The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: poppy2012 on April 10, 2012, 07:40:36 am
-
Hi there - just wanted some advice - my doe this morning is far more affectionate, well she has been for a few days, and also has a slight creamy discharge, looking a little unsettled. i also feel like its time, having just had a baby maybe i'm more in tune? are these signs of labor, from what i've read and seen i should expect labor in the next 12 hours?
also we have the does 2 year old daughter due to kid in 2 weeks, should i separate them into different pens? Maisey seems to be drifting away from her
many thanks fort your help ....a nervous first time :) :goat:
-
Hi Poppy2012 - creamy discharge and a change of attitude are for me one of the first signs but we had discharge some time before kidding - but for me it would be the time I start checking more. I don't think its necessary to separate them just yet if they are used to being together but if their attitude towards each other changes and they get a bit grumpy with other then I would. Good luck
-
For us, Puffin first had creamy discharge at 7am - she went on to kid at 4pm.
She was increasingly affectionate, ate hay like it was going out of fashion, hoofed the floor a fair bit and just looked 'fed up and uncomfortable'.
I felt much like you Poppy, in having had 4 children of my own I just felt that I knew we were starting. Hubby poo-poohed it and actually put on FB that there was more chance of him having a baby that day than puffin ::) but I just *knew*.
My other goats are in a separate paddock but can all see each other through the fence. I had PUffin in a shed on her own although the nosey parkers did watch most of it over the fence, typical goats! I personally felt that she needed her own space and the kid whilst still wobbly could do without other large goats about, just my thought.
I followed my natural instincts as well as all the books I had read. For us, Puffin gave birth once all 4 children were home from school and husband had just got in too - all 6 of us quietly watched as Sixpence was born. A really amazing experience and I'm so glad the children witnessed it too - he is now my eldest daughters pet.
Normal to be nervous but nearly all kiddings go OK, just have your vets' number to hand, a flask and camera ;)
-
well a slight update on this...Maisey is now in her own pen and getting on with the early part of labour, and seems to want lots of love, so im going to sit with a cup of tea and have a little cuddle...
so hears hoping we will have one healthy kid at least by the end of the night!
-
Luck you Maisey is getting on with it - not like my bunch that keep me on tenderhooks - can't wait for the next update :thumbsup:
-
Evening update...she is pacing and pushing a little hope to see a bag soon....its been about 3 hours since i put her in... 1 hour of looking like shes pushing and getting ready fingers crossed....
-
best of luck :thumbsup:
-
How's it going Poppy??
-
Well she kidded her first at 7.45 a beautiful amazing moment, made me so proud, In good position and all ...then closely well 10 min followed by another smaller one...both are up and about now and had a tiny suck with a little guidance. do they need to be drinking much in the first 24 hours? mum seems good but she hasnt passed placent yet. i am going to check her in an hour or so should she have passed them by then...is there anything i should do? i thought just leave her to it? and then oif theres obvious signs of things not being ok to seek advice?
my first kidding experience so far a success.
-
FANTASTIC!!!
well done you 2
Lovely result
-
Hi,
I would just ensure she passed placenta - sometimes they eat it - then check she and kids are ok - we give ours a drink of fresh water and plenty of hay - we dont tend to feed concentrate in first 24 hours. Kids spend a lot of time in first few days sleeping but I was once advised if they are woken up stretching is a good sign!
-
Just checked on her - placents passed and eaten...mmmm
Water and hay there so all good, i think ill check them in an hour just incase, but i think fingers crossed all is well - i m a very happy goat owner :)
-
Excellent ;D No, they don't drink very much to start with, colostrum is thick not copious in quantity and they only have tiny tummies.
Pics please when you have a minute, I have to wait another 7 and 10 days for mine, so am enjoying everyone else's vicariously :)
-
congratulations :thumbsup: :)
-
well done!
Put in a sturdy cardboard box, sideways open, the kids will re-treat into it and then no danger of mum stepping on them. Mine all love their cave., although the first one is close to collapsing as a result of "King-of-the-castle" being played all day now...
You will waste most of the next few days just watching the kids.... timewasters they are!
-
so just for some extra reassurance - i am pretty sure they have had a little suck on maiseys good nipple - but the other she tore is now dripping with milk and they seem to keep sucking on that. the vet said that the nipple should just be left so hadnt thought itd be a problem. but im concerned that they seem to still be searching for nipple 3 hours after being born.
do you think that they will have had enough colostrum? what signs should i look for if they may not have?
i will get up at 4/5 to check on them just incase, i have some colostrum here ready to feed them but have heard that bottle feeding the colostrum can mean that they have to be bottle fed from then on?
despite reading lots of books and looking things up i am still unsure or my instincts....help!
-
Hi Poppy - as Jaykay said colostrum is thick and they do have tiny tummys - still doesn't stop me worrying for a day or so that they've had enough but if you see them feeding and I look for 'wiggly tails' then they are getting something - great result. Have you been watching them 3hrs straight or nipping in and out as often when their woken up ie you going in then they will wake up, Mum will wake up and they will feed. I've always taken it that they've had Colostrum if they have fed so not sure on that one. At present I'm 'topping up' 2 lambs as mum has not a lot of milk and they prefer mum much more than the bottle but take it now and again but I guess mum is always best :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
thanks for the help, milked maiseys one side and tried to feed it to them with not much being taken - one is i am worried about it just standing there looking a bit sad, not bleeting like the other, is he just sleepy and full? and the other is much more lively, took a bit more milk, but is now settling down. i will try to sleep and check them at first light. i worry too much!
-
I always BOTTLE feed a minimum of 250ml of colostrum within 2hrs of birth possibly over 2/3 times...depends on the kid/s.
The reason simply is.... kids cannot absorb colostrum after 6 hrs. There is a complicated system that stops absorbtion so it is vital to ensure they have it.... without they have no protection against their environment.
It is not true that kids will not feed from the dam if you bottle the first feed.
I fear you may have problems with the torn teat..... mastitis is one which can be caused by flies because of the dripping milk.
New born kids will take around 200ml feed within 24hrs of birth........ I never normally feed more than 350ml a feed even when they are senior kids of around 4-6 weeks, their little tummies are not designed for great big amounts ofliquid.
-
thanks fot your advice - they seem much happier this morning after taking a bit more from bottle - this nip is a problem so i will phone the vet today for advice. im sure there myst be something they can do, but vet said sewing it or stopping it from healing nayurally could cause problems. wait and see - 3 hours sleep along with my month old baby needing feeds, its been a fill night!