How close to kidding

Doug Hodges · #1 09/10/13, 08:30 AM

I bought nutmeg off a farm where the owner had gotten to old to care for them. I wanted to take them all home but made myself only take her and a pretty little Nubian Doeling. I was told Nutmeg was bred on a certain date and I used the calculator and discovered it would be the 10th of October. Then I saw the ligament stuff and started checking. She is very very soft around her tail and it two places I can almost touch my fingers. (This is the doe who won't dry up) I checked my other does and they are all hard. Is she closer than a month? She was off laying by herself this morning. I was planning her CDT shot today since I thought she was a month away. Should I still give it? She didn't like me messing with her tail area. I put her in the barn pen and she's currently munching down on the weeds. Here are some pics. I can't imagine her getting any softer and I don't feel any ligaments. One more thing. I have been checking her bag regularly to see if it was getting real tight again. It had been a while since I milked her so last night I milked her out completely and today is the first time since I've had her that she doesn't have a full bag. She's got some but looks to be finally drying up. So ???

How close to kidding-imageuploadedbytapatalk1378819833.913415.jpg

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Doug Hodges · #2 09/10/13, 08:37 AM

This is how she stands. She's close isn't she?
How close to kidding - Goats

Alice In TX/MO · #3 09/10/13, 08:43 AM

She will be really close when you see nose and toes protruding from her girly parts.

For a more precise prediction, I'd need my crystal ball, and I left it in Texas.

Doug Hodges · #4 09/10/13, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

She will be really close when you see nose and toes protruding from her girly parts.

For a more precise prediction, I'd need my crystal ball, and I left it in Texas.

That's a lot of help!!!!

: Ive had both arms up in cows to my shoulders putting ropes around legs to pull calves out but this is my first goat kidding.

**mygoat** · #5 09/10/13, 09:11 AM

In the last photo, you're under her tail head BUT - you're ABOVE the ligaments. It seems everyone does this. Keep in mind the goal is NOT to wrap your fingers around the tail head - the goal is to try to find the ligaments! Each doe's conformation is a bit different and thus, on MANY does, you can find a spot where you can wrap your fingers aroudn teh tail head all the time. ON this doe, to me, she does NOT look ready to pop yet. When the ligs are truely gone, either side of the tail head almost to the hips will be sunken and squishy.

Lemme find my lig pics!

Alice In TX/MO · #6 09/10/13, 09:12 AM

Your wife has smaller hands than you.

Have her study malpresentation pictures. That will help her picture what she (may) be feeling.

http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=285

**mygoat** · #7 09/10/13, 09:14 AM

On the bottom pic, I'd actually like to move the yellow bar backwards a bit because it doesnt quite line up with the pin bone on the doe. If you can imagine moving the line down and to the right so that it runs right through my thumb nail, that's where it should be. I should try to find those pics on my computer and modify them.

coso · #8 09/10/13, 09:17 AM

Have you drew blood to check for pregnancy? With her being a LaMancha I would have my doubts that she would even breed to kid this time of year.

Doug Hodges · #9 09/10/13, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mygoat

In the last photo, you're under her tail head BUT - you're ABOVE the ligaments. It seems everyone does this. Keep in mind the goal is NOT to wrap your fingers around the tail head - the goal is to try to find the ligaments! Each doe's conformation is a bit different and thus, on MANY does, you can find a spot where you can wrap your fingers aroudn teh tail head all the time. ON this doe, to me, she does NOT look ready to pop yet. When the ligs are truely gone, either side of the tail head almost to the hips will be sunken and squishy.

Lemme find my lig pics!

The tail head is the next joint down. This is above the tail head. I can touch my fingers around the tail head and I can almost touch when I move up. Like I said she is very very soft. I did find something hard when I moved way up but I thought it felt more like hip bone. Maybe I will go feel around her some more.

Doug Hodges · #10 09/10/13, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

Have you drew blood to check for pregnancy? With her being a LaMancha I would have my doubts that she would even breed to kid this time of year.

