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06/16/10, 11:57 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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I agreed to doe-watch.... OMG!
Oh, geez. The neighbor where I just moved has a young pregnant Nigie who was with the buck from December through end of February (groan). She is very obviously pregnant, and has what I consider a developing udder, but not tight or shiny. In the two days I have known about her, I have seen some small changes that make me think she's close:
1. Her tail-head has become prominent over the last 24 hours, and her udder more firm and larger over the last 48 hours.
2. She spend quite a few good moments 2 nights ago re-arranging babies by stretching way out and then hunching up a bit; I really thought she was going to have them! Her hunching up was almost like a contraction, but standing up.
3. She is squatting to pee, but only producing brief dribbles (and then a big, long stretch after)
4. The skin of her perianal area is soft and hot pink; she has very little "grab" left in her tail (i.e., when I grab it to lift it and check for mucus, she can't/won't "grab it back")
What I DON'T see is: No mucus at all, no pawing, no nesting, no full TEATS, (just udder). He appetite is great.
The neighbor has her under camera, and has gone out of town (oh joy) so I have the receiver on MY TV at my house, and I go over to actually lay hands on the little darling 3x per day. (someone else is doing chores, watching the farm, etc).
I guess my questions are: What am I MOST likely to see on camera (circling? pawing? Cramping?) that I should take as the "grab the kidding kit and go next door now" signal? I know that if I see her lose her mucus plug that I should start my "camping" by her stall, but could she have lost her plug many days ago and have no more mucus at all thereafter? (the owner didn't know to watch for a mucus plug...)
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...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/16/10, 12:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Redding California
Posts: 1,967
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I had a doe that had NO SIGN/SYMPTOMS of labor... she just chose to lay down in a different area of her pen. I watched for about 5 minutes noticing that her tail was loosening.... she poped out twin doelings... 7.5 lbs and 7 lbs 5 minutes later... She did not paw, circle, nothing....
So the answer to your queston? LUCK
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06/16/10, 12:23 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Redding California
Posts: 1,967
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Does your kid cam have sound? Because you will hear her when she goes into labor....
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06/16/10, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posts: 5,492
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Good luck. Some of my Niggies are very vocal during kidding and some are pretty darn quiet. Some give me plenty of warning that NOW is the time. And others will drag it out for a day or two. Some start losing their plug weeks before hand and some show nothing until you see a kid on its way.
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Wags Ranch Nigerians
"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West
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06/16/10, 02:52 PM
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Student of goatology.
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,131
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Oh not always! I have 2 does that barely made a peep and they were FF's.
They don't always show a mucus plug. Their udder doesn't always get tight and teats don't always fill in. I watch for a sudden *change* in the udder and then when they start getting up and down, stretching and other things you mentioned. Has she kidded yet?? I'd just leave the kidding kit there with her, one less thing to grab when you're runnin'!
Quote:
Originally Posted by mpete
Does your kid cam have sound? Because you will hear her when she goes into labor....
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__________________
Cloven Trail Farm
Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am!
Ja-Lyn's Radio Flyer, aka "Rad" on his 17th birthday.
9/14/93 -12/3/10.
Rest peacefully my soulmate, I'll love you forever.
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06/16/10, 03:26 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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<sigh> no, no kids. Bad weather coming through over the next 5 hours, so of course I'm glued to the TV of her happily chewing cud....
And of course, with her being with the buck for all of February means that her due date could be ANY time for the next 6 weeks (but I think she'll go in the next 7 days, personally). Never seen a maiden make so much udder too far in advance...
__________________
...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/17/10, 05:41 PM
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Thinking up a great tag
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 696
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Jill- my girl went into labor with no streaming, no real goop except a tiny blob of white (mucus plug), udder was full but never 'shiny' (I have yet to see that, even with her very short hair). The ONLY reason I knew 'this is it' was because she didn't get up to see me when I went in the barn. LOL. Yeah, not much of a sign, but was odd for her. Babies were born a few hours later. Never was streaming until after she had delivered the first 'sac' of water and it broke.
I don't envy you. It's hard enough trying to figure out when a goat is in labor when we know the goat!
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06/17/10, 05:45 PM
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Student of goatology.
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Ohio
Posts: 3,131
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I had a little doe do that this year too. No signs at all but when I saw her laying - just laying there chewing cud, while the other does were out in the field, I knew she was ready and a couple hours later, there were twin does. (the little black and white girl pictured below is one of them!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by QoTL
Jill- my girl went into labor with no streaming, no real goop except a tiny blob of white (mucus plug), udder was full but never 'shiny' (I have yet to see that, even with her very short hair). The ONLY reason I knew 'this is it' was because she didn't get up to see me when I went in the barn. LOL. Yeah, not much of a sign, but was odd for her. Babies were born a few hours later. Never was streaming until after she had delivered the first 'sac' of water and it broke.
