The Maternity Ward~

The pretty doe in front is Libby, my favorite girl. She is in the Double D Ranch "maternity ward" now. She's due to kid tomorrow, and I am so excited it's not even funny. You think I'm nuts for being excited about that? Well, you just have to make allowances for people like me who love critters. There's alot of us out there!

The older kids and I put the maternity ward in order yesterday. We used the first stall of the barn, because itdidn't have any animals in it all winter long, just hay. The kids moved about 25 heavy ahy bales out into the aisleway of the barn, out of the stall. We left plenty of light, fluffy, clean hay on the floor of the stall and added a big bag of soft pine shavings up against the wall where we placed a heatlamp. We brought in a mineral block, filled the hay rack, and filled the water bucket that hooks on the wall. I love those wall hooks for the water buckets, because it keep new kids from being born into one and drowning, or else falling into the bucket later while playing. Safety!

Now, miss Libby wasn't too happy to be in the maternity ward, because none of her sisters were in with her, but I just let the girls cry and get used to it a few days before they are due, so they will feel more comfortable in there when they do kid. I let them out with the other girls during the day if I'm home to watch, otherwise they stay in the stall- insuring none of the kids are born in a mud puddle or other unsavory place.

ALl in all, I am quite happy to have the maternity ward in operation again. I love kidding season! I look forward to it like most people do Christmas.