No we are not talking Christmas we are talking kidding season. Well actually we will be talking about clues leading up to your doe in labor.
I want to put out there first and for most, I am not a pro at this never claimed to be or want you to take my words the only advice out there. Every goat owner has to make their own choices when it comes to their herd. This is what we do on our farm and what we have noticed with our girls.
I will tell everyone having an due date is so helpful. I know I have in the past not had them and I stress the whole time and it was not as enjoyable of a time. New goat owners there is no set in stone how a doe will kid. Each goat is different and each kidding is different but these are some things to look for.
We start taking notes on each doe about 6 weeks out when we start giving them alfalfa which at this time we give Chaffhaye. If you have not tried it please give it a try it is an amazing product and my goats are doing amazing on it. So go check them out and ask for a free sample to be sent to you Chaffhaye. This is the time we check daily the goats ligaments.
As you can see from the photo above a goat's ligaments rest right next to the tail head on the doe. Run your thumb and index finger down the spine towards the tail head. You will find on either side two pencil like (so they say) ligaments. I tell everyone feel the back of your knee you will find the LCL (Lateral Collateral ligament) to get a better idea what it feels like. These will loosen as the doe gets closer to kidding. I check these daily and make either mental notes or actual physical notes on each doe. They will disppear when the doe is going into labor. **** NOTE**** We have had does in the past have hard full ligaments and kid two hours later. If you are doe is close to her due date I suggest checking often. From day 145 to she actually kids we check at least twice a day sometimes more often (normally in our older does).
As the ligaments soften the tail head will rise and and the spine will look sunken in. The tail also will look broken. The doe will drop and get what we call the "homeless goat" look. You will be able to wrap your fingers around the tail head of the doe when they ligaments are gone. Once you notice the ligaments are "Gone" she should kid within 12 to 24 hours.
As the ligaments soften the tail head will rise and and the spine will look sunken in. The tail also will look broken. The doe will drop and get what we call the "homeless goat" look. You will be able to wrap your fingers around the tail head of the doe when they ligaments are gone. Once you notice the ligaments are "Gone" she should kid within 12 to 24 hours.
This doe had lost her ligaments, and drop (note the sunken in sides and low hanging belly). Also note her tail that is what we call the "broken tail". Also note the placement of the doe's back legs. Our girls tend to bring their back legs forward when in labor. Pepsi kidded two hours later.
Here are two video's we have done to help show how to find the ligaments. Video one Chime
Here are two video's we have done to help show how to find the ligaments. Video one Chime
Here is video number two of Delilah.
Besides checking ligaments here are a few other ways to tell if your doe is in labor.
Nest making/ pawing the ground - We have only had one doe make a nest before kidding. They will paw up the bedding into a beautiful large nest around them. We do have many girls who will paw the ground. They can start this anywhere from 24 hours to right before they start pushing. They also do this just to freak you out (ask me how I know this).
Drifting away from the herd- Most of our does will leave the herd. Be it they do not want to go out to browse or they wont come out of the kidding barn. We do pull all girls up by the house in what we call our "baby pasture". We do this about 3 weeks out for first timers and two weeks for does who have been there done it.
Far off look / blood shot eyes- This is one of those signs we really look for. As the labor starts and get stronger with contractions the doe will freeze and look off in the distance. Then after the contraction passes she comes back to "this world". One thing we have learned last year is every single doe we have had gone into labor their whites of their eyes have become blood shot. They have kidded within 12 hours of noticing it.
Restless- Does will become restless. Up -down - up - down, they are super itchy and rub on the fence, the barn, humans. They cannot get comfortable as the labor progresses. They also do a lot of stretching at this time.
Vocal/licking- Our does talk to us (more first fresheners then older does). All of our girls will give you a shower (even if you already had one). They will lick and lick and lick stop yawn and lick some more. Sometime while speaking softly to us.
Strange behavior - A doe that may be very stand offish is now in your pocket or a doe that is your best friend now wants nothing to do with you. Behavior that you go "Hmmm... that's new" it could be a sign.
Goop/ Mucus plug- You may notice your doe has a goop on her tail web. This is a mucus plug, a doe must lose this before she can kid. This unfortunately is really hard one to rely on. We have had does lose part of their plugs 60 days before due date. When you see a streaming line of clear to off white snot like goop hanging I personally would cancel all plans, and camp out in the barn. When you see amber colored ( amniotic fluid) its show time.
