Däumelinchen

Born in 2021, Däumelinchen entered the world as a tiny, fragile kid, a true fighter from the very start. Imagine a little one with what we lovingly called ‘frog-legs’. Born prematurely, it quickly became apparent that she would need special care, and thus, we decided to raise her as a bottle-kid. Remaining with her mother would have been a perilous journey for this weakling, as her stronger siblings would have inevitably taken all the milk, leading to certain death for her.

The term ‘frog-legs’ meant that she couldn't stand; her little legs splayed out beneath her each time she tried to rise. What a frustrating situation this was—for both her and us. To help her, we placed her in a small box that kept her hooves from splaying, allowing her to stand and gain strength.

Around the same time, another goat named Popcorn was showing signs of floppy kid syndrome and was brought inside for treatment. Typically, floppy kids can return to their mothers after a day or two. However, in Popcorn’s case, her mother refused to recognize her once she returned, as some of Däumelinchen’s droppings had smeared onto Popcorn’s backside. Thus, Popcorn joined Däumelinchen as a bottle-kid, and their bond helped Däumelinchen find her footing and begin to walk.

Both kids adapted remarkably well to being bottle-fed, and Däumelinchen’s unique behaviors began to surface. Due to her sticky eyes, she habitually lifted her snout high to see us, a quirky habit that only made her more endearing.

As weak as her legs were at birth, Däumelinchen became one of the few goats capable of standing straight on her hind legs to reach the highest branches, a sight that never failed to fill us with pride. Starting off so weak and fragile, she transformed into a strong caprine, both physically and mentally.

What we didn’t realize was the strength she imparted to us through her own resilience. For our daughter Lisa, Däumelinchen came into her life during a particularly dark time. It was as though Däumelinchen instinctively knew she needed to connect with Lisa whenever she entered the goat garden. This connection persisted even as Däumelinchen grew up.

Däumelinchen became a beacon of light, effortlessly lifting Lisa from her shadows, simply by being her caring, loving self. Can you imagine the impact of such a small soul bringing light to someone else’s life? She was a goat who didn’t hoard her strength; instead, she shared it generously with those closest to her heart.

When it was time for Däumelinchen to breed, she gave birth to a beautiful little girl, who mirrored her mother in every way—gentle, loving, kind, strong, and fiercely independent. Their bond was palpable, a connection that resonated deeply.

Yet, fate dealt a cruel hand. Däumelinchen was one of the first goats to pass away in the October 2023 tragedy, a catastrophic event that claimed many lives from our herd. Confronting her untimely departure plunged us into darkness. Can you fathom the grief of losing such a strong, beautiful soul? Those dark days stretched into weeks, leaving us in disbelief that our beloved Däumelinchen was gone.

Today, we find solace in knowing she is still with us in spirit, guiding us and the herd. Yet, her loss remains one of the most painful experiences we’ve endured amidst an already devastating time. A few months later, her daughter mysteriously vanished during a walk in the bush, leaving us to wonder what fate had befallen her. With predators lurking, we can only assume she met with misfortune.

It's never easy to recount the story of Däumelinchen; the loss is still too heavy to bear. Sweet Däumelinchen, your spirit lives on, and we love you forever.