PG or what?

[peteyfoozer]

you are closer every day! The day she goes, she should look slab sided and the ligaments will be so loose it will dip on both sides of the tail head.
It's always so hard to wait!
Mine always get real active the day before, lots of pacing etc. I think maybe they are uncomfortable from the babies moving into position or something. All my mares used to do the same thing...truth is, they are probably doing it to keep you up all night so you will fall asleep when they really DO have them!

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

Hi!

I wish you the best with your doe due to kid. It looks and sounds like she could go any day!

Since you are a first timer, I hope you dont mind me giving you some advice? Im NO expert, kinda new myself, but I learned a few things (some the hard way)- Do you have a place for your doe to kid that she can be seperated from the other doe? She will need that.

I was wondering if you knew that you dont have to buy a buckling for breeding. You can simply look for someone with a nice breeding buck (people advertise them Craigslist) and you just take your doe to the buck for a 20 minute 'date', or sometimes they will bring the buck to you for a 'date' with your doe.

Since you are new to goats, I just wanted to share that little bit about getting a buck for breeding. Since you would want to know your due dates for kidding, you would have to have your buck in a seperate enclosure, and then youd probably need to get him a wether as a friend in his pen, or he'd get lonely. Keeping a buck for only a few does can be costly, between feeding them and fencing them in and away from your girls.

Bucklings are sooo cute and sweet,but a hormones raging, stinking, pee-covered, hump-everything-in-sight while in rut buck- not so sweet or cute. Of course, not all bucks are that bad, but I would really suggest doing your homework before getting into that. I thought I wanted to have a buck, but after what Ive seen and read, I changed my mind and fast. Not to mention, if I had 1 buck, and bred him to my girls, all my kids would be realted to my only buck, thus soon my buck would need to go so I didnt inbreed too much. For me, the cost of feed and fencing is too high to rationalise having a buck full time. I plan to 'rent-a-buck' when and if I decide to breed.

 

[Mitransplant]

PeteyFoozer, I sure hope it is soon. Only had them 5 weeks but this waiting seems like forever. I have been going out on and off all day watching her for different behavior but so far nothing out of the ordinary.



Pridegoethb4thefall, I appreciate anyone and everyone's advice and input. I don't know squat so most know way more than I do. Sometimes I open my mouth before I think things through all the way. I know it would be wiser NOT to have a buck for the reasons you stated. I just don't know anyone in this state close that has ND for breeding purposes. I have been watching Craig's list the past few weeks but think this might be the wrong time of the year to be checking. I will watch later this fall and HOPE I can find someone close to me other wise I will have to purchase a buck and use him just for the two I have now. Hoe do you find a buck to "rent" ? That sounds like an option as well.
Right now I am just trying to get through the birth of Java's baby (ies) and then make it through the summer. Thankfully there is Craig's List and I might be able to find a rentable buck or go for a play date.
I do think a lot about things and process it before I make a final decision but they are so cute when they are first born I have a hard time shutting my mouth and not saying what comes to mind.

We have about 20 acres and right now if it were all fenced in I would have a whole herd of goats. I think I like these goats more than I do the rabbits, chickens and ducks I have gotten into recently. You can talk to a goat and it almost looks like they know what you are saying and sometimes they will talk back to you (this makes it easy for me NOT to think I am crazy). Can't wait to get a hold of Java's little baby. Have my camera all charged and ready for the big day, when ever that is.

Today is rainy so won't be taking pictures today but will get some over the weekend and post on here.

THANKS ever so much to ALL who have commented. I do read and take to heart what you say. Time to go and feed the rabbits, check the baby bunnies and then let the chickens, chicks, and ducks out. Then spend some time with my two (goat) girls. THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[craftymama86]

Hi!

I wish you the best with your doe due to kid. It looks and sounds like she could go any day!

Since you are a first timer, I hope you dont mind me giving you some advice? Im NO expert, kinda new myself, but I learned a few things (some the hard way)- Do you have a place for your doe to kid that she can be seperated from the other doe? She will need that.

I was wondering if you knew that you dont have to buy a buckling for breeding. You can simply look for someone with a nice breeding buck (people advertise them Craigslist) and you just take your doe to the buck for a 20 minute 'date', or sometimes they will bring the buck to you for a 'date' with your doe.

Since you are new to goats, I just wanted to share that little bit about getting a buck for breeding. Since you would want to know your due dates for kidding, you would have to have your buck in a seperate enclosure, and then youd probably need to get him a wether as a friend in his pen, or he'd get lonely. Keeping a buck for only a few does can be costly, between feeding them and fencing them in and away from your girls.

Bucklings are sooo cute and sweet,but a hormones raging, stinking, pee-covered, hump-everything-in-sight while in rut buck- not so sweet or cute. Of course, not all bucks are that bad, but I would really suggest doing your homework before getting into that. I thought I wanted to have a buck, but after what Ive seen and read, I changed my mind and fast. Not to mention, if I had 1 buck, and bred him to my girls, all my kids would be realted to my only buck, thus soon my buck would need to go so I didnt inbreed too much. For me, the cost of feed and fencing is too high to rationalise having a buck full time. I plan to 'rent-a-buck' when and if I decide to breed.

I agree. All we have now is our new Nubian doe, mentioned earlier, and if she freshens a billy I will sell him. If it's a girl I will keep her and breed her when it's time. At first I wasn't going to get a buck til after she freshens but now I may not get one at all. I know someone who will let me "rent" their billies.... This way I won't have to put up with the usual pains in the rear that comes with having one, lol. I went through enough with our pygmy billy..... including several fresh eggs being destroyed after collecting or would get into chicken pens and destroy eggs.

