Feeding and kidding.... Can you improve the odds?

[Peep_Show]

When I was raising pygmy goats I very seldom had late night kiddings. Someone had told me an old wives' tale, I took it to heart and began feeding grain to my goats at the evening feeding. The theory is with something yummy (like grain or 3-in-1) they'll be so attuned and busy to chewing cud at night that they'll wait to daylight to kid. Likewise, feeding morning grain will result in after sunset kiddings. I don't know if it was coincidence, but I *really* enjoyed those daytime kiddings.

Anybody want to test the theory?

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think it's coincedence.

I don't believe you can influence kidding time by feeding schedule

 

[LBFarms]

Here is the advice I was given. It's a little complicated, but he swears that he doesn't have any night time births:

"The feeding procedure we use to avoid nighttime births starts by feeding the pregnant does pellets (16% goat) or grain about one month before their due date. Begin feeding 1/4 lb twice a day, increasing the amount gradually until at two weeks before their due date they are getting 3lbs a day. The first feeding of the day is between 6:00 am and 7:00 am, the second should be as close to 12 hour after the first as possible. Feed the same time every day. With two weeks left in the pregnancy start feeding 60% of the 3 lbs in the morning and 40% in the evening. If you have multiple goats in the pen then tie them up so you can control exactly how much each goat eats. As they're eating their MORNING ration load their hay feeder with just enough hay to last them until their evening feeding, give them no more hay until the next morning feeding. If they still have hay left at their evening feeding remove it while they are devouring the 40% of their ration and give them less the next day. Once they have kidded feed them 1/2 the 3lbs in the morning and 1/2 in the evening, the hay can be fed continually trying not to waste any. Make them clean it up before giving them more. "