Curious to know what others do

[Minelson]

How often do you check on your pregnant goats? Gretta is getting so huge. I felt so bad for her because she fell while climbing down from her resting area. What started out as a chicken cage turned into her little "cave". It's a large cage on legs about 25" inches off the floor. The cage itself has a slated wooden floor and when we first got her she liked to jump in there. So I bedded it down and put a blanket over it and she just loves to jump up in there and sleep or hang out. When she started getting bigger I built a step for her to get up. Now tonight she was coming out and lost her balance and completely fell! So I dragged in a little spool and set that up along with the other step and it will be easier for her to get up and down. But now I'm all worried again and I'm just wondering how often I should go out and check on her to see if she is going into labor...what does everyone else do?

[HazyDay]

Today I checked our Boer about 12 times. Her ligiments were very relaxed this am so I watched her today. But now they are hard again I want babies!!

I check every few hours when a doe is getting near her due date. At night I go to bed at 11 pm and check at 1 am, if the doe doesn't look ready I will then check every 4 hours.

I am getting good at knowing so I may cut down checking soon. Last year I was crazy but now I am not worrying as I have to help 2 starters kidd this year

[fcnubian]

I check the does daily so I can see/feel any changes. Once the ligaments get really soft and they start acting uncomfortable I watch them closely. The barn is set up nicely I can go in and peek into the kidding stalls with out disturbing them.

[collegeboundgal]

I've spent enough time out with the girls that I just *know*. I have one doe that will wait for me to be their, but the others really don't give a rip if I'm there or not. I just look for off; behavior, looks, feeding. the ligaments and udder are the first give away.

-Melissa

[goatsareus]

well, I've been going through this routine coming up on 31 years now, and I still find some surprises. I rely on having a baby monitor to listen for the grunts/groans they make while having contractions. This has greatly reduced my trips to the barn. But even using that, I have found some wet kids whose moms had silent birthings! The big sign for my goats is going off by themselves, other than the changes in their bodies.

[moonspinner]

I check my due girls many times a day once the kids have dropped low. My goats tend to not show any symptoms of imminent birth and I have often gone out there to conclude they're not near kidding and within an hour out pops the litter when I wasn't looking. Sneaky critters!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Take a lawn chair and book to the goat barn! Maybe a blanket, too, if you aren't way south.

[nehimama]

Yep! I'm out there, checking several times during the day and the night. I have two whose due dates are ??? I never saw the buck breed them, but it's obvious that he did. (All the other breedings were witnessed.) These two are causing me to tear my hair out. Good thing I'm familiar with the imminent kidding signs. Still keep checking, though.

NeHi

[Sweet Goats]

Well, I look at them several times a day, but I do not touch them very often because when they are this big and getting close they do not liked to even be looked at, much less touched. I do try to pet them if they will let me and it is not to much stress on them. I have on doe that is getting REALLY friendly that is a first timer and she is coming up for all the love she can get, and that is not at all like her.
When I really start looking and touching is when they are getting close and their tail will not stand up, or as it starts going to the side.
Mine are all full of Cashmere so it is hard to really see how big they are or to even see their bag.
I will be putting the baby monitor our in the barn after Christmas.

[Minelson]

Well, I did go out and check at 11pm - 2:45am - 6:45am. Always nothing going on. I think I will ask around to borrow a baby monitor. It's the night time that I'm worried about. I don't want to buy one cuz I don't plan on having any more. I'm not finding any of the ligaments...but that could be becuz I'm a rookie. In the mean time I will just keep on checking! It's so cold here (South Dakota) I really want to be there to get the babies dry and warm right away. Thanks for all the responses...I can't tell you how helpful this forum has been for me and now I'm addicted to it...much better to be here then on Ebay though! And cheaper too!!!!

[Goat Servant]

Originally Posted by Minelson

Well, I did go out and check at 11pm - 2:45am - 6:45am. Always nothing going on. I think I will ask around to borrow a baby monitor. It's the night time that I'm worried about. I don't want to buy one cuz I don't plan on having any more. I'm not finding any of the ligaments...but that could be becuz I'm a rookie. In the mean time I will just keep on checking! It's so cold here (South Dakota) I really want to be there to get the babies dry and warm right away. Thanks for all the responses...I can't tell you how helpful this forum has been for me and now I'm addicted to it...much better to be here then on Ebay though! And cheaper too!!!!

Im a rookie too.. have not been able to do the ligament thing. If someone is off they can be off for a week or so..thats when I throw in the towel. Ok no more checking at midnight, then she kids early in the same morning I decide to sleep in.
Goats. Forever making a fool out of their owners. I have a list of who I think was bred in the order I "think" they were bred...one who I don't think was.....
remember the name Balango. I don't think she was bred. She won't let me look. She doesnt look pregnant but then nobody else does either and we have a late Feb date on everyone.

[Terre d'Esprit]

i have a webcam on mine.

[KimM]

When mine are close, I check them every time I walk by the TV monitor. About 50 or so times a day! Then I go do physical checks about 5 times a day. I'm afraid I'll miss something.