So Cocoa is pregnant via a fence panel that I told my husband needed to be moved and wasn't in time. Her bag changes must have been due to the unknown pregnancy. She is still in milk from her first freshening, and I am wondering how to handle it - do I milk her up until the time they are born or should I try to dry her out? I have already started cutting back her barley and oats, which she has been eating since she is in milk, since I read here before that grain can cause monster babes and I don't want that to happen either. Am I doing the right thing? My PLAN was to just milk them until they dried out and THEN breed again, but as most plans go it didn't work out. Any suggestions? Thanks ladies.
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I also notice that my does have a huge decrease in production around heats. even though the actual heat isn't that obvious when they are in milk.
It is perfectly normal for a goat's production to decrease through the course of her lactation. That happens to all goats. When you say there is a hole in the fence, does that mean you found the buck in with your doe? Nothing is jumping out at me as being an obvious oops.
Thanks for the link, I will definitely check that out. I noticed before the looking larger after eating thing, but this is different and never goes away like that does.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
It is her right side that is large, just like last winter, and she was only giving me 2 cups a day for the past few weeks - big drop from her quart a day. I don't know why all of a sudden I got such an increase, or a fluctuation in the first place. Thanks for the clarification about the grain - I will note that for future reference. I haven't been able to feel anyone yet though either when attempting to check..
Julia @Woody Glen Farm said:
Nothing you've said sounds like she is obviously pregnant. Being larger on one side is not a symptom of pregnancy. Some goats always look larger on the left side after eating because the rumen is on that side. Sometimes a doe's milk supply goes down for a few days when she is in heat. I have never had a pregnant doe have any teat issues.
I just made this video about how a doe's stomach can move, even though she's not pregnant ...
http://nigeriandwarfgoats.ning.com/video/is-this-goat-pregnant
Dee, as long as she is producing so much milk, you shouldn't be cutting back on her grain anyway. When they say not to give pregnant does grain, that's if they are not being milked. Hopefully if she is pregnant she will start drying up before she gets close to kidding and you can then cut her grain way back or stop it completely until she kids.
I was just thinking too that if she is that far along that you are seeing a noticeable enlargement on the RIGHT side, she probably wouldn't be giving you 3 and a half cups of milk in a milking but I could be wrong. Also, if she is that far along you should be able to feel kids kicking on the RIGHT side as well. Have you felt for kids?
Thank you for that input, I won't be in such a rush to ease her off then.. it's scary not being sure! Thanks again.
Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres said:
Cocoa is carrying on her side, like the last time.. at first I thought maybe she was just getting fat, but then her one side started poking out more than the other as before. Her teats have been sensitive during milking, which I use a machine for,( finishing by hand) and when I disinfected her (today) a couple of light spots of blood were on the cloth for the first time ever, so I applying ointment believing her to be chapped. This is the time of year in Wyoming when skin dries out on humans, so I believe maybe that is why she is irritated. She was starting to give less milk, but then today she went and gifted me 3 1/2 cups again.
Do you think maybe I am just jumping the gun? I have no idea when she is due (if pregnant) because it would of had to be via the fence that wasn't moved, but she is seriously larger on one side than the other. I just really want to do the right thing by my nuggets and really appreciate the time you take out of your busy day to try and help me!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I believe Deb milks her girls until the last couple months of pregnancy. Since she's producing milk AND growing kids, you might not need to cut back on grain until you're closer to being ready to dry her up. Deb will be able to confirm that for you. She'll have first hand experience/knowledge about that.