Here's hoping, maybe today

CountryHaven · #1 02/26/08, 09:31 AM

My Lamancha doe really is looking ready... ugh, yeah, I've thought that before, but today when I went in to bring more water first thing, her topline from pinbone (I think, that top of the hip) to tail was rounded a lot, and REALLY sunken. She's not particularly good about standing for me to feel her ligs, but I got a swipe in. I thought I could still feel them just a little, but it was a fast swipe and maybe, maybe not. She's been uddered up for almost a month. I'd say she's not quite as 'tight' as she could be, but I didn't have her here last year when she kidded, I bought her about a month after her kids were born and she was really tight bagged. Still she's huge and walks cockeyed in the back from that huge udder, lol. Anyway, I put her up in a stall just in case and figure I'll keep an eye on her and see what happens.

One question: Way back when, when we used to breed dairy goats, I remember the 'old wives tale' (if it is that) that if you can feel the kids moving, they're not going to come in the next 12 hours at least. Now this doe I can't make stand still long enough to feel for movement, BUT, I happened to get lucky this morning as she was standing there I SAW a kick. It was way way WAY too pronounced to be anything but a kick.

What do you guys think about that movement theory? If you saw/or felt movement in the kids would you figure you still had time? Or is that just a bunch of hogwash?

**Terri** · #2 02/26/08, 09:50 AM

With HUMANS, sometimes there is not much room in there at the end of the term, so the baby might not have as much freedom of movement. About goats I do not know!

DQ · #3 02/26/08, 01:04 PM

my doe kidded at 9:30. I felt the kids moving at around 5:00. I had heard this theory too but my experience pretty much negates it. if only it were easy to tell. what I have noticed to be consistent as of yet, is that the udder get very tight 12-24hrs before and they get very touchy about it just as many people have said on this board before. I have one I am waiting on too, I'll send kidding vibes your way if you send them mine!

CountryHaven · #4 02/26/08, 01:16 PM

Hey, DQ thanks for letting me know. I'll put that one up to an 'old wives tale' then and keep an eye on her. I did let her back out into the barn area cause when I went in to check on her she was standing with her front feet up on the stall door wanting to be out with the gang. She's head honcho out there and just didn't look too all fired happy to be seperate even though the door is a gate she can see through at the others. She still looks like she did. Which for her and her normally very level topline is quite a change, but I still think she could be a little tighter in that huge udder of hers, and I could swear I can feel ligs still (got another swipe in after I let her out). HOWEVER she's looking very 'mooney' and contemplative, lol. I'll throw her in fast if I catch anything else that looks like a 'sign' but she seems to be much happier out with her little herd. I'll sure take those vibes though. Sending some your way as well.

I'm so anxious to see the babies this year it's not funny, and they're all holding on to them so tight you'd think they had gold in there not kids. haha. I have one in the other barn that I swear her ligs go from soft and mushy, to non-existant, back to soft, back to a little hard almost pencil hard, then back to mushy, then one will be gone and not the other, then... ARRRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHH

lol