I am kicking myself just like I knew I would, for turning the buck(s) out with the girls and not keeping track of heats and therefore not having any due dates. My 3 larger, older does are all starting to bag up, they are probably due any time in the next 4-5 weeks
Next year I'm getting one of those buck harnesses that marks the does with paint when they are bred.
I am a little worried about my one bad mastitis case. She was milked out until all the nastiness from her abcesses had stopped, and then she was dry treated. Has not been touched since. All hard lumps in her udder have dissappeared.
She is starting to bag up ever so slightly. Should I start premilking her if her udder reaches a reasonable size before she kids? Should I start pre-milking now? I have been told that premilking will not affect colostrum, because colostrum is made during the kidding process, not before. Since she had such a bad infection, would it be good to start stripping her out sooner rather than hoping for the best and waiting until she kids?
Last year, she didn't bag up at all or show any signs until the day she kidded. So I am a little weary that she is bagging up slowly now...
