Goat in labor?

[tltater]

I have a pygmy goat due today (day 145). Yesterday, she started to keep laying down and not great us when we went to check on her. She didn't even bleat which is what she normaly does. She acted "starving" this morning when I gave her her grain, but when I went to check on her later, I found she never did eat it. She has been doing alot of laying/standing, no bleating, no greating, breathing heavy, vulva swollen, and I am almost positive her ligaments are gone. (this is my first kidding, but not hers!) She is grunting occasionally and acting like a woman in labor (I have 6 kids of my own and believe I am an "expert" LOL!). No mucous or any other discharge going on. Because this is my first kidding, I just want to be sure this is all normal. How long would be an abnormal time for this to be going on? Any other suggestions/advice always needed/welcome!

Thanks,
Tracy
Southwestern, NY

[tltater]

Went out to check on her and give her some nutri-drench because she hasn't eaten any grain (kids did see her nibble some hay). After I get the nutri-drench down her I notice she decided to eat her breakfast...very late! Guess I'll be waiting for a while yet!

Tracy
Southwestern, NY

[debitaber]

she is close, but she could do this for a week or so. just be ready all the time, her time is close.

[Goat Freak]

It soundsl ike she is going to have htem VERY soon, especially with her not eating a lot, a LOT of our does did the same thing, but ours for the most part had the mucus plug out. Good Luck, I will be praying for a safe easy delivery, and for a healthy happy mama, and for safe and happy kids. Good Luck, bye.

[debitaber]

I would give the nutir drench right along several times a day, and if you have any vitamin e, give her a capsule , I put it in some peanut butter, on a half a slice of bread. once they taste that, they willl go back for more, mine love it.
IF she hasn't had her selium shot would give that too. but kind of late, so you will have to give it to babies too. I always do.add a package of jello to her water, and make sure it is on the warm side, mine love it, and gator aid, or just some molasses to the warm water. will do it also.

[Teacupliz]

if she keeps getting up and down. I would go in and check that the kid is in the right position. Wash hands, go in slow and see if you can feel front feet and nose.
We will be waiting to hear about your Christmas babies.
Liz

[trnubian]

Goats are "normally" due at day 150. It is different for certain breeds, but they all ussually go around to 150 day marker. She "could" go anytime, but I would say she is doing the "week before thing."

My does do this and it drives me crazy because I am so excited for those kids to get here. About 5 days to a week before they have kids they start acting weird. They walk around in a daze, paw around a little bit. Get up and down, grunt and groan and generaly make you think that they are in labor. (I truely believe that the kids are getting into a delivery posistion at this time.)

Watch her udder and ligaments. If her udder doubles in size overnight, if her ligaments are COMPLETELY gone (you cannot find ANYTHING), and watch for those kids to "drop." She will look very sunken in at the top of her belly and very large and spread out in her lower belly. You might even be able to see hocks or hooves of the babies on the bottom of her belly right in front of her udder.

The above signs are what I watch for for imminent kidding. Oh, and of course the mucous that precedes kidding.

Oh, and the reason she isn't eating as much could be because that she just dosen't have room for it. She may be so packed full of kids that she can no longer eat all her food at one time like she used to be able to. Just leave it out for her and she will eat when she feels she can. Plenty of good quality hay is most important. Lots of fresh water is very important. (They like it warm this time of year, and a little molasses is always god too.

A little grain would be good for her, but don't give her too much. About a small icing cup a day would be good. This will give her energy but also leave her room for the hay that she needs to keep her rumen functioning well.

Giving her a couple pumps of Nutri-Drench once a day will help and ward off ketosis and calcium deficiancy. Other than that, it's basicly a waiting game.

Good luck and happy kidding!

[debitaber]

I agree with trnubian, everything she says is true, and you are in the waiting game. I have had many sleepless night in this waiting game of mother nature. she is close, and it will be in the next 5 days or so., so just relax, fix some hot cocoa, and have some christmas, cookies, and give her a bite of one too, won't hurt her a bit, and enjoy it, you are about to have babies.

[moonspinner]

I've never had a goat go 150 days - most of mine are around 146/147. Maybe it's Nigerians? I guess I've been lucky too because most of mine kid out of nowhere - they can be eating one minute and the next pop those kids out. Also I've had them kid with hardly a discharge prior. The ligaments going are pretty darn reliable though for immiment delivery. Waiting to hear on those Christmas babies!

[Kittikity]

What are the ligaments?

Jacquie

[tltater]

Thanks for all the responses. Just an update on how she is doing. I am pretty sure she was "adjusting" her kids. She was bleating and greeting again last night (or early morning...lol...which ever you may look at it) and all day today. She is eating her grain slowly and eating hay normaly. She does look as though the baby(ies) have dropped and is doing some major stretching. I am giving her Nutri-drench. Speaking of that, does anyone have an easier way of giving it to her? I am using a syringe and she just fights me something awful. I try not to stress her. Oh, one more observation is her vulva has been swollen but yesterday seemed tightly closed, whereas today seems more open. Thanks again for all help!!!!

Tracy
Southwestern, NY

[farmergirl]

We're waiting on kids, too! First kidding for Louise, our nubian cross doe, and first kidding for us, too, so we're as anxious as you are. Louise has a full milk bag and it looks like the kids are adjusting inside her, so I'm guessing it will be any day now.

[trnubian]

We get the pump bottle of Nutri-Drnech and just pump it right into their mouth. A syringe without the needle would work also.

Jacquie, the ligaments are found by the tail head. Go to this site, it is a great explanation of what to look for. http://fiascofarm.com/goats/prenatalcare.html#ligaments

moonspinner- yep, a lot of ours eat right up to and during kidding. They just pop them right out between mouthfulls of food. We just watch them so close when they are due that they don't have a chance to get away with having them without us there. Nigi's I think do go earlier than the full size dairy does I think. I'm not sure about pygmies though. We start REALLY watching our does (nubians) at day 148.

Happy kidding to every one!

[tltater]

Hope everyone is having a good Christmas! Bianca decided to get out of her makeshift barn today that we put a 8 x 6 box stall in for her. It is in actuality the bottom part of our garage, but it works. Anyway, I left the door open so she could get some fresh air(it's been warm here, around 40) and thought she may appreciate that. After opening presents, went into the kitchen and I always look out the window. Low and behold there she was in my driveway. Of course, by now it has started raining so she is wet and yelling at me as if it's all my fault! So, I have her back in, fed, and blow dried(she did not like that very much!) The ligaments are definately completely gone and now she is showing some white goo. Will be waiting to see what happens next! LOL!

Tracy
Southwestern, NY

[Goat Freak]

I think that you are going to have Christmas babies! CONGRATS! I can't wait, tell us when they are born, I am SO excited! Well see ya, bye.