The waiting.......

[goodwifefarm]

is the hardest part! My kinder doe Tulip is due at any time........and it seems like the last thing on her mind is delivering those kids. Of course it is the only thing on MY mind! Anybody else waiting on babies of any sort? I should be out of my misery soon, her bag is increasing every day (since day before yesterday) and her ligs are almost gone. I just went to the barn to check her for the last time before bed and she is just lying there chewing her cud as if she has nothing better to do. I have a box in there with a heat lamp inside and she goes and lays in there too. Her belly is so darn big that it is all she can do to get through the doorway of the box though. Anyway, just thought I'd see if anybody else is playing the waiting game! ;D

sarah

[fancyfowl]

I dont do that anymore. I did my share tho. We used to lamb 35 Corriedale ewes in Jan & Feb. I got sick of that. A couple goats wasn't so bad.

[fnfredux]

is the hardest part! *My kinder doe Tulip is due at any time........and it seems like the last thing on her mind is delivering those kids. *Of course it is the only thing on MY mind! *Anybody else waiting on babies of any sort? *I should be out of my misery soon, her bag is increasing every day (since day before yesterday) and her ligs are almost gone. *I just went to the barn to check her for the last time before bed and she is just lying there chewing her cud as if she has nothing better to do. *I have a box in there with a heat lamp inside and she goes and lays in there too. *Her belly is so darn big that it is all she can do to get through the doorway of the box though. *Anyway, just thought I'd see if anybody else is playing the waiting game! * ;D

sarah


oooh, aren't YOU lucky, JANUARY babies I hope you're somewhere will not too severe winters. Is this her first kidding? If so, she may need your help. What kind of buck was she bred to? It will make a difference in the size of the kids. You wll see her get restless, if she is on her knees in front with her butt up, keep a good eye on her, they do this to get a kid in position if they're having a hard time. Try NOT to interfere. DO NOT every pull a kid out. If a kid is "stuck" in the proper position, you may clean the sack off the HEAD and clean the face so it can breathe, that's all you'll want to do. Proper position is both front feet first, straight out.
I have one old crone that has a problem EVERY time. Either the kids are breach or they are so big she has a hard time. I have delivered at least a hundred kids and she is the only one who has a hard time almost every time. Make sure to keep a good eye on things. A doe, especially a first time mother can reject one of the kids. Of course this can happen at any kidding but I notice first time mothers are more prone. The focus on one kid.
Most kiddings go well, plan on being there though to help clean them up, make sure the navel is okay, (you can treat it with iodine (I like to leave mine if they are okay, not too long or too close) and tie the end with a stout thread.
Keep the kids WARM and dry, that is the most important thing, and make sure they can suckle. I have had a doe whose kids were so big, the couldn't stand properly to nurse for a week. Their legs were seriously cramped in utero. I had to attend them, but those boys are probably 300lbs now, fully grown.
Kinders, I had a few, they have twins as usual, might have triplets. The kinders were good moms, and constantly with their kids. Mine were naturally polled and that was a big plus. I went over to Nubians as I just liked their personalities better, goats you will find are like dogs, certain breeds appeal to certain people.
I like bigger dogs, so I guess it follows I like bigger goats?
just a little side lite...you would not BELIEVE the number of people who are actually AFRAID of my two big wethers. They have of course a really big spread of horns(like close to 3') and are very friendly and curious. They will go right up to many people who become TERRIFIED. I guess they could be considered "guiard" goats. I trust them completely, they are totally gentle and sweet, it's funny what people are afraid of.

[fnfredux]

I see you are in ILL. If the weather gets really cold, be very careful with kids less than 2 wks old. Keep them WARM as they use up a lot of energy staying warm. Make sure you get rid of the afterbirth and clean the hay if they're in a barn, burn all remnants of the birth as predators KNOW from the smells that there is EASY prey around and a racoon or skunk could even take a small/weak kinder kid, especiall from a first time doe.

[goodwifefarm]

Hi, Thanks for all the tips. This will be her second kidding. She had twins the first time and is a wonderful mom. She is bred to a Kinder buck that is actually smaller than she is so hopefully we won't have any trouble with the kids being too big. She will go within 12 hours I think. Her ligaments are completely gone, her bag is TIGHT and she is very very loose in the mommy area ;) Don't worry, I try to be there every time. I'm thankful that she hasn't yet, as I just got home from work and am hoping that she has them this evening. Last year her second kid (my doeling Star) was a bit weak and I helped her stand and nurse the first few times. I'll be there for these kids as well. They are in a solid barn (completely enclosed) and Tulip is in her own stall. Inside the stall is the kid box with a heat lamp. If she doesn't kid inside the box, then I just keep putting the kids in the box and it doesn't take them any time at all to figure out it is warm in there. They will pop out of there to nurse and then go lay back down in it. Last year when she kidded I was sitting with her the whole time. She is such a darling, she licks my face while she is in labor. I love my goats!

That is funny that people are afraid of your wethers! I know that some people are that way! My goats (being Kinders) are all very small. I love the breed though. My billy is only about knee high on me and I'm only 5'3" It makes him much easier to handle though, being a little guy.

Again, thanks for your reply and good luck with your goats as well!

[goodwifefarm]

Triplet bucklings born at 4:15 pm today ;D

http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo27/goodwifefarm/IMG_0083.jpg

[fnfredux]

I see the two black bucklings have that "velvet coat". That was a Kinder goat thing I guess, more like fur than hair.
Nice looking trio, and I see they're enjoying a nice heat lamp ;D, what a nice birthing area!

[goodwifefarm]

Yeah I have a pretty nice set up for cold weather babies. Got to if you don't want them to freeze! They haven't even ventured out of there yet. They are all frisky as can be today, nursing like crazy. Tulip is a good momma but I know she'll be going crazy in a couple weeks with three boys! Buck kids are such STINKERS!
My Kinder buck is black and he has incredibly LONG hair. It never gets short and slick on his neck. It is shiny and glossy, but it is really long on the top of his neck. It gets short and tight on his body, but his neck hair stays long like a man's hair.

[mtwildflower]

Awww.... what cute kids.

Wish I was set up to have more animals.

Sigh.

[goodwifefarm]

Thanks ;D Have Faith, your time will come ;) How are the satins doing??