The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: clydesdaleclopper on May 22, 2013, 12:58:55 pm
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I sent one of my girls off to the billy in early January. The chap reckoned she didn't stand properly for the billy so we haven't been sure if she was pregnant or not. Last week I took her to our vet to get her scanned as I thought she might be. They only had a cattle scanner which didn't work through her belly so he tried rectally. He said he couldn't see any kids there. Today I have noticed that her udder is developing. Do you think the vet could have missed any kids or is this the flush of spring grass bringing her into milk without being pregnant? Are there any other signs that might help or am I just being overly optimistic?
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Well the surest sign would have been if she had come back into season, if she didn't she is most likely in-kid - I would think. Is she a goatling/first kidder? If yes, I would think the udder would start to develop around now, it is not always possible to tell from their shape that they are in kid, especially if it is only a single in there (My 1st kidder BT looked fairly neat and dropped triplets :o ).
Her tailbone will also move up a bit, but some goats only start this very late on, others do it for weeks beforehand, so not a safe indicator.
I would increase her feed ration a bit now, although if she is out on fresh grass maybe not needed too much (mine never kid this late), and watch that she keeps eating some concentrate (pregnancy toxaemia). I would also give her a booster clostridial vaccine about 3 weeks before the expected due date, just to be on the safe side.
However if she goes past her due date I would start milking her out after a week late, if she is from high-yielding stock she may well be a maiden milker (although if she has been to see the billy and he most likely did some sort of business, not sure she would be a "maiden" anymore, but I leave that discussion to others... ;D )
She may just surprise you! (Please keep us posted!)
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Thanks Anke. She has kidded before. I reckon her due date is about June 8th.
If she is pregnant it will be our first time kidding. Do I need anything in my kidding kit that would be different from my lambing kit?
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Tempted to say prayer mat ,( but some people don't have a sense of humour and might rush out and buy one ) but Having experience of vets , and their lack of knowledge concerning goats , I would be tempted to treat her as if she was pregnant, just as Anke said. So, if she is then it's a bonus , and if not , then she might cloudbust.
:fc:
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oh Tiz - you make me smile ;D
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Same problem here Clydesdale, my goatling was due on the 10th May but nothing - she was kept with the billy for an additional 3 weeks so I'm not giving up hope until the end of May, hoping she was caught. She is a big girl compared to the others anyway so it's hard to tell - sometimes I think definately, then sometimes ... hmmm maybe not. Just have to sit and wait. She's acting completely normal. a couple of times I've questioned if she's been in season but maybe it was just behing for her food. Last year she screamed the place down when in season, but nothing much last Autumn, took her to the billy anyway.
Let us know how you get on :fc: , and oh yes, I think your vet could be wrong unless he/she's seen goats in kid before. ::)
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If she is pregnant it will be our first time kidding. Do I need anything in my kidding kit that would be different from my lambing kit?
Not really, I would put her in a clean pen of her own (if she is amenable to such arrangements) about a week beforehand, but she can go out with the herd to graze as long as she wants. Mine normally "tell" me when they want to go inside to kid. Watch her behind for a few days before - it will become pink and puffy if something is about to happen. Also keep a check on her udder, so that if it becomes hard and shiny you may have to milk some out before any kids appear (I never had to do this yet).
But as Tizaala says - you will have milk one way or another if her udder is developing..., kid(s) may be a bonus! Make sure you have a milking stand and some big food grade plastic buckets or a stainless steel milking bucket (but I still use the plastic ones on a day-to-day basis), plus a jug (for when you are learning). Some unscented babywipes for cleaning the udder/teats before milking, and I am a believer of teat dipping (diluted iodine solution in a teat-dip-cup) afterwards. Some udder cream (like e45 or unscented hand cream or similar, if you can't get (cows) cheap udder cream at your local merchant) also quite useful, I have had quite a few dry-ish udders this year.
Shall we start a sweepstake on how many kids? ;)
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I have milked her before as she was milking when I bought her last year so at least I don't need to worry about learning to milk :thumbsup: It would be so nice to have a female kid from her though as she is such a darling I would love to keep one of her offspring.
