Mad at My Goats

[Watch Your Step]

Ok let me give you some background info. I have 2 does.

Dixie: A pygmy/alpine cross. She is about 5 years old. Never bred.

Bella: A pygmy. 3 years old. Has been bred. Bought with son Patrick.

Patrick: Pygmy/Boar cross. Bella 's son. 4 months. Intact buck.

We saw Patrick 'mate' Dixie. Patrick was sold after a few 'matings' to Dixie. (He's sold now and is a pet wether) Anyway August 20, the vet came out to check out Dixie and give her a Selenium shot. Vet couldn't hear the kid's heartbeat and said she is probably not pregnant, but there is still a possibility that she could. Otherwise she was very healthy. Next day I checked her ligaments, I do it occasionally, the ligaments were gone. Checked Bella, gone too. I have felt them before I know what they feel like and where they are. If they are pregnant then they would be due around September 15. September has come and gone. No kids. Both goats still have no ligaments. Bella leaked out some white gunk with Amber streaks. Neither one have big udders. Both goats where fat, then came out one day and the goats were skinnier. As if they 'dropped the babies'. Dixie has become more friendly. She is also aggressive towards Bella. If they aren't pregnant why are they showing symptoms? The vet didn't check Bella, but both goats get wormed at the same time with the same wormer, both goats get the same feed, live in the same area. If they are healthy then they shouldn't be showing these signs. Why are they showing these signs, is it an illness, a vitamin deficiency? What is it?

 

[elevan]

I'd have your vet come out and check them again if you're concerned. They sound like they could be getting ready to kid, it's possible your due date could be off?

 

[bonbean01]

I agree with Em...you may want that checked out...baby goats may be arriving soon?

 

[Watch Your Step]

The only way to know for sure would be an ultrasound. They were showing these symptoms since the beginning of September. (They are still showing these symptoms). Why would they be acting like this for so long. Yes, it is possible that I could be off with the due date, as Patrick was living with them. So they might have done it while I wasn't there.

 

[jodief100]

Goats can show signs of impending kidding for weeks prior to kidding. What was the last day Patrick was in with them? It may not have took the first time, especially with a young buck. Was the September 15th due date based on when you saw him breed them? If so and it didn't take than the best guess would be three weeks later- October 1st. You may have babies here very soon!

Are the udders growing at all? Do you feel any kind of bulge? Some goats don't fill their bag until just before or even immediately after kidding.

Good luck! I hope all turns out well.

 

[Watch Your Step]

Thank you.

I think the udders have gotten slightly bigger on Dixie, but I may be wrong. Neither one have bagged up yet. We were milking Belle, but have stopped, so her udder has gotten smaller, because she is drying up. It is possible that they bred later then we thought. We bought the goats in April, Patrick was sold around May 4. So they actually could be due this month.

 

[Watch Your Step]

The kids should have been here around the 4th or 5th. I'm really doubting if my goats are actually pregnant. If I knew they definitely weren't, then I would find a buck for them to 'visit with'. But I just don't know anymore. Why aren't there any kids yet?

 

[Watch Your Step]

7 weeks, 7 WEEKS . 7 Weeks ago they lost their ligaments. That's 49 days! Almost a third of the entire pregnancy! So basically for 49 days my goats have been showing symptoms of going into labor within a few days including:
*lost ligaments
*personality changes
*biting at sides
*leaking gunk
*dropping the kids

Why? Why all these symptoms and no kids? I keep hoping that their will be kids, but there aren't any. Will there ever be any kids? What's wrong?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I have never seen a healthy goat leak gunk for 7 weeks before delivery. A few weeks - off and on - sure. Ligaments soften up due to the same hormonal changes that induce labor. I've been raising goats for 25 years and I've never seen a doe 'lose' her ligaments for anymore than 24 - 36 hours before delivery, and they are back within 24 hours of delivery. However, they tend to 'soften' for a couple weeks before actually disappearing.

Do your does have udder development?

If it were me - I'd want an ultrasound just so you know what's going on.

Goats can certainly be expasperating - especially when you're waiting on the babies.
This is a great article on kidding and it explains a lot about the time sequence and what influences impending labor.

http://kinne.net/ob1.htm

Good luck!

 

[Watch Your Step]

Thank you for that article.
August 21 was when the ligaments softened, but they are defiantly gone now. I can feel her bone. I've been feeling the bone for a few days now. Both are pawing and lieing down and standing back up often. Both goats are vocal. Which is unusual as Dixie is typically quiet and standoffish.
I think I'll wait a few more days and then, if there are no kids yet, I don't know What I'll do. They have been showing more signs in the past few days.