FF Goat - Asking Questions

I am really starting to get very scared, I think we may be getting serious here.

If the discharge is orange colored it could mean that she is in labor and having trouble delivering. But you should have seen her gently straining. She will get up and down, be very restless, sort of hold her breath and push. I think I would tie her up, get some antibiotic soap on my fingers and investigate gently to see if she is open and there s anything there. Bright orange in the delivery fluid means that the baby is stressed and is passing the merconium. I would definitely do a physical internal check.

No its yellow. She got up from laying down about an hour or so. Not straining or pushing. She is talking some, which is weird for her and now is eating hay.

Here it is so we can be clear about what I'm talking about.

YAY! Kids on the way soon. That is the mucous plug! Absolutely nrmal. She can pass it immediately before kodding OR up to several days before. Since she is "talking" she may be in early labor.

I would definitely keep a close eye on her since she is talking now. Watch for her getting up and down, up and down, pawing, zoned out eyes, and arching her back- all signs of labor. So excited for you ! Will be watching for updates!!

Often, the doe will suddenly get her appetite back before she goes into labor. Mainly because the kids have dropped into birthing position and have given her more room in her rumen.

Now the real holding your breath waiting begins. Watch her closely for these signs:
1. Pawing or scratching at the , laying down, getting up almost immediately and doing it again.
2. Looking like she is holding her breath for several seconds and then breathing normally again - early contractions.
3. Steady labor contractions and finally pushing.
4. Appearance of the sac or bubble when heavy pushing is going on. That will be the baby making its appearance.
5. Once the first kid is born, I like to remove it since it will speed up labor and she will have the next one one more quickly. If she does not have anther one soon, you can check by straddling her and putting your arms aroud her middle. Gently lift up with yur hands under her belly. If there is a second kid in there, you should feel some hard lumps which is another kid. She shouldn't have any trouble. If she does, I will keep checking for any postings from you.

Waiting is nearly over!

Ridgetop said:

Often, the doe will suddenly get her appetite back before she goes into labor. Mainly because the kids have dropped into birthing position and have given her more room in her rumen.

Now the real holding your breath waiting begins. Watch her closely for these signs:
1. Pawing or scratching at the , laying down, getting up almost immediately and doing it again.
2. Looking like she is holding her breath for several seconds and then breathing normally again - early contractions.
3. Steady labor contractions and finally pushing.
4. Appearance of the sac or bubble when heavy pushing is going on. That will be the baby making its appearance.
5. Once the first kid is born, I like to remove it since it will speed up labor and she will have the next one one more quickly. If she does not have anther one soon, you can check by straddling her and putting your arms aroud her middle. Gently lift up with yur hands under her belly. If there is a second kid in there, you should feel some hard lumps which is another kid. She shouldn't have any trouble. If she does, I will keep checking for any postings from you.

Waiting is nearly over!

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I really like the “She shouldn’t have any trouble” part. I got scared earlier and I am so sorry. This can be so overwhelming or I’m just so exhausted from the whole process. Lol. She ate and is laying back down. I put her in her pen. Maybe this is the start of early labor. Maybe I have less then a week? I really just hope she does fine and has a healthy kid or two. I love her so much!

I am glad you are feeling more confident and less stressed. Actually sounds like a textbook kidding - I was worried when you said it was yellow. Glad to see the picture - definitely a mucuous plug. Like I said, once the kids settle into the birth passage, she has more space in her rumen. I have seen does that moped around the kidding pen for a week eating almost nothing, suddenly eat almost a flake of hay by themselves the day before they kid! She should kid anytime between now and a week from now. You may find kids in the pen with her tomorrow! Boers are usually easy kidders and excellent moms.

Don't worry about her udder not being huge. The first milk is colostrum and the kids can't drink a lot at first. By the 3rd day her real milk will be completely in. Just make sure she is letting the kids nurse. If she gets engorged with too much milk you will have to milk a little out so the kids can latch on or she will get sore and not let then nurse. Probably not going to happen.

However, keep an eye on her and watch for any indications that labor is not progressing properly. If she is really straining with no results, tie her up so she can't move around. Lubricate your index and middle fingers with antibiotic liquid soap (kills germs and makes it easy for you to slip inside the ewe) and gently insert your 2 fingers into her vaginal opening. If the birth canal is open keep going and see if you feel anything. If you feel something, you will have to decide if it is a nose, and 2 front hooves, - the best presentation; or a hoof and nose - acceptable presentation; 2 rear feet - not so good but you can work with it to pull the kid out.

Anything else, and you might have a bad presentation. You will have to lube your whole hand with soap and reach inside carefully. Cut your fingernails if they are long so you don't puncture the second sac on the twin. Then then you will have to sort out the different legs and kids by feel. It helps me to close my eyes and visualize the various parts I am feeling by feeling from the end of the hoof up to the body and feeling along to find the head. Then reposition the kid gently so the front hooves and head are coming out. The doe will give a few pushes and you should be able to grab hold of the kid's front legs and help pull it out. Clear its nose and rub its sides hard to get it breathing if it is limp. then see if the next one can come out on its own otherwise you will have to g back inside and help it along too.

I am more aggressive in helping my does and ewes by pulling kids and lambs because I don't like to wait until they are exhausted to go in and sort out the problem. I have pulled many kids and lambs, but most were born without any help at all.

Great information! I really hope I don’t need to do that. I have my bag ready. She was doing this weird thing with her tail just a bit ago. I was watching her on camera and every so often she would slowly curl it all the way up on her back. After watching her for a while I went out there and she did it a few more times and stopped. I am guessing I read or saw a video that those are contractions. She has not done it recently but will keep an eye on her. She is still laying down. Once I see her progressing and getting up and down, I will get out there. We have 20ish degree weather tonight and with the heat out there it is maybe in 40’s or 50’s. So I want to make sure I get the kids dried off. I got their heating barrel ready. I will let you know in the morning where we are at. Thanks again for being so informative and patient with a newbie like me. It makes all the difference just being able to talk about this with someone as experienced as you.