Please pardon the following silly questions, but we're new to the exciting world of Nigerian Dwarf Goats, and have just had our first kids - we bought 2 pregnant does a few months ago. One kidded last weekend, the other will be mid April. The first run went great - one buckling and one doeling - healthy and ridiculously cute. So, here are few pieces of background info:
BTW - we have the head butt recorded, along with various vids of the kids, kidding, and our setup if this would prove useful. They're at: https://www.youtube.com/user/meggiezbees
Thanks!
Shane and Meggie
- I have the new mom and kids seperated from the other pregnant doe with fencing in the pen and the barn, but the lone pregnant doe can see and interact with the new family. Everyone seems happy with the arrangement.
- We allowed everyone to mingle in the same pen a few days ago. Predictably, the does began establishing a heirarchy. The pregnant doe left the new kids alone. The new mom made an aggressive head but at the front, right shoulder of the pregnant doe. We became nervous about the potential for the pregnant doe to receive a fetus-damaging blow, and seperated the herd once again.
- How soon after kidding should I bring the herd together? My fears at this point are: Damaging the babies in the pregnant doe (due in 3 weeks), and collateral damage to the kids as the does battle it out for leadership.
- Are these fears rational, or is it newbie paranoia?
- Would it be better to just keep everyone seperated through the kidding in mid-April?
- Tangentially related Q: In a week, I'll be bringing the babies to a lady who does disbudding. Do I just take the kids by themselves, and leave mom behind? How stressful is that for the mom? Are there any repercussions when I bring the kids back (rejection, or other behavioral issues)?
BTW - we have the head butt recorded, along with various vids of the kids, kidding, and our setup if this would prove useful. They're at: https://www.youtube.com/user/meggiezbees
Thanks!
Shane and Meggie
Replies
Shane
I have a similar set up as you. Two does, one freshened three weeks ago. Mom and kid had 3 days alone in the kidding stall - Auntie doe could see them and interact between the fence. On day 3 everyone got together and there were no concerns - though I only allowed them together when I was around to monitor for the next couple of days. I observed no problems and so by day five they were all together in the days and still separated at nights (mom and baby into kidding stall) until kid was two weeks - just for my own worry.
We did our own disbudding here and again I found it really comforting to put kid right back with mom (both for her and me!) I felt horrible and she went right back with mom and was fine afterwards. I would say the ideal is to have someone come and disbudd at your place - but if that is not an option I would take mom with me. Also, if you feel you can - be involved in the disbudding so that you can do it yourself next time (or the time after - whenever you feel comfortable!)
Good luck with it all!
Thanks for mentioning that there are "NO stupid questions" Glenna, I meant to point that out! Shane, Glenna is right. You can ask whatever you want here!
When I took baby for disbudding, I also took mom. This was at two weeks. Just seemed the right thing to do at the time.
(By the way, there are no stupid questions asked, only the ones not asked. You are absolutely among friends here!)
It really depends on how long they'll be separated. If someone lives an hour away from me, I suggest they bring mom along. The longer they're separated, the greater the risk for rejection.
I don't have time to watch the videos at the moment, but pregnant does can take quite a lot of rough before you have to worry about the kids... it's part of being in a herd. They are designed to take some pretty good hits. Even when they are pregnant. :)
I am sure someone else will chime in soon with more experience, but personally I did not see anything alarming about their behavior! I watched several of the videos...very cute...thanks for posting so many...I'll try to watch them all.
They are all real cute and looks like a very nice little set up. Seems to me that they are not very rough with each other and that the kids are safe with them too. I would suggest that if you chose not to leave them together that you at least turn them together like this when you are around to watch! If they don't get much rougher with each other than that though, I see no serious threat!