Nesting question...

[GreenMomma]

I have one doe that is older, has had kids before but not while with us. This is our first year breeding her and she seemed to come back into heat twice after her first date the buck.

She hasn't had any noticeable signs of heat since the last exposure in October. While trimming her hooves last week I felt what I am sure was kids moving on her right side.

To play it safe, we're officially on baby watch from now until March, lol. She has a big belly, but she's a nigi with a big belly all the time Not bagging up yet, no other real signs of being close... just a lot of laying around resting in the sun.

But tonight when I went out to check everything before bed, I scanned the shelters for any signs of labor or kids (just in case there was a surprise for me!) and noticed that someone has been busy making a "nest" out of the straw in one of the shelters. I haven't had a doe do that before so I came in and searched the forum here.

I am finding some references to nesting, but not sure quite what I'd be looking at. It looks similar to what our sow did the day before she gave birth... pushed all the straw in the shelter to one corner, then made a big nest in it.

No one was laying in it, so not sure exactly who built it. For all I really know it was the dog, lol. But it wasn't like that this morning. Does that sounds like what people refer to as nesting for goats?

[jcatblum]

A few of mine nest. Kinda the way a dog digs a spot to stay cool. They just paw at the dirt & get comfy-- some as much as 2 wks before kidding. Most of mine prefer to kid out in the goat pen instead of the shelter, so they don't use hay & such to make their nest. Only ever had 1 doe give birth on the bedding I provided (she was locked in her stall for the night).

[dozedotz]

We have one doe that builds a mound and gives birth on top of the mound. It is hilarious to see. She is no small girl...weighing in when not preggers at 200 pounds (Amberwood breeding). She is also quite tall for a doe. It is something to see her perched on top of her mound! She also will not tolerate cats or other visitors when she is "ready." A real character. Other girls we have definitely paw the ground and make various small depressions, but not really to use for the actual birth. It appears to be just a way to preparing or perhaps working through the discomfort.