Shiny/ strutted udder- This one is last on my list only because here at my farm we have had maybe 3 does who have had a strutted udder. What is a strutted udder? The udder will become so engorged with milk that her teats will go to the side (easty westy as we call it) and her udder skin will become shiny. Again you may have every doe do this but here we do not really count that. Some does do not have their milk really come in until right before kidding or right after they kid.
Goat's will drive you crazy, some girls will do everything by the book and some haven't even read it. You will have many hours of stressing and worrying but if you take one thing away from this post it is... relax. Enjoy this time with your doe, bond with her. I enjoy the weeks leading up to kidding. My girls are loving, mothering me, and sweet hearts. Many nights I will lay in the barn and cuddle up with mommies and feel their babies playing soccer in their bellies. Dreaming of the new kids, guessing what they are having how many and what color they are. This is one of the most magical times of the year for us. Even more so because I get to do this with my best friend. My mother, who has started this crazy love of goaties. Without her I would not want to do it. She truly is the best mentor I have and look forward to many more years of sleeping in the barn, laughing until we cry and sleepless night. Mommy I love you (I know you are reading this) and here's to another great kidding season to come. God bless you and your goats and may you have a barn full of healthy babies and does with milk.
Nest making/ pawing the ground - We have only had one doe make a nest before kidding. They will paw up the bedding into a beautiful large nest around them. We do have many girls who will paw the ground. They can start this anywhere from 24 hours to right before they start pushing. They also do this just to freak you out (ask me how I know this).
Drifting away from the herd- Most of our does will leave the herd. Be it they do not want to go out to browse or they wont come out of the kidding barn. We do pull all girls up by the house in what we call our "baby pasture". We do this about 3 weeks out for first timers and two weeks for does who have been there done it.
Far off look / blood shot eyes- This is one of those signs we really look for. As the labor starts and get stronger with contractions the doe will freeze and look off in the distance. Then after the contraction passes she comes back to "this world". One thing we have learned last year is every single doe we have had gone into labor their whites of their eyes have become blood shot. They have kidded within 12 hours of noticing it.
Restless- Does will become restless. Up -down - up - down, they are super itchy and rub on the fence, the barn, humans. They cannot get comfortable as the labor progresses. They also do a lot of stretching at this time.
Vocal/licking- Our does talk to us (more first fresheners then older does). All of our girls will give you a shower (even if you already had one). They will lick and lick and lick stop yawn and lick some more. Sometime while speaking softly to us.
Strange behavior - A doe that may be very stand offish is now in your pocket or a doe that is your best friend now wants nothing to do with you. Behavior that you go "Hmmm... that's new" it could be a sign.
Goop/ Mucus plug- You may notice your doe has a goop on her tail web. This is a mucus plug, a doe must lose this before she can kid. This unfortunately is really hard one to rely on. We have had does lose part of their plugs 60 days before due date. When you see a streaming line of clear to off white snot like goop hanging I personally would cancel all plans, and camp out in the barn. When you see amber colored ( amniotic fluid) its show time.
Shiny/ strutted udder- This one is last on my list only because here at my farm we have had maybe 3 does who have had a strutted udder. What is a strutted udder? The udder will become so engorged with milk that her teats will go to the side (easty westy as we call it) and her udder skin will become shiny. Again you may have every doe do this but here we do not really count that. Some does do not have their milk really come in until right before kidding or right after they kid.
Goat's will drive you crazy, some girls will do everything by the book and some haven't even read it. You will have many hours of stressing and worrying but if you take one thing away from this post it is... relax. Enjoy this time with your doe, bond with her. I enjoy the weeks leading up to kidding. My girls are loving, mothering me, and sweet hearts. Many nights I will lay in the barn and cuddle up with mommies and feel their babies playing soccer in their bellies. Dreaming of the new kids, guessing what they are having how many and what color they are. This is one of the most magical times of the year for us. Even more so because I get to do this with my best friend. My mother, who has started this crazy love of goaties. Without her I would not want to do it. She truly is the best mentor I have and look forward to many more years of sleeping in the barn, laughing until we cry and sleepless night. Mommy I love you (I know you are reading this) and here's to another great kidding season to come. God bless you and your goats and may you have a barn full of healthy babies and does with milk.