Nigerian Dwarf Due To Kid/First Time For Both Of Us/Questions

[Patchesnposies]

Hello Folks! My Little Tassel is due to kid in May. She was bred towards the end of Dec. so I am thinking it will be more likely the end of May.

She isn't real huge, so she probably has a singleton baby in there. Her bag is developing nicely, not too taut yet. She hasn't gotten the sunken around her pelvic area, I am watching her closely.

I have moved her into a smaller pen and put her sister in with her.

My question is whether or not I should remove Trinket (sis) so she can be in there by herself. I want to keep a fresh bed of straw down and give her some peace and quiet.

I do worry that she will be stressed without her sis in there too. But Trinket can be a little squirrelly.

I want to milk her. Do I start right away or do I let the baby have Mama for a while and begin milking after the colostrum?

Do I milk her first and then put baby on?

Any advice would be appreciated. I know that goats have been kidding since the beginning of time, but I imagine I should be on hand in case something goes wrong.

Thanks in advance for help provided!

ETA: Tassel is over a year old, if that info helps at all.

 

[calgal98]

With my Nigerians I figure a due date of 145 days +/-. I count 20 weeks and then bring them up at nite with a buddy so they get familiar with the kidding pen and enable them to eat without rushing. A companion is needed until they kid and even then is nice if you can separate them. Babies need time to figure out who is momma. I usually give at least 5 days alone before allowing them time out. Then I give them a couple of trips out of the pen to see if babies are ready to follow mom. If not, a couple more days in the baby pen.

If you are going to bottle feed the babies start right off the bat. Separate them and begin bottle feeding. If you are only going to take any surplus milk, wait a couple of weeks. Colostrum doesn't taste that good and the babies need it. At two weeks the babies are old enough to spend the nite in a pen away from momma for the nite and you could milk in the morning and then let them run together for the day. This way you get one milking and they still don't need to be bottle fed.
I don't milk mine until I wean the babies. I will bring them up and go through the motions at two weeks until weaning, including milking process, but they don't save me much milk that way. They do get used to the process and to milking that way, and get the extra grain they need for milking/babies.

During the last month of pregnancy I usually handle my does a LOT. This includes the udder so that they lose the protectiveness of it. I keep handling until the doe is de-sensitized to udder manipulation. I include the teats. I don't milk as I don't want to introduce bacteria, but I do a lot of *handling*. Mine usually don't blink when the milk stand is introduced.

I know, I'm talkative. Probably more info than you really wanted. Enjoy the new kids. They will be tiny and absolutely adorable.

Vicki

 

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[dkluzier]

We had two pregnant does and we did not separate them until absolutely necessary so as not to cause undue stress on either momma. We then kept Babs and her twins in a small stall where her still pregnant sister, Tiny could see and hear her and the babes. Worked out nicely.

 

[Chatychick]

As long as they can see each other and touch each others nose they should be fine in separate stalls just in case someone surprises you. Also the little ones can get thru cattle panels so I put welded wire around mine where they cant get thru. Good luck

 

[FrizzleFreak]

All the info here is good, I just wanted to say that my babies coming in June/July-one may be named Trinket! It's just perfect!

 

[Patchesnposies]

Thanks to everyone who took the time to give me all of this wonderful advice.

Tassel still has not kidded, but I expect it to happen any day now.

I will post pictures of the new mom and baby...(dare I hope for babies?)....when the blessed event happens!

I meant to say thanks days ago....life can get so crazy!!!