My wife and I watched and felt what we thought were babies moving a few weeks ago. NO I haven't drawn blood. I know cows but not goats. She looks like she is springing to me. Either she is pregnant or the fattest goat I have by far. I have to open the gate especially wide for her to get through. Can I get her to pee on a stick?

nehimama · #11 09/10/13, 10:06 AM

When you see amber-colored goop stringing out of her vulva, the fun is just about to begin!

coso · #12 09/10/13, 10:15 AM

She is nice and deep in that rear barrel. But like Alice said until you see feet and nose sticking out? I just wouldn't bet on it, unless I had a blood test. Look through Susies pics on her web page of pregnant does. I'm not saying she could not have some hid in that barrel of hers, just saying it is the wrong time of the year for LaManchas to have kids in this part of the country unless they were brought in artificially somehow.

Doug Hodges · #13 09/10/13, 10:16 AM

Ok. I felt ligaments. Two of them. One on each side. Is that right? They are hard. I also tried feeling for movement and am pretty sure I felt one pushing back against me. (I've been feeling my wife's tummy for months now) I'm not 100% on that though. Here are a couple more pics.

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Doug Hodges · #14 09/10/13, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

She is nice and deep in that rear barrel. But like Alice said until you see feet and nose sticking out? I just wouldn't bet on it, unless I had a blood test. Look through Susies pics on her web page of pregnant does. I'm not saying she could not have some hid in that barrel of hers, just saying it is the wrong time of the year for LaManchas to have kids in this part of the country unless they were brought in artificially somehow.

She kidded last fall too.(or so I was told) But you do have me wondering all over again. You never know if you didn't raise them and breed them yourself unless you get them from someone you know.

**mygoat** · #15 09/10/13, 10:25 AM

She doesn't look all *that* big. A nice rumen... but she's not huge.

BioTracking does a preg test for 6.50... Just sayin. (they also have the cheapest CAE tests available... so when I send in blood for preg, I also send in yearly CAE blood as well.

)

coso · #16 09/10/13, 10:27 AM

If you are feeling movement, mostly on the right side it's the rumen. If she is due October that means she was bred in May. Not saying it's impossible, just that I wouldn't bet on it. Keep an eye on her, that's about all you can do, unless you pull blood.

Doug Hodges · #17 09/10/13, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coso

If you are feeling movement, mostly on the right side it's the rumen. If she is due October that means she was bred in May. Not saying it's impossible, just that I wouldn't bet on it. Keep an eye on her, that's about all you can do, unless you pull blood.

If you are standing looking at her in the eyes. Im feeling movement on the right side. She isn't huge. But Ive seen dads boer goats kid and look the same as they did before kidding. LOL.

Im currently watching videos on pulling blood. I can do it. I have two of the bio tracking kits on hand. It looks simple enough. I think I will shave the area first. Looks easier to see that way.

And Im going to be upset if shes not pregnant and Ive been drying up a doe that is producing a ton of milk daily.

JBarGFarmKeeper · #18 09/10/13, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Hodges

If you are standing looking at her in the eyes. Im feeling movement on the right side. She isn't huge. But Ive seen dads boer goats kid and look the same as they did before kidding. LOL.

Im currently watching videos on pulling blood. I can do it. I have two of the bio tracking kits on hand. It looks simple enough. I think I will shave the area first. Looks easier to see that way.

And Im going to be upset if shes not pregnant and Ive been drying up a doe that is producing a ton of milk daily.

You cannot tell a goat is bred by how FAT she is. We have had several judges this summer ask if a particular goat was bred...she is not.

Doug Hodges · #19 09/10/13, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBarGFarmKeeper

You cannot tell a goat is bred by how FAT she is. We have had several judges this summer ask if a particular goat was bred...she is not.

I've had people ask the same about my horses this spring. They couldn't believe that they were that fat off pasture only grazing. One guy swore that hes been around horses all his life abd he was 100% sure my mares were due to foal. Lol

All that fertilize sure helps.

coso · #20 09/10/13, 12:41 PM

Yep, shaving makes it easier. When you put your thumb in the right place and it balloons out above your thumb, it is not hard to hit. Just don't go poking around until you see that balloon. I like to use a 3cc syringe and a 20 gauge needle.