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I have milked her before as she was milking when I bought her last year so at least I don't need to worry about learning to milk :thumbsup: It would be so nice to have a female kid from her though as she is such a darling I would love to keep one of her offspring.
Sorry, I didn't want to sound patronising, it is just you said that this was your first kidding.... Let's hope she is in kid, and it will be a girl.. :fc:
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(although if she has been to see the billy and he most likely did some sort of business, not sure she would be a "maiden" anymore, but I leave that discussion to others... ;D )
:roflanim: :roflanim:
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Sorry, I didn't want to sound patronising, it is just you said that this was your first kidding.... Let's hope she is in kid, and it will be a girl.. :fc:
It wasn't patronising at all. All advice is very much appreciated.
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Well I really don't know what to think now. My other goat who has been nowhere near a billy is now developing an udder. she did this last year at the same time and I posted then about maiden milkers. So now I don't know if the one who went to the billy is doing the same or is actually pregnant :-\ The plot thickens ....
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Hmmm..I've just been outside for an evening meander in the sun and noticed a big balloon of an udder has suddenly developed on my girl Clydes and I was getting all excited there - now I've read your post I'm feeling a bit ??? again!
Tell you what let's have a race ;D and a wager ;D .
Think your number 2 is coming out all hormonal for number 1 which can happen, they get confused.
Bet your number 1 has a girl and a boy. First few days of June. :fc:
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Lets hope that both yours and mine produce the goods eh :fc:
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We all want to know now.
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Maybe we should have that sweepstake ;D
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My girl is pawing away at the ground, has a large pink puffy rear which is dribbling goo (lovely). Read some things that said this could go on for half and hour or 12 hours. I've come in so I'll stop staring at her. Oops I hear her now - either teatime or its starter - keep you posted ;D
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Ooh :excited:
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teatime ::)
its just the past 2 days she's really really come on clydes, it's all happened very quickly, from nothing to full on. Your girl may surprise you. Pebbles was at the billy for most of December until just before Christmas if that's any help.
She's definately in the first stages of labour. I've been out sawing big branches off hawthorn and apple and she's been having a bit of a munch (not as much as the others though).
she has staring eyes and looks like a zombie except she's walking like John Wayne with that big balloon between her legs :D poor thing, looking pretty uncomfy, so all textbook so far.
bit worried because I'm here on my own - OH and kiddies are in a wigwam by the sea tonight, so I'm hoping she'll produce all 3 females ;) on her own while I watch, preferably while it's still light outside. :D
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Hope it all goes well and quickly for both your sakes.
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I'm hoping she'll produce all 3 females ;) on her own while I watch, preferably while it's still light outside. :D
Don't forget that the final one to be born will be clutching a winning lottery ticket in her teeth ;D
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no lottery ticket but a gorgeous little black and white noisy female :excited:
first for me and first for mum, well done Pebbles and un-named little one.
had to give mum a severe bikini trim because wee one couldn't find the teats - wish I'd thought of that before! Lesson learnt - she has very thick long hair and wee one couldn't see what she should be going, too many dangly bits. Might think about that now Clydes if you have a hairy one.
Have managed to get milk out and baby on but niether are staying latched. This has been some time now (5 hrs I think since birth) and tummy looks empty by my inexperienced hand. Have just given a colostrum feed although it only took a little, did take some though. a bit stressed because I am here on my own until teatime when OH comes back - could do with another pair of hands, too much hassle to get her on the milking stand I think. Am leaving them alone for a bit to see if they can get it together without me now teats are on full show :relief:
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Congratulations :excited:
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Great news. Hope they sort out the feeding soon. Piccies?
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:( my neighbour who is also a vet took a look at her today and spent some time feeling her belly. There's lots of fluid but no kids in there so it's a cloudburst.
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pity, hope you're not too disappointed :-\
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:( my neighbour who is also a vet took a look at her today and spent some time feeling her belly. There's lots of fluid but no kids in there so it's a cloudburst.
Oh, that's a shame, but silver lining and all that, you should have milk!
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What a pain but she'd have probably had males anyway.