How do you know if a goat is pregnant?

[CK Chickadilly]

In Michigan lung worm has been a biggie lately. Cydectin (cattle drench) wormer takes care of that & then use Safegaurd horse wormer for the tapeworm. That is the biggest reason for coughing. Especially when they are playing or running & then they start coughing....lungworm! Hope that helps.

 

[helmstead]

Quote:
Don't express the nipples, you can dislodge the wax plug, allowing bacteria to go in the udder and bringing on mastitis. If you feel you must, be sure to use a teat dip afterwards!

Lets see those pics.

 

[helmstead]

Okay, here's an example of a doe close to kidding - actually this is my milking doe Marybelle 9/9/08 (she still hasn't kidded yet)...after her kidding haircut.

As you can see, her vulva is elongated and her udder is filling. You are starting to be able to see the midline between the halves of the udders. At this point, her udder was firm, but still loose (lol if that's not just a contradiction). I'll work on getting a pic today - as the get even closer to kidding, the udder will get ROCK hard - this is called getting shiny because the skin will be so taught that it become shiny. When this doe actually freshens, her udder will be about twice this size.

Do yours look anything like this?

 

[bbRedMom]

Well, they are about 5-6 weeks from kidding, so they aren't that big, but the back two nipples are away from the belly.

Did I mess anything up messing with her nipples? Should I clean them as soon as I get home? This is so unexpected....

I'll have pictures tonight. I'm at work, and unfortunatly, the state frown on farm animals in the work place.

If they are both pregnant, do they need seperate birthing pens from each other? I know to seperate them from Jack.

 

[helmstead]

Well it could just be that they're in heat...you never know sometimes. Many of my does' udders enlarge when they're in season. What do you mean the back two nipples? Do your goats have extras? Just curious...

Ideally, yes - you'd want two kidding stalls/areas for them. However, the ideal isn't always possible. Case in point, stupid me set eggs to hatch last weekend, and one of my goat stalls doubles as a chick brooder...so right now I just have one 10 x 10 stall available and three does due any day. Yup, they're having to share. Luckily, all of my goats get along fairly well so this isn't a huge problem, just not my ideal.

Looking forward to pics. It's too late now to worry about washing those teats, just don't make a practice of expressing them unless you have teat dip.

 

[bbRedMom]

Alright, I got goat butt pics!

Lil'Bit was a little more camera friendly. A little...tooo friendly.

Rosie, as always, was the difficult one. I can try again when DH is home and can hold her in place.

So, whats the verdict?

 

[helmstead]

Lil Bit is def. bred and about a month or so out (first freshening?) unless she's a FF in which case I can't judge by her udder...but that vulva is relaxing.

IF Rosie is bred, she's not far along or as far along as Lil Bit. But her vulva is a different shape than any of my girls, so maybe it's a trick of the eye. If you can try to get a photo of her with her tail held up more, just like the first one.

If you'd like I can post these on another board with a "pooch test" expert...

Are they with a buck?

 

[bbRedMom]

They are not with a buck. Jack was castrated, and is very, very smug.

This would be the first pregnancy for both. They were bred last fall, but didn't take.

Yes, please post anywhere! I want to know for sure.

I'm so disappointed in myself. I should have been more careful. I just assumed since it was spring and not fall that they wouldn't go into heat.

What about a birthing pen. I have two options:

1. We have a smaller pen we can just put Jack into, and the girl(s) can have the larger pen to them selves.
2. I have an inside room of the barn that is better insulated, but not poop friendly.

Since these are going to be winter babies, do I need to make any extra prep for them?

I'll try and get more pics.

 

[bbRedMom]

Ok, I got another shot of Rosie. I hope this one is better.

I went ahead and seperated Jack from the Girls, so he can start getting used to it. He is not happy, but he'll be ok.

 

[helmstead]

Okay, I've asked for help on the pooch test...will let you know!

You don't necessarily HAVE to separate your wether out until the does get really close to kidding. At that point, they secrete a hormone that is similar to their estrus hormone...making the guys chase them around trying to breed them. THAT is when they need to get separated. For now, it's less stressful to leave them together.

For ME...if it's below 50 at night, the heat lamps go on for the kids. In deep winter, they're on 24/7. Kids don't fare well cold...so yes, you'll need some special arrangements.