The barn is quiet, but you can feel it — the anticipation that hums just beneath the surface. As of today, we are officially on baby watch.

Zygoat is due Feb 23rd. She is so big she has to prop herself up :)

Everything is in place: the kidding pens are ready, bedding fresh, cameras positioned, tools on hand, and the clipboard waiting.

We walk through the barn more slowly these days, noticing the soft breaths of the moms, the subtle changes we’ve been tracking, and the stillness that precedes new life.

So what do we watch for? A doe who chooses a corner instead of resting with the rest of the herd. Pawing at the ground and arranging bedding just so, creating a little “nest” of her own.

Some become extra talkative, greeting us with soft calls when we walk into the barn. Others grow especially affectionate, lingering nearby or seeking out a little extra reassurance. It’s one of the reasons we spend more time in the barn ourselves during these weeks — not because anything is wrong, but because closeness matters. Our role is to be present, gentle, and ready for anything, even if nothing immediate happens.

There are physical signs, too. Ligaments begin to loosen as their bodies prepare for birth, much like a woman’s body does before labor. And slowly, they begin to “bag up” — producing milk in preparation for their babies. This first milk, called colostrum, is especially important. It’s rich, protective, and exactly what newborn kids need in their first hours of life.

This is the quiet magic of the farm. The work is steady and intentional, but the moments that matter most unfold on their own timetable. We watch, we prepare, and we wait — with joy, patience, and gratitude for the incredible rhythm of nature.

Next week, we’ll share the most important moment of all: when the first kids arrive.

With gratitude,

Charley & MaryLisa
Jollity Farm

Any Day Now…

Amelia was first to kid this year!

3 weeks to kidding