Oreo...2 weeks of watching and waiting and still no kids!!!

[Bonner family farm]

Ok so we aren't sure of the exact due date because we put her with the buck for 2 weeks to set her in heat and breed her. if she bred on the last day with the buck she would have been due Feb 3rd. Babies are moving like crazy and she is huge so we know she is def. pregnent. Her vuvla is swollen and elongated with periodic white to opaque discharge and her udder has developed isn't completely full. This is her second time kidding and last year went smoothly and she had 2 does but she is much bigger this year and I am worried that she may have triplets since she is a small framed Alpine doe. She is extremely affectionate and biting at her sides and we have thought for sure she was going into labor twice already and no kids. We are relatively new to the goat world and this is only our second year of kidding. When should I start to worry and what should I do? I have pics to post but am new to the forum and I am unsure how to post them. Help Me !!!! :/

 

[Roll farms]

First, and I know this is hard advice to follow, believe me....relax.

As long as she's not obviously in pain, feverish, or depressed, she's probably just waiting for the 'right time'...and enjoying all the extra attention you're giving her.

Do you know how to check tail ligaments? They'll be really soft and mushy...the area where her tail attatches to her body.

W/ my dairy does, their bags genrally get 'water ballon' or basketball-tight w/in 8 - 12 hrs of kidding. That's always my dead giveaway.

You can also sit quietly and watch her wander around...if she stops every so often and stares into space while looking like she's got a 'poop pain' (with no poop) she's starting contractions. That can go on for a long time before real hard labor begins, but as they get closer she'll leak more and probably lie down and get up a lot.

Also mine tend to 'talk to' their bellies / back ends when they're close. Soft little 'neheheh' sounds like they're asking their butts a question.

I've had some leak for up to 2 weeks before they actually kid.

I'm betting she's close but not quite 'there' and trust me, no amount of fretting will make it happen sooner. If it did, mine would all kid on time.

 

[Bonner family farm]

LOL... Yeah I am driving my husband crazy over here cause were due to have a grandbaby any day too so I am ready for a kid of one kind or another. Her tail ligaments have been gone for 2 weeks now and it fells like you could lift her tail right off her body. I know she is doing well and the babies too since we can see and feel them move constantly but I wasn't sure how long past her due date she can go. How can you post pics on here?

 

[Roll farms]

I put them on photobucket and then copy / past the link into the post.

I've had does go 5-6 day over their date, boers and Nubs both...usually w/ larger 'litters'.

 

[Bonner family farm]

Here is some pics of her, let me know what you think.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Hmm...just my opinion, but her udder doesn't look bagged up very much. :/ My FF Ober doe is due March 3 and has a slightly larger udder than your girl. Maybe it's just the picture?

I know it's frustrating waiting though..I've got a ewe who is pretty close. Don't have a due date on her, but I'm watching her closely and biting my nails!

 

[Bonner family farm]

She has a very small udder in milk, someone gave her to us 2 years ago and she had never kidded before last year. I don't expect her udder to get too much bigger this year. Just went out to the barn and my other doe (Abbie) who is due on the 10th is showing signs of labor, she is softly bleeting and talking to her belly. last year I knew when she was going to kid cause her udder got huge the night before, so far her udder isn't full but she is definetly getting close... guess it's going to get crazy here very soon, hopefully they don't kid the same day. last year they kidded 4 days apart.

 

[Roll farms]

Every goat's udder's different, size doesn't matter when it comes to determining how close they are, it's more the fullness / firmness than size.

It definitely sounds like they're getting close, I think they're going to tag team you.

 

[Bonner family farm]

Still waiting !!!!

 

[dkluzier]

She is a beautiful doe, should have some sweeeet looking babies soon in my opinion. Good luck.

GO OREO! GO OREO!! RAH< RAH< RAH!!