I don't envy you. It's hard enough trying to figure out when a goat is in labor when we know the goat!
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__________________
Cloven Trail Farm
Lord help me be the person my dog thinks I am!
Ja-Lyn's Radio Flyer, aka "Rad" on his 17th birthday.
9/14/93 -12/3/10.
Rest peacefully my soulmate, I'll love you forever.
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06/17/10, 05:52 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,377
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Some of mine dont really show signs either. Lela will be up at the hay rack one minute & down grunting out kids the next.
Some of them will stand aprt from the crowd the day of.
This yr one old gal, who is always big as a barn, waited until dh & I were busy doing fence. Heard the LGD snap at a yrling then heard the unmistakable cry of a newborn.
Ran over to check as she was delivering the other two.
Happy kidding to you Jill!
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Bob and Nancy Dickey
Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle
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06/17/10, 07:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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went and spent more time with her today. From watching her on camera and now getting to know her bit by bit, I've learned some things about her:
1. She's a jittery little rabbit of a thing! Sweet natured and easy to catch and handle, but she's always looky-looky, with fast little darts of her head, when just a horse stomps or something rustles a bit. (not bottle raised, for sure!)
2. She has a ferocious appetite, and only stops stuffing her face long enough to lay down, chew cud, and get right back at it. Worse than my two Alpine piggies, who I thought were terrible pigs until I met this one...
3. She drinks more than any goat I have ever seen; not quantity, but the number of times she goes for a sip, and then an hour later, another sip, etc.
As you can see, I am trying to learn what her "normal" is, so I'll know when she's off!
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...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/17/10, 07:45 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
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How long are you babysitting?
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Teach only Love...for that is what You are 
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06/17/10, 10:51 PM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
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I feel for you Jill. Like some others have said, it's much easier to tell these things in your own goat becuase you know her normal.
I think all of mine have there own little things they do when they are ready to deliver.
One will paw the ground, lay down,get up, etc.-very restless.
I have another that will try and fine an unoccupied goat house, spot in the barn, etc. so she's alone to have her kids.
I have another that doesn't show much sign at all other than making a huge bag just before, even when she was a FF I never seen any signs meaning "Now was the time".
I always check the ligaments & that does help determine somewhat. Also there Vulva will start looking what I call loose or more open right before as well even if there's no goo.
Some will be very talkative & or more affectionate too, a couple of mine will not eat much if any grain at all right before kidding either.
Good luck, You'll do a Great job & everything will be fine.
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06/18/10, 09:45 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Coos County, Oregon
Posts: 12
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The good news is that Nigerians usually do just fine without any intervention! My theory is that they are closer to a wild goat than for instance, Nubians which have been coddled and selected for beauty over hardiness for a hundred years or more. So enjoy the experience. It's why most of us enjoy goats so much!
Ellie
http://beyondthesidewalk.com
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06/18/10, 10:04 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Minelson
How long are you babysitting?
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 until July 1st or thereabouts... I have a feeling the owner is staying away on purpose until this doe kids, because she's already been on kid-watch for 6 weeks, thinking the doe could go at any time (she was going by the first observed breeding of Dec 13th).
I will try to get pictures; I know y'all love pictures!
__________________
...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/18/10, 01:47 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Bellflower, MO
Posts: 3,695
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hey jill, my Pygmy's first preg her udder dropped in about 3 weeks before she was due. But everything you are describing sounds similar, can't drink allot at one time not enough room, pee's more often again bladder is being squished...at the most 5 days  you are going to be sooooo tired.
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06/18/10, 02:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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pictures!
__________________
...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/18/10, 02:31 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 3,540
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She's got some tiny sores under her tail on her vulva from the owner sewing in a foal-alert device. (I don't even want to go into it...). A Foal-Alert device is about the size of a 9-volt battery and one half is sewn to the left lip, the other to the right lip. The parts hook together, and in the event they are separated (like when a baby is coming out!), it makes an alarm. We use these in HORSES, so she just decided it would be a good idea for the Nigie to have one in, too.....
I convinced her to TAKE IT OUT when I saw how sore and swollen it was from being in for 6 weeks (omg), and is why I am now "responsible" for doe-watch.... <careful what you wish for, right?>
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...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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06/18/10, 04:43 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
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She looks happy and cute! I have never heard of a foal alert device. Ouch! Hang in there Jill...any way you can hook up to the internet so we can all watch with you? Like Holly does with her does? That would be fun and we could help!!!
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Teach only Love...for that is what You are
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06/18/10, 05:27 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Monroe Ga
Posts: 4,637
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she wont make it until they get home. How long has she been swollen in the back end? That bag is about right for a nigerian about to kid.
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I'm a goat person, not a people person,
De @ Udderly Southern Dairy Goats
we will be adding a new breed in the spring 
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06/18/10, 05:35 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: kc missouri
Posts: 1,228
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she is sooo cute.. but that sure does look like that would have hurt
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