Anyways, lol. Thought I would share my thoughts on that.


*edited for spell correction*

 

[Mitransplant]

Pride, Forgot to say that yes I do have a pen to put Java in so that she and the baby are protected. Hubby bought a 7x7x4 pen with a gate and I have that in the barn and ready for her when she shows more signs of impending birth.

I would love to find someone around here who would rent out the buck for a few. Most of the goats I have seen are solid white and all out in a field together. I have no idea what they are, thinking meat goats but not sure. I will just have to TRY and be patient and watch Craig's List and hope for the best.

Okay, you both have talked me out of a buck. (Unless I can't beg, borrow or steal one around here) LOL Sounds like they are more problem than what they are worth. I might have to buy one to breed the girls with and then sell him if possible after that. So much to think about but I have time since who knows when Java will kid and what she will have. THANKS so much for all your good advice. Deb

 

[SDBoerGoats]

I have to agree about the buck thing too. Although we do own a 3 year old ABGA full blood buck, and a yearling ABGA buck, if I had it to do over again, I think I would ship semen on my does! The older buck was a total pain in the ass when he was in rut, tearing everything up. The younger one is much sweeter and calmer, he has never rammed anything or caused any problems yet. Still, I could ship semen and save a ton of money on feed, worming, fencing.......

 

[craftymama86]

Our Pygmy billy was nice, never hurt us with his horns but they really can be a pain in the rear..... Though, IF you were to find one for a GREAT price, I wouldn't pass that up. If you think you could sell him or trade him for a doe (or partial trade) OR put up a new fenced area then that may work out for you.

.....I do NOT miss that billy's smell....

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

I would suggest you wait until your doe kids before you decide to breed your other doe. If only because you dont know what kidding will be like, and if you love it, you can breed her, but if you dont have a good/easy kidding, you might not want to go through it again.

Nigerian dwarf does cycle all year, so you can breed your doe anytime, depending on when you want kids born. Look for breeders in your area, and dont be shy to email them, and tell them your plans and desires for breeding. Sometimes they can help, sometimes they 'know someone' they can reccomend. Occasionally you might run into a 'snobby' breeder, but dont let that stop you! Ignore them and look for the kind helpful people who are most definately out there!

Also- look up your local ruminate vet (or any vet in your area if there isnt one that specialises in goats) and ask them for a reccomendation. Once you get the word out, people will find you! You could look into shipped semen, I dont know much about that or the cost, but its got to be less work and expense than buying, raising and keeping a buck!

Be patient and BE PICKY!!! DONT just breed to the first buck you find, look into his history and get pictures and bloodlines. Registration may not be important to you, but you should at least think of the kids' futures, a mis-bred buckling may be hard to sell. Pet quality is good, just think about the size of the buck, a small one is good so the babies arent too big for the mama to birth.

 

[Mitransplant]

Pgb4tf, I shortened your name, sorry.

I am going to wait and see what Java has before I make any more decisions. I have thought about if something should happen to the baby or Java and I think I would still want another or more goats. I can't let one bad experience wreck my raising goats. I really want to raise one from scratch or close to scratch as I can get so I can bond with it and it with me. I love feeling needed and then give unconditional love. I want to stay in the small size goat since I am not a spring chicken and want something easy to take care of. I did check into breeders of the fainting goats in or around my area and most of them are at least an hour away. There isn't anyone listed here in my town or close, but that is alright. I drove 2 and a half hours one way to get these two and am glad I did although I didn't think the breeder was very good about education me on the girls. She just told me that they had been wormed and their hoofs trimmed. They had been penned together that morning for the first time. Nothing else and she knew I have never owned a goat before. Told her I wanted them for the milk since I can't drink cows milk and she never told me that Nutmeg had just weaned to kids. Oh well, I learned from this.

I don't want a baby born in the winter. I would be afraid of it freezing or something. Spring babies are good. There is a vet in the next town about 6 miles away and I know they take care of horses so will call them Monday and ask about their knowledge on goats and go from there.

I agree about the semen and having it shipped would be less hassle.

I will TRY and be patient and picky and not take the first thing that comes along. As far as not being registered, I am not as worried about that as I am looks and temperament. I don't need a thousand dollar goat to have fun with it. I kind of like the cast offs and misfits, the runts. I am a sucker for the low man on the totem pole.

I really appreciate you taking the time to give me all this great advice and try and keep me grounded. It is so nice to know there are people out there who care and will help others learn from your wisdom . Maybe someday I can return the favor to someone else.

Will still take some pictures of Java maybe tomorrow. Her udder looks fuller but her "lady parts" aren't long like some of the other pictures I have seen of goats just before the kid. She is still having the discharge and udder if bigger. Tonight she was talking more and wanted more loving so spent some time down there with them. If it wasn't that they pee and poop anytime and all over I might bring her up to the house although the hubby said he was drawing the line at the rabbits coming in for the 100 degree weather in summer.

THANK you so much. Deb

 

[Mitransplant]

I checked Java today and I really don't think she is all that close to kidding. She is a LOT more vocal today and clingy if I am out there but her girlie parts don't look pink and her udder isn't all that big. I am thinking now that she won't kid till next month.

Here are some pictures of her:

This one was taken this morning.

This one was taken today as well.

I am feeling more movement when ever I go out there to spend time with them but......... don't want to get my hopes up and then have to wait longer, so I am telling myself that she has another two weeks or more.

Any thoughts ??