Earliest or latest kidding

petaddict · #1 02/22/10, 09:29 AM

What's the earliest any of your does has kidded? And what's the latest? A week before/after the due date? 2 weeks?

One of my does has 2 due dates (3 weeks apart). Each copulation looked like it took. I'm now 5 days past the 1st date.

I have another doe who is on day 132 and looks like she is ready to explode. Just wondering when you all start watching more closely. As it is I'm forever feeling their ligaments.

farmmom · #2 02/22/10, 09:32 AM

This year I had one kid a week early with triplets, one 3 days late with twins, and one on time with triplets.

petaddict · #3 02/22/10, 01:41 PM

Anyone else??????

bcadybug · #4 02/22/10, 02:00 PM

Thanks for starting this thread.... I'm curious also.

This will be only my second kidding season... last year only had one doe bred. THIS YEAR HOWEVER I have three does due to kid during the same week. I wonder what is considered early? I've seen sites/books list anywhere from 142-155 days for a normal gestation

I'm nervous as

since I'm a newby at kidding.... scared to death one of them will have trouble.

Val

ACountryMomma · #5 02/22/10, 03:32 PM

I'd love to know too... Going by 148 days I'm looking at one on 2/25, one on 2/26 and three due on 3/5. But the 2 of the 3/5 does and the 2/26 doe look very big.

I wondered if multiples increase the chance of delivery happening earlier instead of later?

These are our first "home births" and I can hardly keep from just spending all day out in the barn staring at the girls.

Bricheze · #6 02/22/10, 03:33 PM

One of my goats kidded a month later then I thought she was supposed to!

ACountryMomma · #7 02/22/10, 03:40 PM

EEK! I can't bear to think of it! I saw 3 of our girls bred and the other 2 flirting terribly and marked down the days - none went back in heat, so I sure hope I won't be checking a hundred times a day for the next month!

Pony · #8 02/22/10, 04:02 PM

I'm a wreck. I thought my doe aborted, but it looks like she's retained at least one. She's not due until 3/16, but she has mucus on her tail every couple of days or so.

I've been watching goat kidding videos on YouTube. Now I'm nauseated and worried and thinking that this is NOT as easy as rabbits...

bcadybug · #9 02/22/10, 04:13 PM

So I'm not alone? Not the only one checking and then RE-CHECKING tails and utters hourly?

I went thru the Hoeggers book last week and ordered everything baby or birthing they carry!

I've got all my equipment ready but I'm still worried right to DEATH..... lol...

My girls have two weeks left.... I don't know if I'm gonna make it! haha

Alice In TX/MO · #10 02/22/10, 05:15 PM

The first couple of years are scary. It does get better.

I've learned to look and say to myself, "Probably not today."

That has reduced my stress.

General Brown · #11 02/22/10, 05:23 PM

It has now been 148 days since I brought the buck in. He bred the FF immediately, and I think 1 week later the older doe. They are both huge, the older doe has been pawing, very restless, and her udder is full and her vulva also. The FF is not showing any immediate signs, and she should be first. Im thinking my older doe will go very soon.

HappyFarmer · #12 02/22/10, 06:56 PM

So far days 148, 148, 147, 148, then 3 weeks late, which obviously she took on a 2nd heat.

Yes you get to know the signs. I notice my does basically act the same from year to year. Take a notebook & write down your observances as she gets closer, so next year you won't be so nervous. I have one doe (only one!) that talks to her kids uup to 24 hours before they are born. It's a dead giveaway for her. I wish the others did that!

HF

Pony · #13 02/22/10, 07:17 PM

Bcadybug, maybe we can start a support group, and encourage each other to NOT go out every five minutes to check on our girls.

I must stop watching those videos. They confuse me so! In one video, the humans go after the kids and pull them out; in others, they wait... and wait... and do nothing... and wait...

Oh, no! What if the doe kids when Nick isn't home???

bcadybug · #14 02/22/10, 07:35 PM

sound good to me PONY... lol.... Mine have two weeks. My Nigerian is HUGE and she's the first due. Next is my Nubian and then my Ober... OH, and all mine are FF!! Making it even more nerve-racking.

I work 9 hour days so chances are... I won't be home initially. DH works from home so I'll have him checking on them the closer it gets. COURSE, he's going to pitch a FIT and not go out as often as I'd like. I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best. I am only 10 minutes from home in the event he calls and tells me to HEAD HOME... well I'll get there pretty quick to assist.

I'll be glad when it's all over with and I've got some super cute babies to love on.

Val

ACountryMomma · #15 02/22/10, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Bcadybug, maybe we can start a support group, and encourage each other to NOT go out every five minutes to check on our girls.

I just came back in from checking again! I don't need a support group - I need a bunk in the barn. i'm only slightly joking....

petaddict · #16 02/22/10, 08:14 PM

I just did the same. I went out to milk but then stayed 45 minutes because I was sure one of them was going into labor because she wouldn't eat her hay. Checked her ligaments, still there. Checked everyone's ligaments. I guess I can sleep through the night then.

Pony · #17 02/22/10, 08:19 PM

Did you check the buck's ligaments?

If it wasn't so cold out, I'd be bunking with the goats.

My luck: It's supposed to go single-digit (I'd lay money it goes sub-zero) temps the next two nights.

Wanna bet my doe kids 2 weeks early so I have to freeze my patootie off?

emanuelcs34 · #18 02/22/10, 08:20 PM

So far I have had day 146, 147, and 151, all have had twins, the first was does, the second was doe and buck and the last was 2 bucks.

Goat Servant · #19 02/22/10, 10:40 PM

Usually my girls kid within the same 3 or 4 days.
Not this year they thought it was time for a change. Two does I dont think ever settled. A month after the visiting buck went home they were hollering so I put them in with our 10mo old stud muffin havent heard a peep out of them since.
As for the other group one kidded at day 147 & her sister whom I saw coverage on first went just last week.
So. We had early & mid Feb kids with group of 5 does and will have May babies around 1st of May from the rest.

ETA Happyfarmer you just gave away her secret now she wont do it!

shiandpete.1 · #20 02/22/10, 11:09 PM

What a perfect thread! I have a calendar that has all sorts of dates written on it and the goats initials. I plan for each one and who gets to go in the kidding pen and who stays on the other side etc.

A support group is much needed! That and a group for notorious butt gawkers and udder gropers!