Three of my does are due between January 1 and the 13th. Two are experienced and one is a FF. My husband built me three awesome 12x6 kidding stalls...two on one side of the barn and two on the other. The goats can see from one stall to the other and out into the main barn. So my question is...how far in advance should I start putting the does into those stalls at night? I really want to avoid the possibility of a night delivery in the main section of the barn. I also kinda feel like they ought to get used to their stalls prior to the event. And if I remember past discussions correctly, most people leave mom and kids in the stall full time for at least a week, correct?
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Thanks Deborah I will start grain today with her and she was a set of triplets and what I can tell that seems to be the trend with her family. She's really long and never looks heavy, but she is huge on her sides. She doesn't even want to walk up the hill anymore. I was worried about premature birth and wasn't sure what is considered dangerous with goats. I wouldn't consider her the queen of the heard and mainly because she doesn't care. She does keep everyone inline if they mess with her though. She is such a sweet heart. I gave all my goats COWP about 2 months ago and they all look great. She's just been acting off so I'm wondering if she will go early. Thanks and I will read that blog :0) Have a great day!
I have never noticed that FF tend to go later than other does. In fact, I've gotten really surprised by some who went at 140-141. I can think of three off the top of my head, including one in September. We went out there one morning, and there were two babies wobbling around. If she's looking that huge, you could start her on the grain. It's usually the ones that barely look pregnant that wind up having a single. And if this doe has a family history of multiples, she could have three or four in there. I wouldn't worry about her going too early unless there is something else going on -- like a deficiency or she's being beaten up by the other goats.
There is a video on here about Pearl and Hester. They were born at 134 days because their mother was at the bottom of the pecking order, and even in labor, goats were slamming into her. Here is the blog post I wrote about the only premies we've had survive: http://antiquityoaks.blogspot.com/2009/07/premature-kids-and-cluele... They are also the only premies we've had since we started doing supplemental copper. Prior to that we had goats aborting way too often in early pregnancy and in the last 3 weeks.
My doe is due Feb 16th and she's been acting a little off. She's a FF and she is huge so I know she is uncomfortable and wants this to be over!! I haven't started grain with her yet. I've been debating because of the previous forums I've read about FF. For her shape though she looks huge. When I feel her belly I feel kicks everywhere. I'm sure there is more than 1 baby. I'm thinking triplets just by the way she looks and all the kicks I feel. LOL She keeps going off on her own, really grumpy, and has even been having a few contractions. I took her temperature the first day because she was acting so off and he temp was normal. I'm sure she is just getting ready for labor. My question is how early is too early for them to deliver? I can keep a good eye on her all day and plan on putting her in her kidding stall at 140 days, like you suggested Deborah. I have a baby monitor I can hook up, so I can listen to her all day and night. I know statistics on first time human mom's says they tend to go past their due date, was curious if that's the same with goats? This is our first kidding, so I want to be prepared for whatever happens, early or late...
I leave them in the kidding stalls 24/7, but it sounds like in your situation, you might be able to let them out unless you suspect one is going to kid that day. Part of me is envious that you only have three does. In my case, I'd be out there every evening trying to separate the three from the herd of 18 senior does and 5 junior does, so that wouldn't be fun because everyone would want to come inside! Goats are always convinced that whatever the others are getting is better than what they have. :)
Thank you for responding, Deborah. At 140 days do you leave the does in the stalls full-time or just at night? I keep a pretty close eye on them during the day and the barn is maybe 75 feet from my front porch.
Ideally I put them into kidding stalls at about 140 days so they have time to get accustomed to it. Some settle in right away, but some will scream for a couple days, so it's nice to past that initial, "Let me out of here!" screaming, which is not always that different from, "I'm in labor!" screaming for some does. It's great that they can see each other!
I personally like to leave them together for at least a week for a couple of reasons. First it allows me to bond with all of the babies well. Once you put them together, the more pushy babies will hog your attention, and the less dominant babies will wind up more shy because they won't be as forceful about coming to you. The other thing is that they will try to nurse on other does because they don't understand boundaries, and other does will push them away, which can look kind of scary with a kid that's only a day or two old. I've even seen a doe grab a kid by the tail and toss it.
Good luck! My first doe is due Jan. 12, and I'm getting so excited already! Doesn't matter how many years you've done this, babies are so much fun! And when they stop being fun, it's time to get out of business.