Question about heat cycles & pregnancy after birthing

[mydog8it]

We're new to goats and rescued four at the beginning of April. I think they're nigerian dwarfs but may be mixed.

One doe had given birth about 3 months prior to our picking her up, and she was being kept in with a buck, though we're not sure for how long. It may have been since she gave birth because he only appeared to have one stall for all of the goats. She was literally skin and bones when we got her and is starting to plump up now... A LOT. Her belly is almost wider than she is tall at this point.

I'm not sure how to tell if she's pregnant or just getting healthy, and if she is pregnant, how far along she might be. I hope for her sake she's not, but I really want to be prepared if babies are on the way. Is it even possible for a doe (in poor condition) to get pregnant so soon after kidding?

 

[Goatherd]

http://www.biotracking.com/goats

If you want absolute certainty, consider a pregnancy test from Biotracking. A small amount of blood sent off to them and you will know for sure if your goat is preggers.
While your at it, you could have it tested for CAE with the same blood sample.

If you contact them, they will send you the blood vials necessary. Cost is very reasonable.

Worth doing if you want to plan ahead.

 

[Livinwright Farm]

We're new to goats and rescued four at the beginning of April. I think they're nigerian dwarfs but may be mixed.

One doe had given birth about 3 months prior to our picking her up, and she was being kept in with a buck, though we're not sure for how long. It may have been since she gave birth because he only appeared to have one stall for all of the goats. She was literally skin and bones when we got her and is starting to plump up now... A LOT. Her belly is almost wider than she is tall at this point.

I'm not sure how to tell if she's pregnant or just getting healthy, and if she is pregnant, how far along she might be. I hope for her sake she's not, but I really want to be prepared if babies are on the way. Is it even possible for a doe (in poor condition) to get pregnant so soon after kidding?

It IS possible that a doe could have been bred & settled that soon after kidding, even if the doe was emaciated.
The best plan, whether she WAS bred or not, is to get her on a HIGH protein/bulking diet, where you are trying to get her into slightly over conditioned. Make sure she is getting some form of probiotic supplement(Goats Prefer Probiotic Power , Probios, or even plain yogurt), and plenty of good quality hay(preferably alfalfa).
If you do go ahead and have her tested, let us know the results. Hope everything goes well with this doe for you.

 

[mydog8it]

Thank you so much for the feedback! I was wondering about a pregnancy test, but that won't let me know when to expect babies. We do have all of the goats on an all-you-can-eat buffet of alfalfa hay & bermuda pasture, goat minerals, baking soda, plus two cups of grain per day for the girls (which I think is double what they should normally get?) and lots of fresh veggies, leaves, bush trimmings, etc. I did give yogurt after worming, but I will add it in regularly.

This morning we noticed Cassie's udders looked fuller than they had been, but her backside looks a little bloody. I'm wondering if this is heat or if she is getting ready for labor? It has been about 5 1/2 months since she kidded last. Any thoughts?

Please excuse the indecent photo...

 

[20kidsonhill]

She is most certainly pregnant, You have had her since the beginning of April, so you now for sure she is atleast 2 1/2 months pregnant, I would say more like 4 months pregnant.

I would question increasing her feed too much. If she is only carrying one or two, and you increase her feed a lot you could cause kidding problems. Ofcourse if she is carrying 3 or 4 then it wouldn't matter as much, but in my opinion, better to deliver a set of smaller quads than a huge single.

She looks like she is in good condition. And I would guess due in the next 2 to 6 weeks. Are you providing any goat minerals?

Has she been vaccinated? Those are things I would worry about even more than packing on the pounds at this point.

 

[20kidsonhill]

Is she nursing babies??? Should have thought to ask that first. Not that it really changes my opinion of cetainly pregnant, but may change how far along she is.

 

[mydog8it]

Thank you again for the feedback!

She is not nursing or milking. When we picked her up the first week of April, she was "deflated." She had 3 month old kids then (triplets), but he wasn't milking her so her udders were droopy but flattened out if that makes sense.

I am giving minerals but have not vaccinated yet. I think everyone needs a CD-T shot? We were getting ready to do that along with the blood draw for the CAE & Johne's tests this week. If she is pregnant, hopefully we will have time to get that back before the kids arrive. I'm sort of caught off guard...we really didn't think she was pregnant.

So should I cut back on the grains then? I'd hate for any of them to be hungry but I don't want oversized kids either.

 

[20kidsonhill]

What are you feeding her? How much?(In cups or lbs, please), And the type of the grain?

Alfalfa or grass hay? or just pasture?

I don't have that small of a breed, but I feed mine no more than 3 cups a day the last 30 days, of a 16% pelleted goat grain.

 

[20kidsonhill]

"If she is pregnant"

There is no way she isn't pregnant. Especially knowing she is has not been nursing and is suppose to be dry.


Get REAdy for Babies!!!!!!!

 

[20kidsonhill]

You might want to repost in the pregnancy section. Title it is she pregnant, add the pictures and explain your story again. Or just copy and paste.

YOu will probably get more people looking at it.


and then you can ask about feeding her.