"First time for me/girls..Sophie kidded triplets (with help!!)

[Cooperkeeper]

I am so excited that it is my turn to start a kidding thread! I have been enjoying everyone else's stories for a couple years now and can't believe I am only a few days from having my first kids on our farm. Hopefully, if I promise to share those cute pics, you won't mind one more newbie stressing out before her goats give birth.

I have two Nubian FF's due April 10th and 18th, confirmed by BioTracking, and I bounce between excitement and anxiety. Possibly because I have read about complications others have experienced. I have to continue to tell myself that the majority of the time, goats have no problems with deliveries, but still am so nervous. I love these girls so much and would be crushed if something I failed to do or recognize caused them harm. I am thankful for the wonderful mentor I have that has assured me I can call anytime if I feel I need her.

So Nelle, at day 146 today, is developing a nice little udder, but it is not close to being full/tight and I think I finally found the ligs I need to pay attention to. She does not look as big as Sophie, who is at day 138. Sophie is substantially more uncomfortable, udder is bigger and in my inexperienced opinion, looks to have multiples. Time will tell.

I have followed Fiasco Farm's methods of supplementing to this point and my girls seem to be quite healthy. In addition I have vaccinated with lysigin for staph mastitis prevention.

My first stressor will be the delivery itself. Next, because I am new to milking and plan to bottle feed, I am a little concerned about being able to effectively milk this FF for the colostrum needed. (Backup colostrum in freezer from "wonderful mentor") This may be a silly question, but do those of you that bottle feed strain the colostrum? Is it too thick?

I appreciate everyone's experience and willingness to offer advise/help. Hope I will be adding pics of beautiful healthly kids soon...but in the meantime, may need y'all to calm me down as I breath into my paperbag!!

 

[dhansen]

Yippee and congratulations! We would all love "before kidding" pictures too! You do not strain the colostrum, at least I do not. I usually have a cup with me and just milk some from the mom, put it in a bottle and feed the kids. It's already warm and ready to go.one thing I do, which sounds a little off, is put my does on the milkstand daily for some grain and rub their bellies, udders, teats, etc. just to get them used to you handling them"down there". (That sounded very odd!!!!!) You will be fine! Hang in there. I think the waiting is the hardest part! I have two does that should kid in the next 3 to 4 weeks, so my countdown is beginning too!

 

[madcow]

There's nothing like waiting for babies! I had my first ones this January and February and I was a nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers before the delivery. When it came down to it I had to help, but I didn't hesitate to go in and help the little ones out (literally!). But as I look back on it I just found that my instincts kicked in and everything went fine. I knew at the time I was doing what was best for mom and babies, otherwise I would have lost them all. Chances are your intuition about a given situation will guide you and most likely you are right. Trust yourself to do what's right for your girls and you will be okay. The fact that you do care so much about your girls means you will do what is best for them. If you get into anything you can't handle it's wonderful you have a mentor and hopefully they can be there to assist you by phone or in person. You have a real advantage there. Good luck, and yes, post pictures of your girls before they kid. I for one would love to see them.

 

[Cooperkeeper]

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. I really feel that reading about others experiences will help me recognize when to step in. And my mentor is an angel!! I am very thankful for her.

I have to admit, I worry about all the what ifs!! In fact, I was talking with my dad, who by the way is in awe that his suburbia-raised daughter is a "goat farmer", and explaining my fears about this upcoming kidding season. With best intentions, my dad tried to warn me about the harsh realities of farming by telling me to remember..."they are just goats"!

My response: "Have you met me??" "I'm the freak that just spent two days cutting up Snuggies and adorable quilted material I had around here and made the cutest little coats in various sizes because our Michigan weather won't allow spring to actually arrive!" "I have a cot and sleeping bag at the ready to sleep in the barn should things look like they are going to go overnight!" "I wake up at 3:00am thinking about one other scenario I should research online before the big day!" "I have lists of the lists I need to make!"

He looked at me with a smirk as if that crazy, animal-loving little girl of his just appeared "POOF" before him and said chuckling, "Oh yeah, I remember you!!"

Okay..I know that sounds a little over the top. I DO realize that things do happen that you can not control in nature and I will deal with those as they come. I just don't want preventable situations to cause harm.

This is sooo exciting and I can hardly stand the wait!!

 

[Cooperkeeper]

So I finally got my camera out, much to my girl's dismay! Here they are:
URRGGGH. Need a refresher on loading pictures. They are uploaded to BYH, but I don't know how to put them into my post.
Help??

 

[that's*satyrical]

So I finally got my camera out, much to my girl's dismay! Here they are:
URRGGGH. Need a refresher on loading pictures. They are uploaded to BYH, but I don't know how to put them into my post.
Help??

There is a little box underneath the picture copy and paste the code in the image box to your post. You can push preview to make sure it did it right. Then post it.

 

[Cooperkeeper]

Jenn,
Thanks for the help. Had this done once, but haven't posted many pics lately. That should change soon as I plan to take tons of pics of our first babies on Tailfeather
Farm!!

Sophie: due 4/18

and this is Nelle: due 4/10

Girls enjoying the new feeder my DH built for themkid pen ready and waiting)

Well Hello Miss Girth!!

Love my girls!!

 

[dhansen]

Very pretty girls! Excited for you!

 

[lovinglife]

Very pretty girls!! You will get some awesome babies from those two, and it looks like more than one!

 

[Cooperkeeper]

I can hardly sit still!!!!