Getting an expecting doe soon.......

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..anyone with any goat experience have any general pointers for me? My friend who has 4 bred does is very ill and having to disperse her animals. The one I am getting is a first time mother that I have always been partial too. They are Nubian crosses, btw.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

Answers

Do you know when she is due?? It always helps if you have a general date to expect. First time mothers will make a fool out of you every time anyway so do get to shocked if she does something totally opposite of what everyone tells you. I think the best signs of them going to kid soon are 1) tail ligaments. Start feeling right now..right were the tail connects to the spine. A few days prior to kidding you will notice that it is like the tail gets looser. 2) udder starts to fill. I would strongly suggest, if you have never done this before, that you read the stuff over on CS under goats and also visit the Dairy Goat forum on this board. Someone on one of the threads..........not even sure which forum, has developed a list of things that they gather together prior to kidding. If I remember right they even explained why they gathered each one. Goats are fun!! Enjoy and don't worry too much.

-- Anonymous, February 12, 2002

I think this doe that I will get is due the soonest..in March. I am nervous and think maybe this time I will have bitten off more than I can chew (never done that before .NOT!!). I have lambs due in March too. Here's a thought. I have had dogs that have had puppies before and never given it another thought..just made sure mommy was happy and healthy and let her do her thing. With the sheep etc I am very nervous and worried...whats up with that? I feel like I have this pressure on me to "do it right" and its not even me thats doing it!!! Is this just first time livestock manager jitters???

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

yup.....first time jitters for sure. Been there and done that. You will be fine.

-- Anonymous, February 13, 2002

Oh Alison I'm so jealous!!We sold our goats(21 of them )a few years ago.I feel the same way as you!!!I get real nervous,but excited too.It always helped me to figure,well,sheep and goats have been doing it by themselves a long time,so think how much better they will do with me there!!!.We use a fisher-price baby monitor out in the barn and I have caught them grunting just as I sit down for dinner. I found that the nubians were such nice birthers,those lovely wedge shaped heads!!I take towels to the barn ,but if caught without I use straw to rub the babies briskly,and clear there mouths. Ditto to what Diane said ,watch the tail,for 'wiggliness""and her vulva will look like a big swollen peach:O I'm sure you know all this you have sheep.I always feel more responsible if a have bought the animals off of friends.Good luck!!!!Oh I need a baby fix!!

-- Anonymous, February 14, 2002

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