Kidding times

Barnhog · #1 08/27/12, 12:09 PM

When do you kid out and why? Even though this will be only my second kidding season, from a February kidding I had last year vs. march and april kiddings, I prefer winter/very early spring kidding much more than spring kidding. I am just wanting to hear what others do, and why. Those of you that kid out late winter/early spring, do you find that you have less issues with parasites and cocci? I recently lost a kid largely (but not completely) due to worms, and am changing the way I do things, a LOT.

coso · #2 08/27/12, 12:19 PM

I like to kid out end of January through February, first of March. I believe kids grow off better and get a better start, less cocci and parasite problems, here in Missouri. I like to wean by first of July or so you are not feeding kids all year long. Start using milk for other things, cheese making, calves, pigs etc... Kids are ready to breed earlier in the fall, although I still wait on them until November, which throws them to kid later in the spring. I let my FF nurse their kids this year though. My .02.

ozark_jewels · #3 08/27/12, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

I like to kid out end of January through February, first of March. I believe kids grow off better and get a better start, less cocci and parasite problems, here in Missouri.

Ditto. Exactly why I kid out early. The latest I prefer to kid out is April and I much prefer mid-march as the last kidding.

CaliannG · #4 08/27/12, 01:18 PM

I prefer the end of February, beginning of March. In our area, the time for planting cool-weather spring crops (lettuce, spinach, cabbages, etc.) is Valentine's Day, and the last frost date is March 15th. So end-of-Febrary/Beginning of March tends to miss any REALLY cold snaps, but the parasites aren't going to wake up for a while yet.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/27/12, 03:30 PM

I like to spread it out so they aren't all kidding at once. I like having milk year round.

andabigmac · #6 08/27/12, 03:41 PM

We had a January birth here once and we lost ear tips on the babies. We try for mid-March now. I live in the high mountains and it's 20 below here until mid-February. That influences our timing. If I had a better barn I would probably try for late January-February kids. We don't have a severe parasite problem here and my vet says cocci isn't a problem here either.

Backfourty,MI. · #7 08/27/12, 05:22 PM

I prefer to have my does' kid out near the end of April or early May so that it's warm enough I don't have to worry about the babies getting too cold & also it's warm enough for me to spend all day out their playing with them if I want too! I don't want to be out their in winter gear & loving on baby goats, just toooooo Cold here for them & me!

We've never had a goat, adult or kid with cocci although I do practice cocci prevention & I don't think we have a heavy worm problem either & have always kidded around the same time here.

ozark_jewels · #8 08/28/12, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I like to spread it out so they aren't all kidding at once. I like having milk year round.

See, I'm spoiled. With the Jersey dairy, I can have milk year-round and still dry off my does in October/November! I use that time to visit friends far away and try to catch up for kidding season.

Sherry in Iowa · #9 08/28/12, 03:12 PM

When we had a large herd..we kidded early spring and fall/winter. Now, we are kidding in Sept. and selling in Nov./Dec.

SeaGoat · #10 08/28/12, 04:30 PM

We had a warm wet winter this past year and I ended up with 2 sicklies.

I like late February or early March.
Not freezing, but still cool