I will try to make this short. HAHA, Ya'll know me! My big doe (looks kinda oberhasli, I don't know) was first exposed, tomorrow will be(a few hours away) 135 days ago. Marley is my first kidding since I learned about the ligaments. It seemed obvious to me when I started checking that I had indeed found these ligaments. They just seemed real obvious, so I check them regularly to reassure myself that I actually know what I am feeling. I also just learned about how when they lose them it feels like you can wrap your fingers around the base of the tail. Well I happened to do one of my many "lets feel the ligaments" about an hour ago and ...you guessed it ... I am certain they are completely gone and if it were not for the skin I swear I could wrap my hand around her tail up on her rump. It feels totally different than it has been feeling. I have been feeling her for a couple of months now. It is so weird now. If I am not losing my mind and am right how long can she wait? If she has them at day 135 could they survive and be normal. I know that is real early? I also saw a kidding calculator that figures dates for the small breeds based on 145 days. Is that correct? And since she was bred to a smaller buck would that have an effect on her length of gestation.
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Thanks, it's encouraging to get some different specific dates about when other people have had different types of results. It kinda helps set up a baseline to bounce off from, if you know what I mean.
We used to think that ligaments could come and go, but since it hasn't happened in about five years, now we think that we used to be not so good about knowing when they're gone. You really don't want her kidding at day 135 anyway. Back when we had serious issues with copper deficiencies we'd have goats give birth too early, and we did have a set of twins survive at day 135 once, but only because we were there and could take care of them. The doe had zero mothering instincts and zero milk at that point, and the kids couldn't stand. The earliest we've ever had "normal" babies was day 141, but I think that was only once. You usually don't see kids outside of 143-151 days with 145 to 149 being most common. They tend to be very prompt. And it is possible to wrap your fingers around the tail head before the ligaments are gone.
Yea, Me too. Thanks Marin.
I don't have an answer to any of your questions, but I'm really hoping that she doesn't deliver anytime soon. Good luck!
Well, hopefully my panic is for nothing. I went back to Fiasco' sight and actually found were it says that the ligaments can actually come and go, it says that it does not happen often but that it does happen that they can actually completely disappear and then come back. Oh goodness, maybe I have a goat that is like me. I am famous for spending three weeks in and out of labor. No kidding, actually dilating more and more over weeks before delivery. Maybe that's what my goat is going to do! We'll see. Meanwhile if ya'll know where I can find help besides Fiasco, in case I need it in the middle of the night. Just give me a link or web address or something other than that I will let ya'll know if she does anything else. Thanks again, I'm going out there now and will check back.
It is getting late at night so if anyone thinks they can make it if born now and has any suggestions as to what I should do for them please tell me so I can prepare for what may be fixing to happen. I am going to watch her close and I will check back ever so often. Thanks!