Help! Should I bring newborns inside?

[Clovers_Clan]

Fudge is going into early stage labor and will be delivering sometime tonight. Temperatures are around 30 degrees, about 22 windchill. Our barn is enclosed but not airtight. This is my first year experience with winter babies. I have 3 sets of twins delivered earlier in the week. They're all doing fine but were born during the day with temps in the forties. And all are wearing their woolen sweaters at night. Should I wisk the newbies indoors to dry them off then return them to mama to nurse(with sweater on of course)? Should I be prepared to keep them inside overnight? This is her second freshening and she is a great mama. I know she won't reject them, but I don't want to put either through the trauma of separation unless its warranted. Thank you for all advice!

Oh, BTW this doe got her name very shortly after birth because she just looked like trouble, Oh Fudge! (That and her mother is named Brownie)

[mygoat]

I should be having some kids arrive any time now, and had quads arrive this morning, and there's a kid from yesterday out there too. Everybody is staying in the barn. Get them dry, they'll be fine. Concentrate on ears to prevent frostbite.

I usually do barn checks at night during kidding season, even if nobody is in labor. Check kids that were born recently make sure they have fat bellies and check their temp by sticking your finger in their mouth.

[Otter]

You'll know what to do when you see them. I'd be ready to take them in, just in case I needed too. When in doubt, I generally fall on the side of doing too much than too little.

[rootsandwings]

don't take them in if you can help it! I have a premie inside and she is making me crazy!

I've had babies arrive in 18 degree weather and mom had them dry and warm when I found them in the morning. as long as the mother is claiming them - toss in a little extra straw and a big flake of hay and you should be good.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I think you should bring the momma in labor in and let her give birth in a warm place.

[Clovers_Clan]

Thank you all. I do feel a little better. Alice, I have no problem bringing her the house... but DH would kick us both out! Then again he's headed off to bed... what he doesn't know won't hurt him. I wonder if he'd hear the goat screams above his snoring???

[Cyngbaeld]

Don't worry about the goat. You'll be a lot more comfortable if you are both in the house instead of the barn! Of course you'll have a mess to deal with in the morning. LOL

[dozedotz]

They definitely will drive you crazy! We have 7 in the house now and it is a zoo. Can't wait for the good weather!!! It has been so cold and the ground is icy, too. So, they are inside and we are all going nuts. The oldest ones are 1 1/2 weeks and they are now fully on the bucket inside their big dog crate. At least they will be ready to go out...the younger ones (1 week old and 3 days old) are just now switching from the baby bottle to the "big boy and girl" Lambar nipple. Hope to have them on the Lambar, too, before they all go out. Since yours are dam raised and she is a good mom, you probably just need to check them and give them a cozy place to snuggle. Congrats on the babies!

[Bearfootfarm]

I'd construct a small enclosure for her to give birth inside the barn.

A 4 X 4 pen made from anything that will block the wind is all it takes.
If you have bales of hay, they work great

[Backfourty,MI.]

Well did she stay outside or did you bring her in? Also what about the babies? Are they here yet & how are they doing?

[Pony]

Yeah, what's going on??

[Clovers_Clan]

Well, like I said, her name is Oh Fudge!

Visible contractions, aimless wandering around the kidding pen, the occasional moan. Hour and half hour checks through 3AM. Then she lays down as if nothing ever happened, peacefully chewing her cud and snoozing.

We're still waiting but thankfully now daylight and warmer temps.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Visible contractions? I'd be checking inside.

[Clovers_Clan]

Not arching-back, straining contractions. By "visible" I mean tightening, babies dropping, hollowed out. The stuff they do before active labor. I'm still seeing plenty of baby movement just not much else. No signs of distress or discomfort.

[Clovers_Clan]

Drama queen that she is, Fudge had triplets! All perfect presentations. Buckling- Yugioh(Dried off with an old Yogioh towel), doeling- Honey(took her own sweet time) and doeling Molasses(as in slow as). They're all dry and wearing their sweaters. So tiny and cute.

[Clovers_Clan]

Ooops, here's the photo. I'll send more after we return from piano recitals which Fudge was so kind to accommodate into her schedule.

[Otter]

Beautiful!

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Awwww, congratulations!

["SPIKE"]

Looks like Fudge did well. Thanks for the picture.

I do not know where you are located, but here is what I think. (for what that is worth)
If you think they need to come in, then bring them in!
I was wanting the doe to take care of all this and for it to go well without bringing anyone into the house.
I almost waited too long is how I feel about it at this time. Yesterday was above freezing with snow flurries. The low last night was 21. He would have not made it if we left him outside.
We helped the doe get him cleaned and dry. She was very attentive, but for some reason the little guy just could not get everything going yesterday. So they bonded well before we brought him in.
They seem to be rebonding well at this time. He has been outside for a couple of hours and we are now going back out to check on everyone.

SPIKE

[Minelson]

They look so little and cute!! Congrats to you and Fudge