Nubian Birthing - When will I know?

[Tiffany L]

I purchased a Nubian who kidded last year - February 9th 2014 I was told by previous owner. I know she is bred and I'm just trying to figure out when she will kid this year as previous owner does not know when she was bred for 2015 kidding. Last night when I checked her I noticed her ligs are getting squishy and she was very talkative (like muttering to herself). I've attached pics that I have taken of her last night. My profile picture is her over the summer.

 

[madcow]

Well, as you will glean from this forum, you can virtually never, ever second guess a goat when it comes to kidding, especially if you don't have breeding dates, and then it's still a crap shoot. A goat will drive you absolutely crazy waiting on her to kid. You could keep checking her ligaments, but sometimes those can even come and go over a couple of weeks before kidding. You will probably be able to tell more from her behavior the day of kidding, but not always. The most outward signs would be her udder suddenly filling overnight and her teats then strutting more out towards the sides of the udder as a result of the bag filling or a long whitish or clearish or brownish discharge that comes out of her lady parts like a large drop attached to a string of goo. "Momma talk" is a good sign she's getting close and her wandering off to be by herself is also a good sign she's ready. But the Good Lord knows that there are many of us on this site who have been strung along for weeks at a time with a pregnant doe practicing the "doe code." Only the doe knows! I would just keep checking her fairly often if she exhibits definite outward signs of being in labor. Otherwise, she could even have them as a surprise when you least expect it. That's happened to me a couple of times. Just keep us updated and provide plenty of pictures of the little darlin' once it shows up!

 

[Tiffany L]

Well, as you will glean from this forum, you can virtually never, ever second guess a goat when it comes to kidding, especially if you don't have breeding dates, and then it's still a crap shoot. A goat will drive you absolutely crazy waiting on her to kid. You could keep checking her ligaments, but sometimes those can even come and go over a couple of weeks before kidding. You will probably be able to tell more from her behavior the day of kidding, but not always. The most outward signs would be her udder suddenly filling overnight and her teats then strutting more out towards the sides of the udder as a result of the bag filling or a long whitish or clearish or brownish discharge that comes out of her lady parts like a large drop attached to a string of goo. "Momma talk" is a good sign she's getting close and her wandering off to be by herself is also a good sign she's ready. But the Good Lord knows that there are many of us on this site who have been strung along for weeks at a time with a pregnant doe practicing the "doe code." Only the doe knows! I would just keep checking her fairly often if she exhibits definite outward signs of being in labor. Otherwise, she could even have them as a surprise when you least expect it. That's happened to me a couple of times. Just keep us updated and provide plenty of pictures of the little darlin' once it shows up!

Thank you for your advice - these are my first kids and I'm super excited and nervous. Its cold here and we have about 3" of snow on the ground. I have her in a stall but she is not happy about it at all. I didnt know if I should just let her do her own thing or keep her penned up. But it's so cold I'm afraid of frozen kids Just didnt want to keep her penned up if we still have "weeks" to go.