Sneaky, Sneaky Doe!

CountryHaven · #1 03/13/08, 07:52 AM

I've been watching my Nupine doe Alex for a few weeks, but just casually until yesterday. Day before she started to really fill out her udder but her ligs were still rock hard pencils. For a few weeks my previously very affectionate girl really didn't want to be touched much, and seriously didn't want me looking 'down there' (picture me running around the barn yard chasing a doe to look under her tail, lol) then suddenly yesterday, she snapped back to being my affectionate big girl wanting to be petted, and sticking to me like glue, her udder got really full, and her very hard ligs disappeared.... uh huh, I was geared up for serious watching and checked on her every hour on the hour... did she do anything, nope, didn't look like any kind of serious labor at all. I could tell she was in early labor, but no hard core stuff going on--she was determined to drag it out. By late evening her udder was feeling a little bit warm, so I was like, cool, tonight, please do it before bedtime, don't you read the books? They say does prefer to deliver in the daytime (that's certainly been the majority of my experience here now and in the past. I've previously only had one doe kid in the middle of the night. One this year did go at 6 am, but that's sort of skirting the time barrier between night and day, haha).

Anyway, I kept up my checking every hour as the evening turned to night. Eleven oclock I went out, Alex is laying down, but on her chest, munching cud and looking for all the world like she was just as satisfied with herself as can be. No contractions, no goo, nothing to alert me to imminent birth...

Midnight I walked into the barn and...

Sneaky, Sneaky Doe! - Goats

BOTH DOES.

We are 8 for 9 this year with does, one lonely little buckling in the yard, haha.

Now what I want to know is where did the color go? I expected big color from this one, and I got danged near solid white. One doeling is pretty much completely white, with just a very very minimal shading of red on the head, but not hardly noticable. The other has 'eyeshadow' and a couple little color marks on the very top of her head:

Sneaky, Sneaky Doe! - Goats

I don't know how such a colored doe threw such colorless kids, haha, but I know one thing, these two does are HUGE. I swear the one is bigger than my two week olds in the other barn, and the other is about the size of the two week olds out there.

I'm just happy there were no problems. Alex delivered those babies and fast, by herself, and is a GREAT mom. She had them clean although was still working on dry, and I dipped their cords and feet, and made sure they were nursing which Alex handled like a champ. She's very protective, she's cool with me, but won't even let the cat in the stall with the babies, haha, poor kitty she likes greeting the new arrivals. Mom says no go though.

Eunice · #2 03/13/08, 08:05 AM

Congratulations on the new little ones with a quick delivery. Wish my 7 year old doe would do that. She is seven days overdue, hasn't had ligaments for ten days and as of now, her udder is full tight. She has had triplets the past two years that were "under cooked" though a few days over her expected dates. Maybe they will be fully ready to be born and live this time.

CountryHaven · #3 03/13/08, 08:09 AM

Oh I hope so Eunice, I'll keep your girl in my thoughts.

BobDFL · #4 03/13/08, 08:16 AM

My doe acted the same way. About 24 hrs before she delivered she bcame all lovey-dovey again, where before that she would just grunt and give use the "Look what you did" look.

I envy your doe to buck ratio. My doe had quads and they were all boys

Sher · #5 03/13/08, 08:54 AM

WooHoo! Way to go Tami and Micky!

They look like nice big girls Tami and momma sure sounds like a keeper! I am so tickled for you.

Wyatt Urp is running about 70/30 with girls to boys. So he is not quite as good as Daddy..lol.

I was sure surprised to see the color, or lack there of. I don't think that will happen too many times. Color or not though, they are sure a couple of little cutie pants and I hope they do well for you.

CountryHaven · #6 03/13/08, 08:58 AM

Thanks Bob.

Sher, oh I'm tickled with them, just so shocked cause I expected to see some wild color here, lol. I looked into the stall when I got there and had to do a double take, they were there, and they were WHITE? LOL

Now I am just so befuddled, I have already picked two keepers from previous two kiddings, and wasn't going to keep either of these since they're just 50%er's, but dang, they are beautiful big bodied girls, and I think they'll follow in momma's 'no problem having big babies' shoes. So, I think I'm gonna keep one of these too... oh lordy, potatoe chips anyone? LOL

nehimama · #7 03/13/08, 11:18 AM

Your Alex is a very pretty girl, and she did a wonderful job for you - two DOELINGS. Congratulations!

NeHi

CountryHaven · #8 03/13/08, 11:37 AM

Thanks Nehi, she's one of my favorites.

lyceum · #9 03/13/08, 12:44 PM

Alex looks so big now! Where did all the color go. Alex's sire is mostly black, her dam was togg marked, and here babies come out almost all white. So much for what I knew about color genetics. LOL

How is she doing with babies? Last year we left for a few hours came back and she had the kid up and nursed. How does udder capacity look? 4 year old sisters are 11-12 pounds a day.

Carisa

Kazahleenah · #10 03/13/08, 12:52 PM

Congrats!!! Beautiful lil girls you have!!
What was the doe bred to?

Kaza

CountryHaven · #11 03/13/08, 03:21 PM

Kaza-This is what she was bred too (picture just taken a few minutes ago, lol)
Sneaky, Sneaky Doe! - Goats

Carisa-Alex is wonderful, after the fiasco with Savvanah last week, I have to say I was fretting even though I know that is not 'normal'. Alex restored my faith. She is a GREAT mom. Since I'm not milking this year I can't tell you for sure how much she's got, but she has quite a bit, easily expressed and came out quite a bit. She's feeding both with ease and plenty to spare. I might even steal some of hers once in awhile for our coffee and such. Last year she milked out wonderfully and I love the taste of her milk! I can say she is a wonderful mother.

As for the color, yeah, go figure... color genetics are such fun hahahaha. I really thought I'd see an explosion of color. It's fine though, they're BIG, beautiful, and healthy, not gonna even ask for more. I've already named them Bertha, and Blanche. haha

Minelson · #12 03/13/08, 07:16 PM

Oh..they are all so cute! and I love the names. Congratulations I am so happy for you

Starsmom · #13 03/13/08, 10:19 PM

Congrats on the cute little does. I have to say, out of all of our does, my favorite is Clarice, the solid white one. Although, I am still waiting for my spotted doe to find me.

Last year our buck (it had to be him) was throwing a pattern...it was really weird...solid white, solid black and then color. If the doe had twins, solid white and solid black. If they had triplets, the third one had color. This happened with all 3 does he bred last year. Can't wait to see if the same thing happens this year. He only bred 2 does this year...we used his son on 2 does and also a nigerian buck on 2...so I'm hoping for a nice mix this year.