Trying to learn and prepare myself

[OneFineAcre]

We don't swing ours by their back legs.
I've seen Dr. Pol do it with calves, but I've never done that with our Nigerians.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I guess it is more first time jitters. Originally my husband was suppose to be home for the month of October so he would be here when they kidded. He changed companies and the chance of a month off went out the window. Doing this solo on my first kidding is not my plan. I keep reading and reading trying to burn the information into my brain.

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's usually my wife and myself. And the one time we dealt with a rump first breach, it took both of us.
I'm hoping for easy kidding for your girls

 

[KellyK]

This is a good place to look at-
http://www.boergoats.com/clean/articleads.php?art=285

When dealing with a breach we just pull them out quickly. Whenever we had a breach the rear legs were presented first.

Another thing it make sure you suction the kids well with a bulb syringe. If they have a lot of fluid don't be afraid to swing them by the back legs. I do it with most of the kids to make sure all the fluid is OUT. This won't break the kids legs, use one hand to grab the hind legs and the other hand to hold the chest area. Those babies are slippery so be careful not to drop them. After I swing, I suction again as soon as they are back on the ground.

If your doe is having trouble raise her rear end up high to let gravity work and the kids will start to slide back. This can really help.

MOST goats kid without an issue But its still great that you are prepared! Try to stay calm and keep the doe calm. Some does will not let me leave them when kidding is close, they take great comfort when someone is with them. We did have a doe who would get real clingy 12hrs before kidding and then when the time comes she would do what she can to get away and kid on her own brat.

Can't wait to hear how it goes! Make sure you tell us when they kid, and don't forget the pics! I won't have kids till Jan. 2016, I can't wait Love me some goat kids!

I have a few items we need to get. I use to have a few bulb syringes from when my children were born, that we never used. I looked for them and apparently the box with that stuff in it was tossed when we moved to WI from PA.

The three that are due in October are over a year and have never kidded. The one in November has kidded before. I am probably just being overly nervous about this. I also know my critters and they will do everything they can to make it harder than it needs to be.

I know about trying to stay calm. These girls are the funniest things in the world. The littlest one, Sophia, kept getting stuck in the fence when we first got her. I learned fast to calm myself and talk softly to her to calm her. Once she was calm I could get her unstuck pretty easily. All my goats are horned except for, Daisy. Daisy is naturally polled.

I will take a ton of pictures. Now remembering to upload them will be the real issue.

Here are my girls

Daisy

Queenie in front, Grace behind her and Sophia on the right

Here is our Buck

Snickers

 

[KellyK]

Yeah, I know what you mean. It's usually my wife and myself. And the one time we dealt with a rump first breach, it took both of us.
I'm hoping for easy kidding for your girls

I am not a fan of surprises. My husband surprised me a few weeks ago by coming home when he was suppose to be still driving OTR. I stood staring at him for a few minutes thinking I was hallucinating and should got to the hospital. I actually told the kids to get ready to go out cause I was really sick. lol

 

[Pamela]

I can't help with the actual birthing advice, our girls have gone unassisted the past two years. This year, we can't seem to get anyone pregnant, but that is another saga! I will say that our last kidding (May 2014) all 3 of our nubian does dropped kids in a couple of hours of each other. We had 7 babies in a very short time, and it was quite a mess to figure out who belonged to who, as they were all in together. Super fun! Good Luck!

 

[KellyK]

I can't help with the actual birthing advice, our girls have gone unassisted the past two years. This year, we can't seem to get anyone pregnant, but that is another saga! I will say that our last kidding (May 2014) all 3 of our nubian does dropped kids in a couple of hours of each other. We had 7 babies in a very short time, and it was quite a mess to figure out who belonged to who, as they were all in together. Super fun! Good Luck!

I and my husband both agree that we need to prepare for having those 3 drop 5 kids each. My moto is prepare for the worst. I have a few more items to get this weekend, but they are minor things and I usually have something else that will work if push comes to shove. He knows I need to have all my ducks in a row or I go into panic mode. He is a natural procrastinator.

 

[animalmom]

So you don't have any confusion as to which kids belong to what mom, you could get a different color animal paint stick (sold at your local feed store, or bought online) for each doe and then once her kids are dry you mark the kids and the mom with the color. Next mom gets a different color until you are done. You may need to remark the kids as the moms tend to groom them a lot.

Good luck with your does; they all look healthy. Your buck is a handsome dude... and don't forget the pictures! Please and thank you.

 

[KellyK]

The does don't look so scraggly now. Their coats? not sure what to call it, has a nice shine to it and looks more kempt. We have since getting the girls found out we are required to have them ear tagged. We have tagged them and changed their diet enough that they seem to be in much better health. The breeder we got him from told us that he only produced blue eyed kids for her. Even when Mom was brown eyed. Oh he so knows he is handsome.
Thanks for the ideal. Will have to tell my husband so he can get me something. For now 4 colors will do us. I have not even thought of that. And I promise I will post pictures as I can. I may forget so if you see it is past when they are due just smack me in the back of the head to remind me. lol

 

[Hens and Roos]

maybe see if you can have a friend/neighbor available to come and help- it's always nice to have an extra set of hands. Put all the items you need in a bin so at the 1st sign of labor you can grab and take with you.

 

[KellyK]

It will be me and my kids. Nobody else I can count on. We can't even get somebody reliable to come feed and water once a day if we have to go out of town over night. I do have 3 of my children who will attempt to help me. They are the same three who usually help me with morning chores.