Things To Read

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

How the Does Do Grow

I thought I would give you another update before the kids are born. One Stripe and Copper both look great, the babies are active and the udders are filling nicely. In approximately six days, we should have kids on the ground. 

One Stripe is very consistent in kidding at 150 days after breeding. Since I have had her for six years now, my estimates of when she will give birth are usually fairly accurate. 

January 14th

All remaining pictures are February 3rd


Her udder will continue to fill until next week. It is still fairly soft.



Their hips are starting to hollow out as the kids move down and to the rear.


You can feel the progress of the hips beginning to spread over the last few weeks.


This will be Copper's second set of kids. Last year she gave birth at 150 days just like her mother, One Stripe. If they both hold to this tradition, One Stripe will birth next Tuesday and Copper will birth on Wednesday. Here is how Copper looks now.
 
January 14th

The rest of the pictures are February 3rd




You can usually feel the kids kicking on the right side during the last two months of gestation.

In the last few weeks, the kids have moved back toward the rear and farther down on the side.

Between now and then we will give the barn a good cleaning, and go through our birthing tote to make sure we have everything in order. 


It's a great time of year. Time for baby goats to start coming, time to plant seedlings for the cool weather crops, time to really start having spring fever. It's interesting how the fall tends to slow us down a little. Then winter seems to be a less active time of year for a while. But with the coming of spring the blood tends to quicken a little in preparation for the more active time of year. Are you ready? I sure am.

Until next time - Fern
 

6 comments:

  1. I can't WAIT to meet my girls kids for this year. So exciting and nerve wracking at the same time! My girls aren't due until March 24, but I'll be looking for kids around the 21st or 22nd and I just am so excited! Can't wait to see your new babies as well!

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    1. You're as bad as I am, Goodwife! Every time I feel the kids kicking around, which is usually twice a day, I say, "Hi babies!" We'll have this batch now, then another batch around the first week in April, so I'll get to see your new babies in between. We are also looking forward to having fresh milk again. It will be great! Thank you for the comment.

      Fern

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  2. I am excited to see your new babies! I can't hardly wait for mine to come but I still have some time! This is my first year with this doe so not sure of her timing. I have a window of the first week in April we shall see!

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    1. Thank you, M.E. I will keep an eye out for your babies in April.

      Fern

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  3. These two girls have the best udders I have ever seen on goats! Then there are the tummies! They look good, rotund and in great flesh for kidding! Its going to be better than Christmas!

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    1. Thanks, Fiona. It has taken me a while to learn how to breed for, or only keep, does with good udder attachment, teat size and good performance. When I was first learning to milk, I just knew that some goats were easier to milk than others. Some teats were too small, and some were too large and bulbous. Some teats kind of poked out sideways a little and some pointed down and were even. Some does udder's were long and swayed when they walked and some remained smaller but still produced a lot of milk. It takes time, sometimes years of practice, to be able to see all of the details and know what constitutes a good udder. I'm glad I'm finally to the point where I can now 'see' some of these things. I know there is more to learn, and I look forward to it.

      I don't know which one I want more, kids or milk. I think I'll ask Santa for both. (-:

      Thanks for the comment.

      Fern

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