We have nigerian dwarf goats. Kinda. 1 newly-acquired buck (3/4 nd, 1/4 la mancha - 1 year old). 1 nd wether - 1 yr old, and his twin, a doeling. Plus their older half-sister, who is 4 years old. She had her first litter last year, 4 kids! All born healthy and strong. We bought this doe as soon as her kids were weaned.
She was with an angora buck Oct 19-21 but because I had (ok, have) such a hard time knowing when the girls are in heat, I was only hoping. She was with him again Oct 28-Nov 8. I couldn't afford to take her there again, so I borrowed a neighbor's buck Dec 26-29 and Jan 7-9.
IF the goat got pregnant with the angora, she should kid this Friday, right? Well, I hadn't given it much thought. I would look at her from time to time, but not see any indications of her being pregnant. She was trim and active. Then this evening, I was giving her a good back scratch and noticed... holey catatoney ... she's huge! Her sides practically doubled overnight!
I wasn't expecting it. So I don't have the kidding kennel ready. Or supplies. Or even a book on how to help a goat kid, if needed. So tomorrow morning I'm gonna muck out the dog kennel that we have in the goat pen (used it for chickens and separating goats). Put fresh hay on the ground and in the hay rack (milk crate). Put in the x-large dog kennel that this doe likes to nap in. Fresh water and a feed bucket.
Then what else do I do? Towels? Molasses/sweet feed? Vitamin water? Gloves?
And how do I know for sure that she really is preggers? Is there a way to tell that she's started kidding? Her udder hasn't changed since it dried up from the last time. As soon as she starts giving signs (please let her show me signs), I'm gonne put her in the kennel and close the gate. That'll confine her so I won't have to crawl into the dog house that she likes to sleep in. I wouldn't be able to help with kidding if she goes in there.
Okay .... so HELP!
Wrote more about it here: http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com/2011/03/eggs-chicks-and-goat-babies.html
She was with an angora buck Oct 19-21 but because I had (ok, have) such a hard time knowing when the girls are in heat, I was only hoping. She was with him again Oct 28-Nov 8. I couldn't afford to take her there again, so I borrowed a neighbor's buck Dec 26-29 and Jan 7-9.
IF the goat got pregnant with the angora, she should kid this Friday, right? Well, I hadn't given it much thought. I would look at her from time to time, but not see any indications of her being pregnant. She was trim and active. Then this evening, I was giving her a good back scratch and noticed... holey catatoney ... she's huge! Her sides practically doubled overnight!
I wasn't expecting it. So I don't have the kidding kennel ready. Or supplies. Or even a book on how to help a goat kid, if needed. So tomorrow morning I'm gonna muck out the dog kennel that we have in the goat pen (used it for chickens and separating goats). Put fresh hay on the ground and in the hay rack (milk crate). Put in the x-large dog kennel that this doe likes to nap in. Fresh water and a feed bucket.
Then what else do I do? Towels? Molasses/sweet feed? Vitamin water? Gloves?
And how do I know for sure that she really is preggers? Is there a way to tell that she's started kidding? Her udder hasn't changed since it dried up from the last time. As soon as she starts giving signs (please let her show me signs), I'm gonne put her in the kennel and close the gate. That'll confine her so I won't have to crawl into the dog house that she likes to sleep in. I wouldn't be able to help with kidding if she goes in there.
Okay .... so HELP!
Wrote more about it here: http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com/2011/03/eggs-chicks-and-goat-babies.html
