new to goat keeping

garrfish · #1 02/10/15, 12:31 PM

I got in goat keeping this past summer and i think my Mini Mancha is breed but i can not tell some days she looks a lot wider than others.

The gray guy is my only buck he is a ND i think they will make great color kids i hope anyway

Thanks for any input

**mygoat** · #2 02/10/15, 12:38 PM

Welcome!

Pregnancy really only begins to show in the belly within the last 4-6 weeks or so. Regular changes in the belly size is because most of the stomach is full of rumen. The rumen size/shape changes dramatically with how much food and water is in there. They can look 'skinnier' when their rumen is not very full, but after standing at the hay bale for a few hours they can look VERY wide and full, pregnant or otherwise.

If she's been living with a buck for a while, chances are she IS bred though. When she will be due is anybody's guess. :P

nehimama · #3 02/10/15, 02:33 PM

Welcome to the goat forum! A word of warning: We are all goat enablers here!

garrfish · #4 02/10/15, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mygoat

Welcome!

Pregnancy really only begins to show in the belly within the last 4-6 weeks or so. Regular changes in the belly size is because most of the stomach is full of rumen. The rumen size/shape changes dramatically with how much food and water is in there. They can look 'skinnier' when their rumen is not very full, but after standing at the hay bale for a few hours they can look VERY wide and full, pregnant or otherwise.

If she's been living with a buck for a while, chances are she IS bred though. When she will be due is anybody's guess. :P

Thanks Alice I was hoping for a mid march kid but I will take what I can get from her

Frosted Mini's · #5 02/10/15, 04:00 PM

If she's healthy and living with a fertile buck, she's likely bred. Only way to know for sure is get a blood test, ultrasound, or wait to see if kids are born. You can't tell if a goat is pregnant just by looking at them, except maybe at the very end of pregnancy when they are filling udders and having changes to their vulva.

Backfourty,MI. · #6 02/10/15, 07:17 PM

Welcome to the world of goats! They are very addictive! Don't forget baby pictures when they get here!

garrfish · #7 02/11/15, 12:10 PM

Thanks for the information