Do goats give birth early very often?

DixyDoodle · #1 04/29/08, 11:39 AM

Just wondering, I'm getting anxious about my girls.

They are due on Monday. My little black one has had me on pins and needles for well over a week! Her ligaments are pretty much gone. She's the one I feel sorry for, she is so HUGE I don't know how she can stand it! Guess I'm hoping she will go a little early so long as it's not detrimental for anyone.

Are they like people, that newbies usually go late? I hope not. Good grief!

Oh, and I just finished watching the new goatie birth video on FiascoFarm. It was added a few days ago. If you wanna see it, go here:

http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/goat_videos.htm#birth

Backfourty,MI. · #2 04/29/08, 11:58 AM

None of mine have ever went early. I had one go right on day 143 this year & 1 go on day 150 and now I still have 1 that's as big as the barn & today is day 150 for her & I don't think todays the day either. It is very frustrating & nerve wracking your right since we are the ones pacing the floor most of the time I know.

goatiegirls · #3 04/29/08, 12:07 PM

All of ours went 2-4 days early this year. In the past, only the LM went early, the Nubians were always right on their due date. I think it was weather related because each time, it was before a storm front came through.

CookingPam777 · #4 04/29/08, 12:12 PM

Mine was a week early. Though I think they are usually more often late if anything.

wildhorse · #5 04/29/08, 12:51 PM

Both of my girls went on day 148 this year.

Sweet Goats · #6 04/29/08, 02:01 PM

I believe they are like us women, we will go when WE feel like it not because others want us or that WE want to.

If she is that big, hopefully you will be able to be with her JUST in case she will need help. I am always worried I will have HUGE babies that can not be delivered on there own (That has happened several time), or that two will race to be the first one out and then either one can get out.
Good luck. Goats love to make you wait.

**mygoat** · #7 04/29/08, 06:33 PM

My full size alpines generally go on or late (dealing with 150 day gestation here)
I've had a doe, a mini, go as early as a week as a FF. And as far as an alpine 5 days over, which I ended up inducing that doe.

My minis generally go early, and my alpines on or over... I just start checking ligs 2x per day starting a week before 150 day duedate.

DixyDoodle · #8 04/30/08, 04:58 AM

Oh, maybe I should have mentioned that these are mini goats, not sure if that makes a difference.

Quote:

None of mine have ever went early. I had one go right on day 143 this year & 1 go on day 150

Good grief, that means they could be a week late!? I'll be a basketcase by then; there is already a good, worn-out path to the goatie barn.

Beauty (the black doe) has been taking to laying in the little doghouse outside of the barn, she will lay there for hours. I guess she thinks this is her "nest"? She's been doing that for a good 2 weeks or more. Sometimes, she'll be with the other goats, but lying down and grazing at the same time. Probably too worn out to stand. She does often stand and do regular goatie stuff, too, though. I vaguely recall her mother (at the place where I bought her) and at that time, her mom was hugely pregnant as well. Guess it's in the genes (she was a twin).

Looks like a nice day coming up (at least this morning), I'll try to get some pics of her and post them. They're probably tired of me looking at their udders and butts, and will no doubt scatter like flies when they see me approaching from behind. LOL

LomahAcres · #9 04/30/08, 08:28 AM

I have found that most my girls who go late have either trips, or quads. And those who kid on time or early have twins or singles. That said, I did have one doe who kidding on day 142 with trips. 2 boys, 1 girl, and she was TINY 2 lbs 5 oz!

I have Nubians by the way.

**mygoat** · #10 04/30/08, 12:17 PM

I have exact duedates, so I know when my ladies are bred. In that situation, once it gets to 4 days over I induce if they aren't going 'in' on day 4, they usually kid on day 5. I won't ever let a doe go a week over. But once again, only induce if you KNOW for SURE what day she was bred.

DixyDoodle · #11 04/30/08, 02:04 PM

Quote:

I have exact duedates, so I know when my ladies are bred. In that situation, once it gets to 4 days over I induce if they aren't going 'in' on day 4, they usually kid on day 5. I won't ever let a doe go a week over. But once again, only induce if you KNOW for SURE what day she was bred.

I bred my ladies on a certain date (don't have it handy here), so I have a pretty good idea. A few are bred for June; I think only one out of two actually took for June though---which I consider a late breeding, and I don't think I would do a June one again. It's Canada and so cooler here, but still flies, etc are a concern. That doe is just starting to bag up.

Beauty was bred once, due on May 5th according to the Fiasco calculator.

DixyDoodle · #12 04/30/08, 02:11 PM

Oh, I forgot to ask: when your doe starts to act like they're finally going to go (ie, back hunched, ligaments totally gone, tail curved down, contractions, amber fluid leakage), does labour usually go pretty fast? Or can a doe be in pre-labour for a long time? I know I'm going to freak when I see any "obvious" signs of labour!!!