Lets talk about goats!

[gonechickens]

Question about possible pregnant doe. My husband and I just purchased our first Nigerian Dwarf doe. When we went to pick her up. The owner said that there is a very high chance that she is already pregnant but doesn't have an exact date. As she just bought her back from the people she sold her to. Also said that she's noticed that she's starting to gain weight and get bigger. She is 4 y/os. The previous owner said that she's been bred every year having twins, triplets, triplets, then a single. Because she had the single. The gal who purchased her didn't want her anymore. She's an extremely sweet doe. I have read EVERYTHING that i can find on pregnant does. Trying to be prepared as much as possible. My question is there anyway to tell how far along she is? If she is in fact pregnant. We have yet to build the birthing shelter/pen. Since we didn't plan on breeding our does we purchased until later this year. We want to make sure that we get the birthing shelter and pen built and ready for her before she goes into labor.



Pic taken today.



Taken day we brought her home. (2 days ago)

 

[cassie]

If she is pregnant you will start seeing changes at the top of her udder. I don't see any of those changes now. The udder starts to develop and fill during the last two months. Just keep an eye on the top of that rear udder. You may see some changes in the vulva, too as the pregnancy progresses.

 

[gonechickens]

Thank you so much for the information. I will keep an eye out. I just came in from feeding and shes puffy down there today. I have been checking on her multiple times a day. Is this the type of change you're talking about?

 

[cassie]

You don't need to keep checking her unless you want to. She isn't going to deliver any time soon. The udder is not filling at the top and the vulva doesn't look like she's pregnant either. That doesn't mean she isn't pregnant. It just means that if she is pregnant as of now she isn't showing any symptoms.

 

[gonechickens]

Thank you. I'm not checking on her for labor signs. More checking on her to try to figure out if she is or is not pregnant. Looking for any signs of pregnancy or heat. Either way if she is or is not pregnant is fine with us. Although my husband would love if she was. He can't wait to start making his own cheese, from fresh goats milk. Thank you again for the information and will keep an eye on her udder to see if it starts to fill at the top.

 

[politicalcenter]

It is kinda hard not to be impatient and even if you are sure the Doe is expecting it still seems to take forever. I would suggest that you make sure she is dewormed. If it has already been mentioned.. sorry..but worms can kill kids.

 

[moomoodiddy]

Hey y'all! I haven't been on this website in a while and I decided to check in and see if there was a good goat page. I used to have a Boer doe about five years ago but have recently purchased a precious little starred black Nigerian dwarf and pygmy mix doeling that I bottled raised. She is now almost 4 months and is basically like one of the family dogs, she plays with the other dogs and birds and rides in the truck to check the cows. I plan on breeding her in the spring possibly with a buck on a small hobby farm down the road to get milk and another doeling. I figured y'all could be some help on who I should breed her to and ideas on pen layouts and other feeding/vaccination schedules (reading books is nothing like raw personal experience). Mainly just brush up on my goat knowledge and talk to others about these awesome creature. Have a blessed day.

 

[gonechickens]

It really is hard to not be impatient. The first thing we did the day we brought her home is weigh her, worm her and gave copper bolus. Plan on doing a second worming 10 days from the first worming. The home we got her from was only feeding alfalfa and nothing else. I can't tell you how many times i have read fiascofarm.com. Before we got goats i wanted to be as informed as i could be. Before even posting here, i have read so many articles here. They have been beyond helpful.



To Moomoodiddy, I would recommend reading http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm A LOT of information there. I'm new to owning goats myself and reading that has helped a lot on some of the information that you asked about.

 

[cassie]

Just curious. Why did you give her a copper bolus? How did you know she needed one? Do you live in a copper deficient area? That is one thing I never had to worry about with my goats but I knew people in other areas that did. As for alfalfa, do you think there is something wrong with feeding alfalfa? Sounds like you are trying to do everything right.

 

[gonechickens]

We do live in a copper deficient area. We had started out with our wether and our bucks. My husband wanted to get the boys first to have a lot of time with them. Even with the diet and loose minerals our boys got the copper burnt color to them. We bolus them, now they are looking great.

I am not saying that anything is wrong with alfalfa, as alfalfa is apart of our feeding regime. What i was meaning, was that the only thing they were given (3 in total) is alfalfa. They had no browse. They had no minerals.

Honey (the doe) coat is very dry and coarse. Along with her major fishtail. The other doe they had, from what they said was she was originally coal black. Now she looks chocolate along with hair loss around her eyes, and long hair on her back legs. The hair on the back of her legs is the copper burnt color. From everything i have read that is all signs of copper deficiency.

We are trying to do everything right. But speaking to people who are experienced always helps. Any advise is always welcome. Anything that we can learn to take proper care of our goats.