Update! Ana had babies! Need opinions ASAP! See page 3

[Picklestix7866]

Hi! My little Pygmy goat is in labor and I have no idea what I'm doing. She has been acting weird lately and now she is "leaking mucous" out her hind end. She is also bleating quietly even though she is usually really loud.

What should we do to prepare better?
Do we need little goat sweaters cuz its kinda cold out? (50 degrees)
What do we do with the umbilical cord?
Also, are we supposed to bottle feed a little to make them friendlier, or will they be just as friendly if we handle them a lot and just let the mom nurse them full time.

Help!!!

 

[zatsenoughcritters4me]

ours leak mucus sometimes 2 weeks before they have their babies, that is the mucus plug.
is she soft by her tail? you can check her ligaments on either side of her tail where it is on her backside.
usually they have them just fine, make sure that you see 2 feet and a nose when they come out.
go to http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm
they have all the info you will ever need on kidding.

 

[zatsenoughcritters4me]

and you shouldn't need sweaters, only if it were below freezing

 

[Chirpy]

Definitely spend some time reading through FiascoFarms site. They've got some great video also. You will learn if there is a real problem by reading through that site on the kidding issues. Most goats deliver with no problems and no need for intervention by humans but sometimes you have to go in and turn or pull a kid so you need to be prepared to do so.

Has her udder started to bag up yet? Some does will start a few weeks before kidding, some don't bag up until they deliver. Most, though, will show a definite size increase in their udder 12 to 24 hours before kidding.

My does all started leaking clear fluid from five days to two weeks before freshening (kidding). I never even saw more than a slight drip - drip with my girls this year. Sometimes they leak a stringy mucous fluid - that's normal too.

You do not need to bottle feed to have very friendly kids. They will absolutely be all over you if you do bottle feed but I have kept my kids on their mommas and they are just as friendly and in my lap as bottle fed babies. So - that's your personal choice. Do you want momma to raise them or do you want to? If you decide to bottle feed them then either you need to milk the doe or dry her off (don't just pull the kids and leave the doe alone). FiascoFarm has great info on drying off does also. If you let momma raise them you want to handle them a lot to make sure they are friendly.

If your temps are in the 50s or above - they should be just fine as long as you have a draft free, dry place for them. My kids love to sleep under one of those airline dog crates (the plastic ones used to ship dogs). I put one half on the ground, upside down, and the kids climb under there and cuddle up to sleep at night. I keep fresh straw in there and they are very cozy and warm - especially if you have more than one kid to huddle up to.

Good luck - hope to see pictures of fuzzy little kids soon.

 

[helmstead]

Good advice so far, good luck!

Also, no, you don't need to bottle feed for friendly kids. Ours are dam raised and totally people oriented. It's all in time spent.

 

[bheila]

So was she just loosing her mucus plug or was she in labor? I hope everything is going well

 

[barefoot okie]

Hope all went well.. waiting on the outcome.

 

[GrassFarmerGalloway]

Well? What happened?

I've had no experience with goats, so I can't help, you, but don't keep me hanging!

 

[Griffin's Ark]

I hope all is well, we are also in labor this morning with a pygmy... no tendons, right side bulge reduced, lots of noise!

Chris

Twins on the ground for us at 1:30pm

 

[Picklestix7866]

Turns out she wasn't in labor. False alarm. Lol. Darn it.