Bred yearling does....

[Milk n' Honey]

We started into the possible due dates, for most of our does, on August 31st. Many of them are yearlings and I've never had a yearling (first freshener) give birth yet. In the past, mine have all been experienced Moms. I don't even know what an udder looks like when it just begins to fill when it has never had anything in it before. Most things I read say that they will most likely start to fill their udders 4-6 wks ahead of time. I can't say that I have more than one that even looks like there might be something there. Is there anything else to look for? A couple of them have kind of red teats. Can that be a sign? The unknown is driving me crazy. I've got one yearling that is due on the 13th of Sept. b/c I saw her get bred. She isn't showing any udder development but her belly is growing. We are only 10 days away from her due date!! How late have you seen your yearling does develop an udder?

[Milk n' Honey]

You know, it is funny, I know a lot about taking care of sick goats because of our horribly rough first year but it is the silly little things like this that I get stumped on!! LOL!!

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Milk n' Honey

How late have you seen your yearling does develop an udder?

Usually bred doelings start developing udders as early as 1-2 months pregnant. At that stage their teats just fill out a little and become more noticable. Some actually develop a little poochy udder that early. I don't think I've ever seen a first freshener develop *nothing* by that close to kidding..... Could she have no possible due-date after that??

[homeacremom]

I've had a Alpine/Togg FF with no udder development other than slightly elongated teats until actually in labor. It was amazing how quickly that udder rounded out and within two weeks was fully developed. She gave plenty of colostrum and everything from the beginning although I don't know where it came from.

[Milk n' Honey]

They could be due any time betweet the end of Aug. and mid Nov. so they could be due later I guess. Some people mentioned that October was prime time for Fall kiddings so maybe......I would think the late udder developers would be few and far between so I should see some of them, I'd think. I'm getting fed up with some of these goats that won't get pregnant. They have one more shot and then they are sausage. Sorry, just sick of high expense and no returns.

[mary,tx]

Maybe your problem isn't with the does but with the time of year you are trying to breed. Although I have bred my Nubians for every time of year, most goats are not coming into strong or frequent heats late spring. It is my understanding that even Nubians are less prone to breed that time of year further north.

I think when someone told you that October is prime for fall breedings, they might have meant for breeding and not for kidding. Right now my does are having strong heats about every three weeks.

Even the doe you saw breed might not be a sure thing. Sometimes the bucks will get excited and jump on a doe that is not ready just because they are turned in with them.

Do you have a buck you can turn them in with now to see if there is interest? I've found that if I put the buck in for a day, then remove him, this time of year the does will all come into heat the next week. If he is across the fence from them, you will know when they are in heat.

mary

[Blossomgapfarm]

I was wondering the same thing as Mary. As they are yearlings, they should continue to grow and fill out even if they are not pregnant. My does are coming into heats now for spring babies. What breed of goats do you have? Can you handle them? I have been able to feel baby movements a couple of months before birth. Does not really tell you the due date but makes you feel more certain of pregnancy.

[Milk n' Honey]

Most of them are Boers. Many of them have never kidded and are over 1 1/2 yrs old. Our buck is proven. He was with them from the end of March until mid June. I had posted a thread and asked which time of fall was the most common for kids to be born and the answer I recieved from more than one person was "October" so no misunderstanding there. However, something is weird. Now, if they aren't due for another month, maybe I'll start seeing some signs. I have yet to see any of them flirting with the buck and they can all get to where he is on the other side of the fence. I know what you mean about feeling the kids. I can usually feel them at least a month before being due. I have a doe that is due no later than next Thursday and I can immediately feel body parts when I feel her side. No question on her. She was apparently bred in the spring for Fall kids. We'll just have to see. I am frustrated with it. I want a big kid crop and I haven't had one yet. The first year here was rough. It may just take a while to get everything going the way it should. I know I'll be having kids within the next week though. That will be exciting. I'll post pics. She is a 75% black headed Boer doe who is bred to a solid red buck. I hope to get something nice from her. Thanks for the advice!!