Another goat kidding question

[Thunderhill]

Everyone does things differently and there are 100's of Right ways and 100's of wrong ways.

For our little farm, I put the doe in a kidding pen that is free from drafts and I turn on a heat lamp if it is really cold outside. It doesn't hurt a darn thing.
I've had kids born in freezing weather and have lost a few....the heat lamp makes me feel better

 

[PortageGirl]

Oh I agree Thunderhill, and hearing about your barn lilshadow, yes, it might be good to get her into a more sheltered spot. If it's drafty then I agree, like I said, if she's in a draft free area where she can make a warm nest, it's usually fine.

Garage maybe? They do like quiet for kidding... but if you can block off a corner, and yes, there you can probably suspend a heat lamp from a rafter, so it sounds like it could do quite well. Like I said, I'm not trying to be critical or contradictory, I'm really sorry if it came out like I was.

 

[bargain]

I bring my kids into the house. I have slate floor, line with feed bags and also newspapers and then old towels on top and a box with heat lamp (safely attached up high) We have milk goats and we bottle feed them after delivery. After about a week they go outside into the kiddie barn.

When you change the pen, it doesn't in the house.

Also, I take them for walks when the weather is nice. 0 losses on kids here todate and hope and pray this continues.

 

[Thunderhill]

Yep, I learned my lesson the first year I had goats....heat lamps are wonderful and I haven't lost a kid to freezing since then.
Your garage sounds like a wonderful idea

If you have a baby monitor you could put it in the room with her tonight. If she starts laboring hard you will probably hear her yell.

 

[FarmerChick]

I am super fortunate being in the south. I have 30 goats about to kid out right now and our night temps are high 20s--low 30s.

I don't know how ya'll do it with the -15 or -30 temps...whew...I know that makes farm work all the more hard to handle.

I don't use heat lamps at all BUT in some of the winter conditions I hear about...sure I would if necessary!

 

[Thunderhill]

I'm in the South too but I do use heat lamps if we are going below 25 at night. and I've had great success.....so there is two different folks who do it two different ways and we are both successful. Just goes to show there is more than one RIGHT way

Also wanted to add for lilshadow - if you see a long string of mucus coming out, you will probably have kids within a couple of hours

 

[lilshadow]

I am on kid watch for the next 24 hrs. I just went to check on her, she seems fine. I went out an hour ago, and felt her udders. There was frozen milk on one. I don't think it could be water. Maybe I am panicking for no reason, but I am not taking the chance. So when it is 30 below tonight , I will be truckin' it out to the barn. I hope my DH comes home soon, he has to help me get her set up for the garage. My family thinks I am nuts. That's okay though.

 

[FarmerChick]

30 below
heaven help ya....that is just rough! I wouldn't make it!!

the garage will be more kind to the goat and her kids I am sure.

 

[PortageGirl]

I don't think your nuts at all. Cold is one thing, if they're acclimated to it even moms can deal with it, but drafty to the point of windy in sub zero is VERY worth taking extra precautions over!!! Do what you think is best. People here may say this or that, listen and weigh what's said, then go with your own decision!!

 

[Cara]

Go with your gut

I've realised that it's worth taking the flack if you have peace of mind that your animals are healthy/comfortable. I've had a few occasions where i've been talked into going against my instinct, and there's nothing worse than being proved right