HELP! Goat got into Chicken Grower/finisher and possibly in labor OR Bloat?

[H Diamond]

I have some GasX! I didn't know it'd be useful! That's great to hear!

So, would this be the 'hallowing out' stage? Where the babies have been dropping into position for delivery? right now she's walking around in the pasture, nibbling on gas. I had HOPED the little 'contractions' I thought I seen last night meant they'd be here by now. I think moving her into my bathroom spooked her. But it was too cold in the barn for the babies. How cold is it? Moving a goat from cold to warm and back is a good way to give her pneumonia. I had kids born in single digit temps this year and they did fine. I do use heat lamps, we can secure them really well in my pens, and I put in several fail safes, so if one tie breaks, there are like 3 more to keep them form falling in the hay,. Goats don't like change, that being said you didn't stop her labor. I find it easiest on the does to either 1) just let them kid where they want or 2) make a kidding stall ahead of time that is in the same area of the rest of the herd and in sight of the rest of the herd.

I noticed her tail ligaments had gone mushy around noon-ish last night. I've read that means within 24 hours she'll kid. So will I have goat babies by noon? Not necessarily. I have a doe that her ligs are gone about 2-3 weeks before kidding (honest to goodness) Generally it means they are close, but the 24 hour rule is not a tried and true rule. Loss of ligs just means "soon".

And can you tell how many babies are in there by looking at her? I'm hoping for triplets. A Boy and two girls. A Friend of mine wants a new billy for his flock and I want two more little milkers for mine! (Hopefully tamer, because Tea herself isn't too fond of the touchy feely stuff. ) No, you can't. The only sure way to find out is to count what's on the ground.

Also, I have a mix goat treat that I feed them from time to time. I thought it'd be good for them, but if chicken feed is bad I don't want to accidentally make them sick. It's 5 gallons of whole oats, a coffee can of sweet feed (the folders metal can) a pound of whole corn, and two to three pounds rabbit pellets, occasionally I'll put some Flax seed in it. Is this good for my goats? In your average handful you'll get two/three pieces of whole corn, 75% oats, and the rest rabbit pellets/sweet feed mix. At most they'll get 2/3 handfuls at a time, maybe a little more if I'm trying to catch them. The only part of that that concerns me is the "rabbit pellet". What is in the rabbit pellet? If it's just a hay pellet, then it's fine. If it's formulated for rabbits with lots of random stuff in it, I would replace the rabbit pellets with some alfalfa pellets. Otherwise, the mix is fine. A nice whole grain mix, low in molasses (due to the small amount of sweet feed)

Otherwise they mostly eat pasture. SHOULD I be supplementing with something else? Or is pasture OK for them if they are keeping condition?
So here is where the tricky part of goat keeping comes in. Your goats need a diet that consists of mainly hay and browse. A single adult goat should eat approx 5% of their body weight per day in long stem roughage. (Hay and browse) Your doe in the pictures above appears to be in good condition. You will need to reevaluate a little while after she kids. Chances are she will require some grain supplement once she starts milking. In adult dairy goats, the general rule of thumb is a pound of grain for the doe and 1lb for every 3lbs of milk she produces. For a nigi it isn't that high. I don't raise them, so unfamiliar with specific quantities on them.
And as always, keep a good quality GOAT mineral out for your goats. Not a sheep mineral, they do not contain enough copper. Some cattle minerals will, I use the Right Now Emerald mineral for mine, but I am severely copper deficient around here.

 

[Icedangel11]

SO Tea's been up and down all day, looking at her belly and stretching, and she'll occasionally bump her belly. Her Vulva's starting to hang so loose you can see the inside of it. I'm hoping that means goat babies tonight. Her udders filled up some more, too.

As for the how cold question it was about 40 degrees outside and I moved her inside to 75 degrees. I moved her in because the other goat baby I have was shaking when she was outside. And by outside I mean they were in a tool shed type building (Repurposed into an all around shed. I used it to brood chick babies before) and I didn't wanna wake up to dead babies.

Today it's MUCH warmer and she's chosen a nice place in the grass to lay down. She'll get up, turn around, lay down, repeat every couple minutes. When approached she doesn't get up to run away like normal (Like I said, not a fan of touchy feely) so I'm thinking she'll be very close if not already beginning.

And the rabbit pellets are alfalfa pellets.

 

[H Diamond]

That's plenty warm for goat babies with an attentive momma. Shivering isn't always bad... it's how they stay warm. And it sounds like to me you'll have babies soon. But I'm sure she will be sticking to the Doe's Code of Honor! Lol.
If I have flighty does, that one sure sign if she starts being friendly, lol. Good luck! If you have any problems, let us know!

 

[Icedangel11]

Well she's laying and every few seconds to a minute she's give a small jolt. Not a full body squeeze, but a tensing up for sure. Think that's a contraction? It's just like a little jolt. And again, normally she bolts whenever I open the door, now she's staying laid down and just watching me.

Eee, I'm so excited! It's a cross between the momma (Tricolor moonspot, white marked, blue eyes) and a black moonspot white marked blue eyed daddy.

Any bets on what the babies will be? I've got Two girls, Two girls and a boy, and two boys, and Six girls, in the betting pool so far.

 

[Icedangel11]

Her lip keeps curling up at random times. Is this an okay thing?

 

[Stacykins]

Her lip keeps curling up at random times. Is this an okay thing?

It is called a flehmen response. It is normal goat behavior.

The biggest thing, if you are around for when the kids pop out, is to get their nose and mouth clear of fluids. Or some does, when they start licking off their kids, don't do the kid's face first. If you can get their face clear for them quickly, there won't be a risk of the kid suffocating on membrane or birthing fluids.

For example, this video is an example of what not to do. I am almost certain that kid did not survive because the person filming did not make a single move to get the kid out of the sack so it could breathe, and the dam wasn't making any strong effort to clean the kid. If the dam doesn't do it and you are there, definitely get it done.

 

[H Diamond]

One of each =p A tricolor buck and a brown and white moonspot doe

 

[Icedangel11]

So is the flehmen response a sign of a contraction?

She's rubbing up against things a lot now. Whatever she can find to rub up against she will. she's back to being a bit evasive again, so I can't get REAL close to her.

I've got a towel, a piece of grass, and some iodine ready. towel to do the face, grass to stick up babies nose to get a sneeze, and iodine to dip the cord. So refuses to go in the barn, so I guess she's gonna kid in the grass. Which is okay cause it's nice and the pastures very clean.

I was on the phone with my friend and I made a big show about how she's NOT going to kid tonight, so that means she will, right? XD

 

[Rhandi74]

Sounds like she is close. I have heard that if you rub some afterbirth on your arms she may become friendlier with you, I have never tried this because I have never had a doe give birth who was skittish.

 

[H Diamond]

Lol... have you read the Doe's Code of Honor? This is a good Youtube video someone did of it!

Honestly this is the first time I've heard of the blade of grass! I had to read that twice, lol. Babies sneeze on their own. And you're going to need more than one towel if you plan to do more than wipe off faces. At any rate, when the kid comes out, I just take my hand or a towel and get the gunk off the nostrils and mouth. The baby will go to sneezing provided it is relatively healthy.