Triplets!

We had a big surprise last night after our post supper walk. We were about to go inside when we last minute decided to check on the animals in the shed. We walked inside and saw a few extra fluffy creatures in the center of the shed. It took me a couple seconds to figure out what they were. 

Svetlana had triplets! Which means that the dead kid a few weeks ago must've been from Gerda. It's funny because this whole time we've thought Svetlana still looked pregnant plus her udder was huge (i.e. waddling around the yard), but we were so set on the idea that Gerda never was bred (she never had a big udder). 

The kids were still wet from being born. Two were up on their feet and seemed sturdy. The driest one was on the ground and her back legs didn't seem to work. She couldn't stand up. They needed to nurse right away to get that calorie dense colostrum. All hands on deck! Except....

Because we had come straight from our walk J was with us. 

We called our neighbors who had done chores for us and asked if they'd lend a hand. She quickly volunteered to hold J while I got the babies to latch. G got to work hooking up a heat lamp and building them a 'jug', a separate area for just mom/babies for them to bond for a few days before going back with the herd. 

We put a board over the corner to give the kids a place to be protected and also to keep Svetlana away from the heat lamp. 

Jip fell in love at first sight with the babies. He didn't want to leave them and settled in for the night as close as he could get. 

G went out overnight every two hours or so to try to get the dark one up to nurse. The other two are perfectly fine and good at eating, but the dark one still has trouble standing. We used a small syringe to get some milk in her belly when she didn't want to suck. 

We'll see how she does!