Thursday, February 16, 2012

Udders Appear

I was away in Germany when the does were bred--but I only had my kids word for it.  We never saw any more breeding activity after that.  So, I've been hopeful that we have kids due in late April or early May.  I check the girls every day for signs and today I got my confirmation...udders have appeared!  You can kind of get a feel for how the full udder is going to look by what is showing right now.  Looks like Pims will have a very pronounced medial ligament and well defined teats and Sally will have a smoother udder and will carry everything higher.  Sally is a long, deep-bodied goat so she doesn't "show" at all so this little udder development is my confirmation.  Now, I'm getting excited!  Kidding is my favorite time of year.  It's just like Christmas in spring.

If you don't know how to tell when your goats are about to kid, here are the signs:

Bagging up -- You've got days and maybe weeks...start watching closely
A Goat that was huge suddenly isn't quite so big...the kids have turned and are getting ready to be born
Ligaments across the pin bones on the goat's hips goes mushy...better start checking every two hours
Sudden loss of appetite...check for other signs like pink swollen vulva and mucous-ey discharge
She will be restless, maybe pawing or pacing or just the opposite--standing still with her feet close together...go get a clean dry towel and get ready to wait and watch for contractions.

I like to give molasses water, separate the goat from the herd and make sure she has choice hay and oatmeal, uncooked, to nibble on.  The molasses has sugars and minerals to help give her energy for the big job ahead and to help prevent ketosis.  I like to have the water hot during cold weather because it entices them to drink more.  If you see any problems you want to have electrolytes ready to go too to support the doe after she kids.

I take the kids away directly and milk right away.  Milking will stimulate contractions to expel the after-birth.  You want to examine the after-birth (many goats will eat it and that doesn't seem to bother them).  Look to see that it is smooth and that there are no chunks missing.  Retaining part of the after birth can make a doe very sick.  If you are suspicious watch the doe closely and check for fever (over 103 degrees).

 Bloody discharge is good, removing anything that has been retained during the birth.  Handling the kids right after they are born makes for very friendly goats later in life, so even if you plan to let mama nurse, handle those babies right off.  Warm them in your coat and let them get used to you from the first moments as someone who will care for them.  I put a warmer light and a crate in the babies pen and I check them often.  I feed two 20 oz bottles per day.  They may only eat 5 oz right off so I go back in an hour later and give them more and again if needed.  I feed them at least three times a day until they are able to clean off that first bottle.

They have hay available right from the start too.  After they can drain a bottle I go to two feedings a day, hay and feed available all the time.  The feed needs to be replaced even if they don't eat it.  Think of leaving a bowl of cereal out for your kids and thinking "I won't give them more until they eat that".  They'll only eat it if it's fresh.  This schedule encourages kids to eat hay and develop their rumen which will help them grow when they get older and no longer get milk.  I have a horse that clearly shows the damage of not developing the stomach for hay.  She nursed for three years and the people who owned her just let her nurse.  She can't keep weight on and her development is stunted and all the research indicates that she didn't get the right nutrients because her calories came from milk.

This regimen has worked well for me so far.  Anyway, happy kidding everyone.  Stay tuned for April/May kids!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Winter on the Farm

Winter is a slow time for me this year.  We've had some antics from the goats getting out and getting into the chicken shed to eat the chicken feed but mostly they just want to stay where it's warm near the hay feeder.

Breeding was done in late November which gives me kidding in late April--probably the last week of April.  There really is no way to tell what we will get this season or whether or not we will need a new buck to breed any retained does with.   I am thrilled to know Pike Family Farm which has great and entirely different bloodlines from me.  Michelle Pike was our goat judge for the fair this year and has her farm in Cabot--also great for me since she's so close.  Her goats come out of the Jesta herd long known for very high quality Nubian goats. Michelle brought her buck out, Jesta Farm Blue Back in Style, who has a very impressive presence, lovely conformation and a great pedigree.


The down time is great for planning and thinking with no milking or kids to care for.  Now, if I can just keep the goats out of the chicken house...