Pigeon fever and goat pregnancys

Pigeon fever

We had Jubilee and Blaze pastured on a neighbor's land this summer.  When we brought them home on the evening of November 1st, we noticed Blaze had an open wound in his chest that was draining pus.  We irrigated it and put a salve on it and thought maybe he somehow punctured himself but couldn't figure out with what.  We also hit him with a dose of penicillan just to keep any further infection at bay.  About a week later, an abscess developed on the opposite side of his chest about the size of a plum.  It was then we realized it wasn't a random puncture wound, but pigeon fever.  A week after that, another abscess on the side of his head between his eye and ear developed.  It was the size of a large man's fist.  Pigeon fever is caused by fly bites.

We called the vet to confirm our diagnosis and was informed that yes, it was going around our area and to continue our treatment.  Then we saw the other local vet, and we were informed that antibiotics will cause it to go to bastard strangles so we discontinued the penicillin, but continued irrigating the abscesses when they burst and then applying a salve.

It has taken Blaze 2 months to cycle through this bacteria, but he will survive.  None of the other horses have it.
Thank goodness he has the horse strain and this isn't crossed over to goats.

This is him when the skin on the head abscess was starting to peel off.  Poor guy!

Jubilee must want to get into the racing business, because lately at feeding time she goes running 'round and 'round the horse pasture just as fast as she can (oh, and add a few bucks and jumps).  It's fun to watch her. 🐎

The count-down for baby goat kids has started! ⏳
The nannies are heavily pregnant!  I can't wait for the kids to arrive.  I am guessing that Minty has triplets looks like quads by how big she is, Sugar has twins (maybe triplets), Ginger has a single (maybe twins, but I don't think so), Puddins has twins (I don't think she'll have triplets) and Starburst has a single.

Sugar making a goofy face.

As for baby goat kid names, here is a list of the ones I am thinking of:

• Spice (Or Spicey)
•  Fudge
• Cranberry
• Cherry
• Strawberry
• Skittles
• Flower
• Petunia
• Iris
• Peoni
• Almond
• Vanilla

These next names are from the book Heidi

• Schneehopli ( little snowhopper)
• Schnecke (snail)
• Shcwanli (little swan)
• Barli (little bear)
• Distelfinck (goldfinch)

More names coming soon!

We have also gotten wireless cameras so we can wake up every couple of hours and check the nannies to see if they are kidding, instead of having to go outside and check.  Weeee!

Before we sold our cows at the sales yard, I took some pictures of them in the pasture that they were in (we were renting it).  Here are some of the best pictures

This is Spot- he was just butchered last week.  

And below is Nellybelle.  I never talked much about Nellybelle, but I loved her. I broke her to ride, trained her to let me touch her udder, and sit under her and read a book.  Here are some pictures of her.

Me sitting on her.

We sold Bunny and Rose Petal at a truck-stop.  This was off in the bushes.  It was kind of cool, built like the old-time stagecoaches.

The lovely sunset 

More posts coming- the lovely winter days are almost over! (sad) :(