Here are first pictures of two beautiful little doe kids out of Twin Willows SB American Honey *M, sired by Sinai Thunder AG Joshua *B*S.  They were born January 26, 2015.

This sweet little red and white doe is Twin Willows J Delilah.  She has been retained to our herd. 

This beautiful, correct little munchkin is Twin Willows J Dream Catcher.   She is cream/white and will be available, preferably to a DHI herd. Her price is $625. I will get updated pictures when they unfold.  

This morning at 4:30am, Twin Willows SB American Honey delivered two gorgeous does sired by Sinai Thunder AG Joshua *B *S.  One doe will be retained to our herd, and the other will be available for purchase. 

Clockwise from left:

Twin Willows D Calamity Jane
Twin Willows D Chara
Twin Willows D Chanel

Calamity Jane has been retained to the herd.  Chara and Chanel will be available after weaning.  Check FOR SALE page for details. 

Twin Willows TIO Bambina kidded with three beautiful does sired by Parrish Farms AA Dionysus early Wednesday morning (11/12/14).  This is our final litter of 2014.  Spring kiddings will start late January 2015.  

The doeling on the left has been retained to the herd.  The two on the right will be available for sale. Names will be announced shortly. 

Three Fall does are now available.  Check FOR SALE page for details. 

Betina D'Gatto kidded with two does and one buck sired by Dionysus on October 23rd.  The buck is sold. I'm in the process of going through reservations, and offering to those clients first.  If I have any animals left they will go to the Email List and then to the Sales Page. Two does have been retained to the herd, one from Precious and one from Betina. Stay tuned!

or should I say...the frustration of thinking they are coming and THEY ARE NOT!

I've gotten fairly proficient at predicting the day of a kidding.  I look for the tell tale signs....loose ligament...tight udder...the doe acting differently.  MOST of the time I can tell when they are ready.  And then there are those does who defy explanation.  The ones that lose their ligaments, udder up, become vocal and even have some nice contractions....and still we wait.  Their ligs might come back and they completely go back to normal...chewing their cud and laying in the sun. 

I had the pleasure of sleeping on the concrete barn floor last night.  Not because I didn't feel right leaving my doe, but because she completely FREAKED OUT when I left and I didn't want to stress the rest of the herd!  

Betina lost her ligaments yesterday.  Her udder is TIGHT TIGHT.  She walks around with her tail up and she knows that something is amiss.   And yet she holds off. 

When I locked her down in her kidding stall last evening, she was calm for awhile, ate and took a nap.  Until I left. And then she went absolutely crazy.  Kicking her hay crate all over the stall.  Stepping in her water.  Staring at the barn door crying for me to come back.  When I came back after changing my clothes, she was alot calmer but still very irritated and vocal. I slept next to her all night as she had the occasional mild contraction.  All signs pointed to her kidding by morning.  But she didn't.  In fact, around 4am she just stopped everything and went to bed.  She never progressed.  She never discharged.  She never got serious. 

When daylight came, she was calm and I saw a couple of contractions but nothing regular.  That is when I gave up...went to work and scheduled her checks every two hours. 

Some does, especially first timers who are drama queens, just can't decide when to let it happen.  As a good friend once told me when I asked how I know my doe is ready to kid? "When you see hooves."   Ain't that the truth!

We just completed our first round of lactations for DHIR and we are proud to announce that six does have been officially awarded their milk stars!

Gypsy Moon Kat von D *M (butterfat)
Gypsy Moon SB Muse *M (butterfat and protein)
Jasper Pine SHH Trixie *M (butterfat and protein)
Twin Willows TIO Ambrosia Ann 2*M (butterfat)
Twin Willows TIO Apple Blossom 2*M (butterfat)
Twin Willows SB American Honey *M (butterfat and protein)

I will update the DHIR Production page with official totals. So proud!  Especially proud of our homegrown first fresheners!! 

Last night, Jasper Pines Precious delivered three beautiful does sire by Helmstead Minis FF Scorch.  Names and availability will be announced soon!