Our First Kidding - Need Some Guidance PLEASE [THEY'RE HERE!!]

[MissDanni]

Ok so I'm not sure what Trouble is doing right now but she was panting earlier in the day but I passed that off as being hot. Now she is in the barn and panting a LOT. I don't really see that she's pushing or anything, and so far nothing is coming out. She is laying down sort of over on her right side a bit and the indents she had on either side of her tail (I guess where the ligaments went soft?) is now all full looking. If I place my hand on the top side of her tail she pushes her back-end towards me. Her belly is really round looking all over and as usual (well the last week at least) she is making her moaning sounds. Oh and I heard her grind her teeth a few times, that's something that I haven't heard her do before.

Who knows whats she's doing? Is she just messing with again?

I'll give her another check in a little bit :/

 

[nibblygoats]

I would watch her carefully. She might very well be in early labor, lost her plug and you didn't see it. The teeth-grinding indicates pain or stress. They will breath faster when in labor. Typically they get up, lay down, get up again, like they can't settle. The fact that her belly looks different could indicate the kid(s) moving into position. Her girl-parts will start to look puffy/pooched out, like there is pressure behind it. You will very likely see a string of mucus discharge before actual kidding, but you never know. You might just see the bubble first. You don't need to actually do anything, other than comfort your doe, until you see her starting to push (lying down, extending one or more legs, probably crying out). If she is pushing every 2 minutes for 30 minutes and you don't see any kid parts, you will need to go in, so be prepared. Wishing you the best. It is stressful for us, more than for the goat I think.

 

[Cara Peachick]

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Keep us posted! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[MissDanni]

They're here!!!!

I noticed last night that Trouble's udder had doubled in size since the day before.

Ok so just went out to do morning checks, DH was out earlier to feed up but everything was quiet, although he said there was a wet spot in her pen, he just figured she spilled her water around like she does sometimes.

Anyways, so we were standing in the yard chatting for a minute and my daughter said "I hear ..... baby somethings!" She ran to the barn with us behind her and sure enough here was the sweetest little kid I have every seen! Then while telling Trouble how good of a girl she was and how great of a job she did I noticed a second, TWINS!!! They look so much alike. I can't get a real good look at them yet because she is still cleaning them up and I "THINK" she is done birthing, although she has hanging stuff still coming out it looks like it has some blood in it so I'm thinking she is just needing to pass the placenta. She is still pawing at the ground, walking and fussing about and has yet to let them nurse.

Gave her some molasses water, she downed the first little pail and drank about half the second.

Of course I had to jump right in and check them out, but uncle (who is very old-school) started giving me heck saying that if I get in there and mess with them she won't feed them and so on. He also said that they are pretty big for twins. I really don't think it will be an issue because Trouble is a bottle baby herself and has had me by her side for the past however many days. I'm disappointed that I missed the actual birth, but as long as everyone is ok that's what really matters.

Will it be easy to tell if they are boys or girls? Our boys were 4 months when we got them so it was pretty obvious, but with the babies I'm not sure if I will be able to tell?

My grandmother passed away 6 months ago, she was one of the most amazing people I have ever known, we were REALLY close and I have been missing her terribly. Today is her birthday and she would have been 75. The fact that these babies have come to us today is very special to me.

I am so happy that they are here now and that everyone looks healthy!

Ok here is an early picture, they are still pretty dirty looking right now so I will take more later.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

CONGRATS!

You can and should handle those babies as much as you want. If you're dam raising they'll be friendlier if they can imprint early on.

That is really special that they arrived on your grandmother's birthday. Mine has been gone for 10 years now and there's still a void.

Oh, and boys have testicles, girls don't.

 

[damummis]

AWESOME!!!!

 

[willowbreezefarm]

Congratulations!!!!!
Im so glad that she had an easy delivery! Its really easy to tell if they are boy or girl. Boy will have a little sack and the girl will have a noticable slit under her butt.
YAY I cant wait to see more pics of them!!

 

[wannacow]

WooHoo!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations on the healthy babies!!!

 

[helmstead]