How pregnant before you see babies?

TSYORK · #1 03/01/12, 08:11 PM

I don't feel comfortable at all trying to draw blood to test for pregnancy, so how long before you can tell your doe is pregnant.... I haven't seen her heat since I took her on her date; I am hoping like heck she settled. She was bred in January and is due around the last week in May..... How long is it till I should start seeing her fill out with baby(ies)?

TIA

southerngurl · #2 03/01/12, 08:17 PM

*Usually* by around 2-3 months. But some look pregnant when they aren't, don't look pregnant when they are etc.

CaliannG · #3 03/01/12, 09:27 PM

Without a test, you can DEFINITELY tell they were bred when you see hooves sticking out of their back end.

TSYORK · #4 03/01/12, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

Without a test, you can DEFINITELY tell they were bred when you see hooves sticking out of their back end.

had to lol on that one!

farmmom · #5 03/02/12, 03:49 AM

I've had ones kid that I had decided were not pregnant. They're tricky buggers!

Alice In TX/MO · #6 03/02/12, 06:30 AM

Caliann is right. Some goats NEVER show.

Suzyq2u · #7 03/02/12, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

Without a test, you can DEFINITELY tell they were bred when you see hooves sticking out of their back end.

My midwife many moons ago said something similar to me in regards to people... "A sure sign of pregnancy, is a baby being born'

saanengirl · #8 03/02/12, 09:00 AM

Usually by 2-3 months you can see changes in the vulva (swelling, softening, and poofiness).

**mygoat** · #9 03/02/12, 09:24 AM

You should see udder development 6 weeks pre-kidding at least. May not be super visible but if you feel the udder you should feel changes.

As for baby belly - I can see it at beginning of 4th month. Some people don't notice till the beginning of the 5th month. Can vary with number of kids - A doe that has quads looks BIG at 3.5 months preggo.

Generally I tell people it should be obvious by 6 weeks pre-kidding on MOST does.

As for string of goo - I'd watch her, but not be terribly worried.

madness · #10 03/02/12, 01:45 PM

Yeah, we've had open does that must have been having sympathy pregnancies. Thought for sure a buck had somehow gotten to them.

On the other hand, we've had one kid that was "not pregnant" - she's even small and seemed like there was no way she could hide that huge buckling in her!

GoldenWood Farm · #11 03/02/12, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliannG

Without a test, you can DEFINITELY tell they were bred when you see hooves sticking out of their back end.

My mom ALWAYS says that! As for telling if they are pregnant I have a few different ways. I can bounce them at 3-3 1/2 months and feel the babies. Also I have noticed that they start showing their pregnancy right above their udder. What I mean is if you look at a doe she has that curve right above her udder that goes into her belly. When they are pregnant that curve slowly goes away from the babies filling up her belly there. I am not explaining very well at all, maybe I will take a picture and show you what I mean.

Justine

Bearfootfarm · #12 03/02/12, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmmom

I've had ones kid that I had decided were not pregnant. They're tricky buggers!

I've had sheep like that, and some that looked like they could lamb any time, even if they just lambed a week before.

They do it on purpose to keep you confused

rootsandwings · #13 03/02/12, 02:45 PM

I keep looking at the title of this thread and thinking "I usually see babies between 145 and 155 days pregnant"

JoannaCW · #14 03/02/12, 03:39 PM

I had a vet ultrasound my Saanen a few years ago, when she was a little more than 3 months pregnant. The vet said no, no kids, but she seems to have some kind of tumors in there. We decided we'd have to get rid of her but kept putting it off....3 days before she kidded her udder started to fill. The kid was healthy. So was the mother.