah

This entry is part 2 of 21 in the series Kidding Season

Mom and Dad had gone to run a couple of errands, and they would be back in three or four hours. We had checked the goats before they left, and it didn’t look like any of them were going to have their babies. So I was in the soap room with Indigo, Jade and Hewitt, helping Indigo with one of her birthday presents.

While I was in the middle of that, I got a phone call from Emery.

“Zipporah’s going , NOW!” he exclaimed, hanging up on me. I set my phone down and ran, grabbing my sweatshirt on the way. “Colter? Zipporah’s going!” I yelled as I raced out the door.

Colter caught up with me as we got closer to the barn and we ran together. We could see Emery outside the barn, talking on the phone. He hung up as we got there and said “I think she’ll be going within an hour or so.”

I groaned. “You could’ve told me that! I ran out here in my good jeans and sneakers, and I left my phone. I’m gonna go change.”

Colter and I headed back to the soaproom, changing quickly. With first fresheners like Zipporah, you never knew what was going to happen.

When I got back to the barn, I started getting ready. I put my phone and watch by the goat notebook, grabbing a towel as I headed into the stall. Emery was in there, on the phone with Mom and Dad. “They’re on their way – they’re leaving Clarksville now.” he announced.

I looked at Zipporah, then at Colter. “She’s not going to make it that long. Can you go wash up?” He looked at me like I had two heads. “Wash up? I’m not washing up until it’s absolutely necessary.” I glared at him, then looked at the door as it slammed shut. It was Emery, and he was putting gloves on.

Thor and Baxter watching the birth

We called Mom and Dad and they talked us through it. At first we thought both of her hooves were one giant hoof – we couldn’t see them very well, so we thought it was one huge baby. But it turned out that it was the two front hooves, they were just sitting right on top of each other.

Me holding Zipporah

Mom and Dad were six miles away. “You know, I kinda want her to have this kid before they get here.” I whispered, not wanting Mom to hear me over the phone. “Yeah, same here.” Emery said. Zippy was wandering around the stall, with us following her.

Twenty seconds later, she lay down and started pushing, screaming the whole time. She’s always been our most dramatic goat, and she’s gotten good at using her vocal chords. 😀

Mom’s voice came over the phone – “What’s happening?”.

“She’s pushing, and there’s a hoof, there’s a nose, No Emery, grab that hoof! You need to help her. Pull the baby!“

Mom started talking again. “Okay, Emery, are you listening? Help her. Grab the baby above the knees and pull. Okay?”

Emery managed to get his hands on the legs and pulled. I had a towel waiting, and the moment there was anything for me to grab I grabbed it. Immediately I cleared out the nose and mouth, feeling very relieved when the baby started moving. Next I cleaned off the butt and checked – it was a girl!

Drying her off

Somewhere in that period of time, they hung up the phone. We all started shouting out names, wanting to name her before Mom and Dad got there.

“Galaxy! Let’s call her Galaxy.” Everyone agreed with me. “Look, there’s Mom and Dad!”

Colter and I headed out the barn as the Hulk came up the driveway. It stopped and Mom and Dad hopped out, walking quickly to the barn. “Galaxy and Zipporah are both fine!”