Goat Gestation...l-e-n-g-t-h

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Yes, it Miss Impatient again. Just curious to know what the longest time has been in your goats from breeding to delivery? I am actually kind of wondering if Peaches is actually pregnant, or just fat. One of my does is fat. I can't seem to get her to slim down. She's a pig. I really need to go take a an intro course in vetting. Is there a way to truly check for pregnancy? I haven't felt kids move in her, but I didn't in Slinky either.

-- dreen (animalwaitress@yahoo.com), August 02, 2001

Answers

hi, Doreen, are you still waiting for that goat to kid?? I have one I'm wondering the same thing about. Sold the buck mid March, so either she kids this month or she goes on a diet!!

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), August 02, 2001.

yep. Still waiting....sigh. This is the doe I got from Vicki and she told me last time she freshened she didn't bag up...and she hasn't. She is big, and she walks like she's preggers, but she isn't showing any signs of possibly letting go of her load at all. I'm wondering how long the super glue as teat tape lasts? I left for a few hours yesterday thinking that might make her get ready;). Today is 155.

-- Dreen (bisquit@here.com), August 02, 2001.

I'm sure you won't like this answer, but I have a notation in an old record book that says "Angel carried 160 days", and I'm sure of the breeding date because she was taken to the buck, not pasture bred. Just when you think it'll never happen, it will.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), August 02, 2001.

Well, Slinky went 157. So Angel wins! We'll see how Peaches pans out...maybe 161??? I am sure you are right about the "just when ya think it will never happen" aspect of things. It's that way all the time, huh? I'm really curious to know what the longest time ever was. It would give me something to shoot for!;}.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), August 02, 2001.

Hi Doreen, I was just thinking about hiding, but figured you know where I live!! It simply makes you feel awful when a doe you sell doesn't kid, or doesn't kid on her due date. Yep went to the breeding calandar and it is 155 today. Problem is was that once you said you wanted them she was in with Bishop until you picked them up, which I didn't write down the day you came. Point being if she recycled and was bred when I didn't see her. Was she with Bishop at your house also? Did she have any colostrum in her udder when you taped her? That's a sure sign, course in an older doe that just means between now and 6 weeks :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 02, 2001.


Oh boy. I suppose all I can really do is keep on checking her tail ligaments then and when they are no longer there...pray that she lets go. Yes, she was in with Bishop here for three weeks after I picked them up. I wanted to make sure they were all settled and that they didn't get sick or anything. I didn't see any sign of her cycling at all when they were together, nor since I picked them up. that completely rules out lute tho'. If there's a possibility she was bred much later I can't take that chance with her. I picked them up on the 17th of March...but nubians can breed out of season, right? Maybe we should start like a football pool or something?

-- Dreen (bisquit@here.com), August 02, 2001.

Sorry, I forgot..I didn't check her for colostrum, just didn't think of doing it. And don't ever think you have to hide! I just am concerned about getting the kids...should she have kids...;}. If she isn't pregnant I am afraid I have a very fat goat on my hands. I suppose I can take her to the vet Saturday morning and have him tell me for sure. It just seems like I ought to be able to tell myself. I tried one of those pregnancy tests for people on a dog once and it wasn't right, so I had no reason to believe that it would be correct for a goat. Is that any kind of possibility? It would be less stressful on her than a trip to the vet. Thanks!!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), August 02, 2001.

If she's that pregnant you should be able to bump a kid .I am convinced goats give birth when the time suits them .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), August 02, 2001.

I believe I have a very overweight goat on my hands. Bummer!!! I pushed and prodded her all around and felt no kids. I took off the teat tape and checked her milk and it is thin white and watery. Oh bother! All this time I thought I was going to blessed with little floppy earred babies and I was just making the doe FAT! Aw nutz! Well, I guess it's time for her to visit the buck and see if she'll go into heat.

Thanks for your commisseration and advice. Now I have to go back to work proper.

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), August 03, 2001.


Doreen don't be looking at Peaches big barrel and think she is overweight. She is from a very slow maturing line and most POTF stock isn't even full grown until 4 or 5. You are probably comparing her to your much dairier Toggs. The only way to check for over conditioning on Nubians (well my bloodlines) is to feel over the ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs, but their should be some flesh over the ribs. If you feel a roll :) well then yes cut back her grain, but if you feel skin and ribs, than she is not in good shape, unless she has just kidded and is milking heavy. Our bloodlines are big bull dozer does, well you saw them. Its nothing for folks to look at our stock and ask when is she do, when she is not only not bred but kidded 5 months ago! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 03, 2001.


Hey Vicki! She's got no ribs. She is STILL beautiful! I'll check for rolls tonight. I'd guess she has put on twenty pounds since I picked her up. I like the bulldozer analogy, too!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), August 03, 2001.

You have to look for ribs, if you push really hard you can feel them, but she doesn't have rolls. So she's just a healthy bulldozer! Do you think she would need to lose weight before breeding?

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), August 03, 2001.

If you are lucky enough to have a vet in your area that is acustomed to working with goats, an ultrasound is the fastest and easist way to detect a pregnancy early so that if you doe has not taken you may re-breed her.

-- Laurie Krug (IdyllBrook@Aol.com), March 28, 2002.

I just happen to read this and have the same question about my Belle. She is HUGE. Can't feel any kiddies. She's doing a weird neck strectching thing. Saw mucas in the past but not lately. Got her buddie Newman Neutred at 4 months which will be 5 months next month. Belle is only 8 months old, any thoughts?

-- Trisha Burr (burrtrisha@hotmail.com), January 13, 2003.

i have a goat named dee dee and i witnessed my female breeding with the buck. i dont really know if she is pregnant and it has only been a month. i am thinking of sending a blood sample to a lab but i dont know where to draw any blood. if anyone has a suggestion for me please i beg you please write it for me on this screen please. and what is taping the udder???

-- kari kitchen (goatzrul) (kkitchen@cfl.rr.com), June 13, 2003.


for your Belle i dont think it would be such a good idea to try breeding her because some goats have to be nine months old before they can breed and sometimes they can die from being pregnant too early. but it's just a suggestion and she could possibly be old enough. i think it would be safe to but just be a little bit catious.

-- kari kitchen (goatzrul) (kkitchen@cfl.rr.com), June 13, 2003.

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