False pregnancy? About to deliver a mummy? Yearling in labor.

Cygnet · #1 02/21/13, 11:10 AM

35 pound Nigerian yearling. TINY goat from a long line of tiny goats.

She may have been bred in September. She's a bit early, if that's the case. I didn't plan on her being bred -- it was an accident. However, I've had plenty of Nigerian yearlings deliver safely, so I wasn't worried.

I saw no signs of pregnancy other than a bit of an udder, but I chalked it up to being a precocious milker. (Her dam was the same way.)

This yearling shows NO signs of a big belly. I can't bump a baby. No fetal movement. She's NEVER had any fetal movement.

She's now in full blown labor(gooping with contractions) and seems to be in quite a bit of distress. (She's a drama queen, though.) I still can't feel a baby, so I doubt there's a large baby stuck sideways or something.

I'm not sure if I'm dealing with a baby that died early, or if she's somehow hiding a live kid in that tiny body of hers.

Thoughts?

I'm going to give her another hour and then go in, if I can get my hand to fit.

bknthesdle · #2 02/21/13, 11:23 AM

I always thought with goats, that the quicker you acted the better the results. I don't have a lot of experience, so I wish you luck and hope someone pipes in with some help. Wishing you luck and a safe and easy delivery for her if she is pregnant.

KrisD · #3 02/21/13, 11:26 AM

Don't know what to tell you. I hope it's false pregnancy for your sake. I only wait a half hour then go in.

Sherry in Iowa · #4 02/21/13, 11:28 AM

I would probably go in now. Harder on the momma and kid the longer they struggle.

Cygnet · #5 02/21/13, 11:41 AM

I went in -- I could feel a nose and toes of a small kid, so it looks like she's got one in there (I'm amazed!) who's positioned well.

Normal labor, drama queen yearling. You could hear her for MILES, I think.

Cross your fingers ...

(I was going out of town this weekend. Pffft on that.)

CottageLife · #6 02/21/13, 11:45 AM

Fingers are crossed! Can't wait for an update - hope mama and baby are both ok.

Minelson · #7 02/21/13, 11:46 AM

Yay! I hope everything comes out all right! keep us posted!

creekmom · #8 02/21/13, 11:52 AM

Pulling for you and your doe. I hope we hear some good news from you soon. Fingers crossed here.

punchiepal · #9 02/21/13, 11:54 AM

Praying all goes well for you. We have had a tiny ND, like 40@ at 2yo, that delivered twins the first time and popped them right out once they got into position. Good luck!

KrisD · #10 02/21/13, 11:54 AM

Hoping for good news here too! Fingers crossed!

Blue Run Farm · #11 02/21/13, 12:18 PM

Hoping for a good update! Sending lots of vibes that everything is going smoothly!

Oat Bucket Farm · #12 02/21/13, 12:30 PM

Everything crossed for a good delivery and healthy baby(ies) and mama.

Cygnet · #13 02/21/13, 12:42 PM

She had one kid, about 3 pounds. I left her to clean him up -- she wasn't sure what to do with the strange new kid in the pen, and was more interested in cleaning ME up. Hopefully she gets a clue. She was sort've inspecting him when I left -- I'll watch her from a window and see what she does.

He was initially positioned well, but she was a total drama queen, jumping up and down and literally running in a panic every time she felt a contraction. I had to go in again and untangle him. His nose was caught under the edge of the pelvis and he had one leg back. I just got his head free and pulled him with one leg still back -- he was small enough that he came out easily that way.

And that doe is officially the dumbest yearling I've ever had.

She just PANICKED every time she had a contraction, and she'd run around the pen screaming and then when it was over, run back to me for comfort. (She's tame.) I've never seen a doe in full labor run like a deer before, but she managed. Legs all wobbling and trailing mucus.

I was alone, or I'd have had someone shoot video of a very atypical reaction to labor.

I'm glad she's only about 35 pounds or I wouldn't have been able to restrain her to pull the kid. (I just knelt on her shoulder and she was small enough that I could still reach around with my hand.)

The kid's healthy and vigorous. He was bleating as soon as he hit the ground. It's a buckling. Of course.

Milking this doe is going to interesting. She's a total love bug ... and a complete drama queen, all rolled into one. Looks like she's going to have a nice udder even if she is small, though.

mammabooh · #14 02/21/13, 12:47 PM

Glad to hear all went ok...well, sort of ok! I hope she settles right down and is an excellent milker for you.

Cygnet · #15 02/21/13, 12:59 PM

Kid's already walking pretty good. Nice healthy ... boy. Sigh.

Mama's now having a dramatic fit over the contractions for delivering the placenta. She's on her own, there, as long as it passes normally. I verified there's no more kids in there and I've had my fill of yearling drama mamas for the day.

- Leva

Minelson · #16 02/21/13, 01:03 PM

Woo-hoo! So glad he is alive and healthy! Is she letting him nurse?
Don't forget the 2 most important things...worm mama and take pictures

Oat Bucket Farm · #17 02/21/13, 01:17 PM

Glad to hear everyone is healthy. Wow though, she really is a drama queen!

Cygnet · #18 02/21/13, 01:18 PM

She's not letting him nurse yet, but I think it's mostly that she's she's still upset over the contractions to deliver the placenta. She's licking him, and if I don't see her nursing him in the next fifteen minutes or so I'll milk some colostrum out and give him some.

He's a cute little guy -- black and white spotted, with pale eyes. He has no blue eyed ancestors going back a few generations, so I'm assuming they'll turn brown as he gets older.

creekmom · #19 02/21/13, 01:23 PM

Congratulations! Such a good feeling when all goes well. Yay.

Goat Servant · #20 02/21/13, 01:30 PM

Good job Cygnet! Rub some of her discharge on his head & rear end.