~Livinwright Farm's kidding thread~ 2 preggers does... hopefully :)

[SDGsoap&dairy]

all the feeding=kid size replies

I would like to restate here, that Cali's buckling was average size for a Nigerian Dwarf/Pygmy cross, 4-5 lbs. It was Cali's small frame/pelvic size that was the issue. Also, the buckling was quite thin.
I think we will keep the girls on our current feeding plan and see how it all turns out. The girls are in no way looking overconditioned. In fact, somedays they look underconditioned... in Maude's case, I think it is the late pregnancy sinking sides.

I don't think anyone would argue that her age/maturity wasn't the issue. Just responding to a query about how everyone feeds their own does.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

all the feeding=kid size replies

I would like to restate here, that Cali's buckling was average size for a Nigerian Dwarf/Pygmy cross, 4-5 lbs. It was Cali's small frame/pelvic size that was the issue. Also, the buckling was quite thin.
I think we will keep the girls on our current feeding plan and see how it all turns out. The girls are in no way looking overconditioned. In fact, somedays they look underconditioned... in Maude's case, I think it is the late pregnancy sinking sides.

I don't think anyone would argue that her age/maturity wasn't the issue. Just responding to a query about how everyone feeds their own does.

Oh, yeah... I know that. Just responding to the comments about overfeeding equaling overly large kids.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I have a different approach to feeding. Ideally the ewes/does/whatever will be in good condition (but NOT overconditioned) going into breeding season, so that they can maintain during the early months of gestation. I generally don't feed grain during the first 3-4 months of gestation, because they dont' have much different nutritional needs than they did when they were open. Once they start into the last month of gestation, I'll start feeding grain to meet the demands of the growing fetuses. I really don't want the doe to be overconditioned when she delivers, and I dont' want her losing condition that last month since it's so hard on them once they do lamb/kid.

There are probably theories that feeding grain or increasing nutrition that last month makes for big babies, but this has never been a problem for me ever, or on the sheep farm where I worked. It's pretty common practice to increase nutrition that last month.

I agree with/follow this advice. It's what I found for advice through many different goat sites, including a couple of goat society's pages

 

[St0rmyM00n]

Livinwright Farm , I am very sorry for your loss.
A lot of us waited and waited for little Cali to have her baby and watched her grow I don't know about the others but I got quite attached over the time and was very heart broken to hear what happen.

You did your best and I want to thank you for sharing your story with us all it has been a great learning experience for me as a new goat owner.

It took me a while to post here cause I was really upset at the outcome but I understand these things will happen. I have to learn how to cope with this my self. You have had such an awesome attitude this whole time I don't know if I could hold it together as well as you have.

She isn't even mine and I have cried every time I read your posts.
I look forward to reading about Momma and Maud.

Best wishes for them both and lots of girly vibes that they both have little girls.


((((( HUGS ))))

 

[elevan]

I would like to restate here, that Cali's buckling was average size for a Nigerian Dwarf/Pygmy cross, 4-5 lbs. It was Cali's small frame/pelvic size that was the issue. Also, the buckling was quite thin.
I think we will keep the girls on our current feeding plan and see how it all turns out. The girls are in no way looking overconditioned. In fact, somedays they look underconditioned... in Maude's case, I think it is the late pregnancy sinking sides.

I don't think anyone would argue that her age/maturity wasn't the issue. Just responding to a query about how everyone feeds their own does.

Oh, yeah... I know that. Just responding to the comments about overfeeding equaling overly large kids.

I want to apologize for taking the thread off topic by my comment which started this.

It's my opinion that kids that are approximately 5-7% of the does weight seem to be the safest to deliver. While your buckling was average size for a ND / Pygmy...Cali was approximately 20# smaller than a full grown ND / Pygmy...meaning her buckling was more like 10-11% of her body weight...making it a large kid. Does that make sense?

eta: It really does come down to needing to evaluate the needs of each doe.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I don't think anyone would argue that her age/maturity wasn't the issue. Just responding to a query about how everyone feeds their own does.

Oh, yeah... I know that. Just responding to the comments about overfeeding equaling overly large kids.

I want to apologize for taking the thread off topic by my comment which started this.

It's my opinion that kids that are approximately 5-7% of the does weight seem to be the safest to deliver. While your buckling was average size for a ND / Pygmy...Cali was approximately 20# smaller than a full grown ND / Pygmy...meaning her buckling was more like 10-11% of her body weight...making it a large kid. Does that make sense?

eta: It really does come down to needing to evaluate the needs of each doe.

I understand what you are saying about comparitive sizing between kid & dam. And, yup! It sure does come down to individual does... For instance, with what I have been feed the girls over the last few weeks, and them not looking a bit over conditioned, if I were to knock that back at all, I assume they would look like skin & bones in a week or so. Just like people, they all have different metabolisms.

Oh and on a side note: Falkor decided he wanted out of the fenced in area... so he fiddled with the latch on the gate without me knowing, and next thing I know, he was clear on the other side of the house! Apparently the weeds he had access to were not the right ones for his "delicate system"

 

[elevan]

How are Maude and Momma doing?

 

[Livinwright Farm]

Funny you should ask, Emily

I was watching Maude earlier, and started looking her over... I then noticed that her udder has just about doubled in size since Monday. She might go sooner than I was thinking, but I won't let her know that. Below are links to the most recent pics. If I had a way to do it, I would shave Maude's back end, but she WON'T allow it.

Maude
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...&type=1&theater&pid=377259&id=130986543621963
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...&type=1&theater&pid=377260&id=130986543621963

Momma
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...&type=1&theater&pid=377261&id=130986543621963

Edited to add: Momma is still Momma, and focussed on reinforcing her status as herd queen every 10 minutes At least there haven't been any pot shots.

 

[oakmarsh nigerians]

Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear of your loss! Cali was beautiful, and I'm sure the buckling was too. I hope that Momma and Maude have easy deliveries for you!

Both of my Nigerian does are in condition. The one who had triplets was given a cup of Maximum Goat in the a.m. and p.m. for the last 2 months (since we weren't sure of her real date). She had pasture, grass hay, a handful of alfalfa, and minerals. I've been told that the babies were too big (4.8 lbs, 4.1 lbs, and 3.7 lbs), but she did very well. So, next time I will be more certain of the date and probably give the increased grain only the last 3 or 4 weeks. She was thin after delivery, but not bad. She filled back in within 2 weeks. The other doe is smaller, so she gets a bit less grain.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Please welcome our newest little arrival!!
Livinwright Farm Maude's Olivia!!!!!!
She is almost a PERFECT chamoisee!!!! Just a tiny little white crescent atop her head and a TINY little white spot on her upper left underbelly behind her front leg.

Her first picture can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Livin...39159970.43720.130986543621963&type=1&theater