Kidding Watch in VA(aka goats are liars)--Pics

[julieq]

Sometimes a radio in the barn helps with predators too. We leave the lights on in our barn during the night and have our GS's kennel right outside the barn door. And we have the baby monitor (audio only currently) on so we can actually hear what's going on if we need to. The last couple of weeks I've heard the coyotes yelling in the distance, but the scream of a wild cat is much worse!

 

[ChksontheRun]

Baby is a buckling and he is doing grand. He is jumping around the isolation stall and is just as cute as he can be.

Yes, the scream of a wild cat is a fearsome thing. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, then I ran into the house.

Those LGD's are worth their weight in gold!!!

 

[julieq]

Baby is a buckling and he is doing grand. He is jumping around the isolation stall and is just as cute as he can be.

Yes, the scream of a wild cat is a fearsome thing. It made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, then I ran into the house.

Those LGD's are worth their weight in gold!!!

Your DH's shotgun is great back up too!

 

[dkluzier]

Your buckling is very handsome. It's been a busy year with the coyotes around our house this year. Will definitely be keeping a close eye out around birthing time.

 

[ChksontheRun]

Amber is now in the kidding stall. I can't feel her ligs any more, and her hoo hoo is all soft and puffy, her already large udder has gotten even bigger. Yesterday she spent the day laying, then standing, then stretching, then laying down again, and the moaning..... But no contractions. She still has a good appetite, good poops and pee. It can't be long now....... but then there is the code.

I will try to take pics later.

Question about Bridget. She has a very full udder with only one little buckling. I am starting to get a bit concerned about how tight she is. Will her milk production adjust to her one little baby's needs. Should I milk her out to prevent infection, or will this stimulate more milk production? Baby is nursing well, but not emptying her out at all. She looks like she could easily feed a couple more, but it will be a challenge to milk her as she has tiny little teets.

 

[helmstead]

If Sarah holds true to her ligs, looks like you and I are in the same boat today!

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Yay! Go Amber!

 

[ksalvagno]

Do you plan on milking her or just let her dry up when kid is done? If you want some milk too, then I would be milking her. I'm no expert at this point but I'm suspecting that you should be doing some milking so she doesn't get mastitis. If you don't want the milk, then feed it to the chickens.

 

[helmstead]

Yes, you need to relieve that pressure...once her milk comes in (around 3 to 4 days post partem) her udder will start to self regulate...but in the mean time she's going to be engorged and sore...to where she might start kicking the kid off.

 

[ChksontheRun]

Here is a picture of Amber today. She continues to lay down, get up, moan, and is sunken near her tail, but no sign of real labor-no contractions, and good appetite. I think she is trying to tease us.....