[Courtneyabyrd]

Hey there. My goat, Dolly is definitely approaching her due date! The problem is... we are unaware of when she bred, so we are stuck playing a seriously exciting guessing game! Please view photos and let me know your thoughts! Days or Weeks?!? That is my question!!

Here are some key notes:
- tail is hooking
- started noticing her bag up approximately 4 weeks ago
- this is her first time kidding
- I cannot feel her ligaments but haven’t been able to for 2/3 days.

Thank you in advance for all your help.

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Hi; When our goats are ready to freshen [give birth] their udder gets considerably bigger, their teats will be shiny quite a bit, and mucus slime will start coming out under the doe's [goat's] tail. I can't tell how big her udder is but it is tucked well up under her so may be bigger than it appears. I would keep close check on her and watch for any more changes especially for the mucus. My husband just looked at the picture and noticed what looks like mucus on her tail. He thinks you are looking at days rather than weeks. Good luck.

Thank you tons for your reply. Once you see the mucus, how long do your does typically have?

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

I just put Quizzie (Nehi Minis Exc-Del Exquisite) in the kidding pen a few minutes ago, with a bucket of water (suspended above the floor so no babies can fall into it) and a hay bag.

She gave me some clues this morning:

1. Hanging by herself away from the herd.
2. Extra lovey-dovey, and doesn't want me to leave her.
3. Tail is really cocked, and ligaments are gone.

You can see the hollowness around her tail where the ligaments would normally be. No mucous yet, but she is not a first-timer. She could also be fooling me and do nothing today!

Thank you!! This is very helpful!

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

I am checking on Dolly hourly! She is like one of my human children and we have a really cool bond, so I hate leaving her alone at all! With that said... NOTHING YET! I am trying to be patient but it’s killing me.

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Do we have an update?

This is my view tonight!?! What do you think? (I’m going stir crazy over here)

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

She is huge.., do you know what she was bred to at all?

Nigerian dwarf goat. The only buck we have.

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Oh, you must be going crazy. Has she shown any mucous at all yet?

She had a clear mucus last Monday when I originally posted. Since then, no amber colored mucus. All other signs are there. (I swear I’m not an impatient person... )

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Oh, you must be going crazy. Has she shown any mucous at all yet?

This JUST happened! Plug or go time???

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Plug.

So two hours or two weeks!?!? The waiting game continues.

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

To those of you who have been a part of Dolly Parton’s (and my) journey to her becoming a mommy, I would like to officially welcome Jolene and Shooter to the World!!! One girl who looks exactly like her daddy (Willie Nelson) and one boy who looks exactly like his momma!!

We moved them all inside the barn/shop to stay warm for the night but Dolly is already such an amazing mommy!!

 

[Courtneyabyrd]

Oh gosh, the adorableness!!!! I can never get over how cute baby goats are...until they start getting into mischief hahaha.

Congrats!!

Edited: Does the white one have droopy ears or is that just the pic?

They haven’t perked up yet. It’s kind of strange. We only have one buck and he’s a ND and so is momma.