STURGIS — On March 8, 2023, Anna-Maria Wilcott of Sturgis was met with a turn of events almost beyond belief.
Never in the history of her farming family had the following events taken place.
Kidding season had only just begun with a set of healthy triplets born the previous day when Socks, one of her goats, decided it was her turn for labour. Wilcott had managed to successfully deliver what was assumed to be a set of small triplets, until Socks began pushing again.
“I checked and it turned out Socks was packing not three but four kids,” stated Wilcott.
She phoned the house and her dad, Rob Wilcott, came quickly to help, but once he got the fourth kid delivered, Socks began pushing yet again. Rob checked one more time and said "Anna, you are not going to believe this! Socks has a fifth one in there!"
A whopping brood of quintuplet Boer goat kids included one tiny nanny-kid (female) and four billy-kids (male).
They were immediately given the group name of Eenie, Meenie, Miney (red), Tiny (dark red girl) and Fred (white).
“What about Moe? Oh Socks couldn't handle more,” said Anna. “Poor momma Socks was beyond exhausted and unable to feed her brood so the kids were placed on a bottle feeding regime until two months old, while Socks was placed in a recovery ward next door so the happy goat family could stay together.”
Originally, the Wilcott family agreed to keep such incredible news under wraps in case any of the kids did not survive, however this incredible story continues to defy the odds. So far, all five kids and their nanny have survived and are thriving.
The quintuplet males are now awaiting to find new homes as future breeding billies. But the Wilcotts plan on keeping Tiny.
