[cuckoo]

Last goat kidded last week exactly on time.  Total 20 kids from 11 does - did have 22 but sadly 2 died.  Bottle feeding one kid whose mum rejected and supplementing 2 more.  Turned out main herd last week. Most goats feet are trimmed only 6 left to do.  2nd round of cleaning out to do.  Need to sort fencing out in two fields to ensure are goat proof still then can turn goatlings out.  Cant wait til spring arrives properly.

[ballingall]

Arwen has her legs crossed. No babies, and she reckons by crossing her legs none will get out! She's 1 day overdue so far, and I'm already bored waiting.....


Beth

[sokel]

Still waiting of Lilly to pop    This could go on for weeks as her last possible due date is mid april 
our others start from the 19th march so at least I have due dates for everyone else 

[littlebickley]

Well …. I haven't mucked out from winter yet.  But until recently I was totally clearing each pen once a fortnight so hopefully it won't be too long a job.  I thought I might use the pressure washer to blast the concrete once I have the muck out.


I have 3 golden guernseys 2 of whom are due to kid in June as I had great trouble with them coming into season this year. Did anyone else have problems with this?  The stud I go to thought it was due to the dismal summer.


 I ended up inducing their ovulation and because  this takes nearly a full cycle they did not get to the billy until 30 December.  Now I am worried they are going to have multiple births.  I had them both scanned at the end of February but the scanner was not powerful enough to say how many kids there were.  the advantage of this was I could take both girls to stud at the same time and as that is over 30 miles away it was much simpler.  And lo and behold they are both with kid although they were not showing their usual obvious signs when I took them.


Katie, my 3rd girl is having her year off.  I stopped milking her around December time so as not to overtax her system.


My 3 girls have free range of a 2 acre paddock that I sowed with a goat ley so I don't have the annual turn out.  They take themselves out and back whenever they fancy.  They particularly like frosty, sunny days.  The last few days the girls have abandoned their house each day and have been out in the field until dusk.


I need to buy a pet hair trimmer so I can trim the girls hair around their udders before they kid.  Last year Katie's kid found all the hair rather confusing and kept on latching on to that rather than her teats!


They do need to have their feet done as these were last done in December and I try to do them every 3 months.  The next thing on the agenda will be Lamivac before kidding.  I will also be sending off muck samples for a worm count and if necessary will worm after kidding.  I had the 3 girls CAE tested in October as usual.


So the next thing for me is lambing followed by kidding. Sometimes I think I am mad - I am the only person I know who happily creates work for herself!!!  But on a day like today my life is priceless

[Penninehillbilly]

I need to buy a pet hair trimmer so I can trim the girls hair around their udders before they kid.  Last year Katie's kid found all the hair rather confusing and kept on latching on to that rather than her teats!

I just used round-ended scissors on my Toggs, helps when milking as well! (someone did suggest I used normal hair clips to clip it back    )
I never saw my BSx goatlings in season, but Billyboy obviously knew better  .

[sokel]

We are still waiting for kids to arrive  Think they have heard what the weather is like out here and decided to stay in inside mums !

[Anke]

First goat kidded finally this morning, two days overdue -  was shining, so she took her chance I guess. Unfortunately two boys.... but we do like goat curry. And as they are 1st generation BT only, no point in keeping them entire...
 
litllebickley - some of us are driving over 100 miles for stud.... each way! And if you have a return visit or board the girls, then its two full journeys - about 500miles...  It is still cheaper than keeping my own billy, but we may just end up with one of our own GG male kids intact (if I get one) this year.
 
sokell - I hope your goats gets a move on soon.... I am looking forward to a full night's sleep!!!

[katie]

No kids this year. I regret it now but it was SENSIBLE  ( but boring!)as we have a lot else on the go.
Need to fluke them all again and do feet.
Keep on intending to do the BIG MUCK OUT but then it gets cold again so I wait another week.

[sokel]

Glad yours have arrive Anke
Still Nothing here !  I have even started doubting I have the days right  She was definatly Billied on the 21st October as it was wrote straight down and she has not  come back into season or been near him

[Anke]

Glad yours have arrive Anke
Still Nothing here !  I have even started doubting I have the days right  She was definatly Billied on the 21st October as it was wrote straight down and she has not  come back into season or been near him

udder, puffiness, tail up though? - she'll kid!

[goosepimple]

Well done Anke, so long as they're healthy and no problems, all the rest are going to be girls 

[Anke]

Well done Anke, so long as they're healthy and no problems, all the rest are going to be girls 

Now that would be pushing my luck.... I actually want at least one male from my older GG (she was AI-ed with now rare semen), but the other, yes girls PLEASE...

[sokel]

Udder is full to bursting , puffy back end but tail not up yet . she did have a bit of a discharge  but just been out and she was asleep 
Tomorrow is a nightmare forcast so I hope she parts with them tonight !

[Lesley Silvester]

Sounds promising.

[ballingall]

3 out of our 4 that kidded were all overdue. 2 of my sisters have been overdue too. It's like they are trying to hang onto the kids until the weather gets better!


Beth