The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: onnyview on May 30, 2011, 02:37:22 pm
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Hi all,
My Nanny pygmy is due to kid end of next month and I'm in a quandry where and how to kid her. I want her inside in a pen so I can keep an eye on her and she doesn't kid on the bank outside, but she has a freind (another nanny pygmy) and I'm unsure howthe freind will react to the kid if I pen them together. What do others do? Keep friends togther or keep them apart and have her fed up for a short time?
The other nanny is barren and so not in kid. She's also almost certain to get out of the hurdles and cause my blood pressure to go through the roof.
Allison
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After a few re designs we now have separate pens for most of the goats - timber with a weld mesh top - so the goats can see their neighbours but not touch. Each pen has an adjoining door which can be opened during the day to let everyone wander all the pens but at night they are shut so everyone (almost) is separate and can be fed individually. Once a nanny is due to kid I have alway found them 'getting ready' in a pen and I would then shut them in. In your situation I would try and separate her and if the others can see her but not get to her then I would think that would be best. Sometimes it takes Mum a wee bit of time to get used to the kids drinking so the less distractions the better. Best of luck and pictures please - love pictures of kids.
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In my experience it is better to seperate them but allow them to see each other. Our older Nanny realy took against her daughter's kid this year and would even try to butt him through the partition. In nature a goat about to kid will take herself off away from the herd the same as most animals.
It's always better to be safe than sorry anyway.
Dave
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My girls...given the choice... would choose to be in my kitchen !!! Its warm, no draughts & somebody to look after the kids... perfect !!!!!
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Lol, I suggested this to hubby when ours were due to kid and he said no - how unreasonable!
Seriously, I kid ours in a secure pen with a wire mesh side so the others are still 'with' them but can't get at the kids to start with. Helped Rowan, last year's kid, cope with mum having two new babies now ;) She slept the other side of the partition and Ellie put up with this after a token protest.
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone. :love: Especially the kitchen, I have visions of a goats head stuck in the bread bin!
After looking at her paddock and sheds again we'll move the chucks around so she can be kept in her own pen whilst being able to see her mate, who will no doubt try and throw herself over the hurdles, just because she can. I swear if we'd had that goat first we'd NEVER had more Pygmies!!! :dunce:
The hurdles are the aluminium ones we use for lambing so my expectant mum can have her hay rack and a view. Will post piccies when the kid/s arrive.
Allison