This post will be unillustrated, because to have taken the time to get a camera and take a picture would have put her life at further risk.
This morning while I was milking the adult does Baby, my LaMancha doeling, started to cry in distress. I went to see what was wrong and discovered her IN the manger! Her legs were sticking out the various holes in the manger and she was in danger of breaking a leg or her neck from struggling to get out. Our manger is about 5 feet tall with inward sloping cattle panel for the sides. I tried to lift her out, but there was no way I could even come close. She is probably close to 50 pounds at this point, and at that angle I couldn't get her. I frantically searched for something I could climb to reach her. A ladder wouldn't work because I am no where near graceful enough to retrieve a flailing goat and keep my balance. I needed something much more stable. Providentially, our neighbor had brought an oval stock tank so that we could water his cows if the pond went dry, but it hadn't been needed and was sitting empty beside the driveway. I dragged it into the pen and over to the manger, climbed on top (I had it upside down.), and heaved her out. By the time I got the tank in there she was shaking. I'd been praying ever since I first saw her predicament that she wouldn't break a leg. When I saw her shaking I feared she was going into shock, but as soon as I had her out of there and standing beside me on the stock tank she started stomping her feet. I bet her legs had gone numb! After a few moments of stomping she jumped off and has been perfectly fine ever since. I can only guess that she managed to jump from the dog house into the manger. The dog house is one of those plastic ones you buy at the big box pet stores. I found it at a yard sale, and the goats love it for a private little retreat. They fight over who gets to use it. They also move it around to suit their tastes daily. I have moved it to the back half of the lean-to, away from the manger, and so far they are only scooting it back and forth a few feet, still a good twenty feet away from the manger.
