Goat Due Date Questions

[sweetshoplady]

My goat Strawberry, the part under her tail looks like Helmstead's in this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=160553

When is she due? What do I need to do? The buck arrived here 12/27, so it could be anytime after that. Is it 150 days? So that's actually less (a little than 5 months)

I'll see if I can get a picture of her up later today.

 

[lilhill]

If she's a mini and you're using 145 gestation, then her projected due date would be May 22nd IF she were bred and settled the day the buck arrived. Depends on when she had a standing heat after the buck got there.

 

[bheila]

Did you see her stand for the buck? It's so much easier to have a due date that way your not guessing.

 

[calgal98]

If she was bred immediately upon buck's arrival she would be due between the 16th and the 22nd of May. I usually figure 145-147 days for my Nigi's. I've had them come as early as 143 days and as late as 149.
I would give her her CDT shot NOW to be sure she is covered and baby gets the benefit of the immunities. Other than that, give her a good quality hay and maybe a handful of grain per day. You don't want them fat, but you do want them to get enough for her and her babies. Be checking the ligaments on the rear end. Those are a strong indicator of impending birth. Check on Fias Co farms website for more info. They are great.
I can usually tell by the udder whether a doe will have one-three babies or more. The earlier and bigger her udder develops the more babies I suspect. Good luck!

 

[sweetshoplady]

Sorry, Strawberry is a Saanen/Nubian cross. She was all settled in as were all the other does. The buck was the new arrival. I didn't see the breeding. She is definitely bred. The buck was about 8 months and shorter than the does at the time so it would take a few times for him to actually be able to be successful (I saw one breeding to a different doe and yes I forgot to write it down.

)

Thanks for the shots tips, I'll get my vet out and have him give all the girls shots.

I figured if they got bred January, then sometime in May they'd kid.

The goats have a lot of stuff to forage. The couple of recent rains really helped with plant growth, lots of new tender foliage to munch on. They also get grain and hay.