[pedigree porker]

I am new to goats and my nanny is due to Kidd late June (she had first Kidds last spring before we bought her with twins at foot).  She was served by our Billy (if that's the term for goats) and did not come back into season, she just seems a little thin to me and doesn't look pregnant. I am just wondering if there are any signs to look for or anyway of telling.


Any advice??


Thanks

[shygirl]

i found it easy to feel a kid in her belly, its different to touching an empty belly. just sit her on her rump and gently feel her belly. but dont stress her.

[Lesley Silvester]

When was she served? It's possibly that she wouldn't have come into season again if her last one was in February.

[Trixie]

I agree with MGOM my goat was mated on 18th Jan and is due middle of June my friend's was mated on 25th Jan and after that all of our other goats (not mated) had 1 more season in the following week and nothing since.  I am new to goat keeping too got our 1st last July, however saying that I could tell it had worked as the day after mating her attitude changed over night!  My friends goat however was no different as like yours he got her last spring with twins at foot.  He is not sure that she is pregnant, she is bellying up a little but nothing like my girl but they are different breeds and I have heard that as we do some show alot and others carry without showing too much. My girls teats are getting longer too don't know if that is normal growing or because she is pregnant no udder yet but still 7 weeks to go so wouldn't expect that yet, friends goat already had udder so can't tell that way either with her.  Were you there when she was mated? We were and there was a lot of fumbling about but after the true mating my girl sat down and wouldn't let him near her anymore.  Do goats even stand for a billy if not in season?  Was it at the end of her season when mated and too late to take? Also she won't let me stroke her belly and if I just put my hand on it she moves away immediately and under no circumstances will she let me near her udder!  Before she was pregnant I could do both. Hope this helps a bit.  Good luck with her.

[ballingall]

It can be difficult to tell sometimes. If they are pregnant you should be able to feel their tail bone (the slope on their rump just in front of their tail) is slightly raised, and as they get further on, it will raise further. This is the pelvis starting to loosen for giving birth, so by the time they are due, your fingers will easily fit into the gap at either side of her tail. It is hard to describe without someone showing you what they mean though.


The trouble is that every goat can be different in pregnancy, just like us as Trixie says. So some goats might not have a raised tailbone as much as others. When there are only 4 weeks to go, her udder should be starting to increase in size, or if they have kidded before, starting to gradually fill up. You can try "ballotting" this is also done four weeks before kidding, but it might be harder for a novice to do this.


Beth

[tizaala]

Get her scanned , it's the only way to tell.