Kidding
Kidding season is a joyous time, but it can also be frustrating, stressful, and heartbreaking. To set the tone for this magical time, I republish the following poem "Doe Code of Honor" below. Every goat breeder knows the Code and every doe lives by it. It should tell you everything you need to know about this special time.
Kidding season is a joyous time, but it can also be frustrating, stressful, and heartbreaking. To set the tone for this magical time, I republish the following poem "Doe Code of Honor" below. Every goat breeder knows the Code and every doe lives by it. It should tell you everything you need to know about this special time.
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Signs of Labor
Just like the signs of estrus discussed in the previous section, a doe may display all signs of labor or only a few.
*The most important items above that will PREDICT labor are the first three. As such, I will further describe those items below.
The very BEST way to predict when a doe will kid is to pay attention to two specific areas of her body. The udder, and her broad sacratuberous ligaments. As labor approaches, the ligaments to either side of her tail will slacken. The ligaments will get more loose until you cannot feel them anymore. When this happens, and the udder fills and gets tight, labor will start within the next several hours.
As labor nears, the doe will seek solitude away from the rest of the herd. She will look around for a safe space to have her babies where she won't be bothered by other goats. As solitude is observed, move the doe to the spot where you want her to have her babies (i.e. a kidding stall) because labor is imminent.
TO DO: Check ligaments and udder texture several times per day starting a day or two before her due date until she kids.
Ligament Test to Predict Kidding- Republished Blog post from 4/14/2013- Twin Willows Farm
Just like the signs of estrus discussed in the previous section, a doe may display all signs of labor or only a few.
- Loosening of the broad sacrotuberous ligament* NEW TOOL FOR RECORDING LOOSENING OF LIGAMENTS BELOW
- Tight, shiny, full udder*
- Seeks solitude*
- Hollowing near the thurls
- White mucus discharge
- Tail raises with contractions
- May stop eating (this has never happened on my farm)
- Stargazing
- Becomes restless
- Becomes vocal
- Paws the ground
- Licking her lips or the air
- Nibbling at her sides
*The most important items above that will PREDICT labor are the first three. As such, I will further describe those items below.
The very BEST way to predict when a doe will kid is to pay attention to two specific areas of her body. The udder, and her broad sacratuberous ligaments. As labor approaches, the ligaments to either side of her tail will slacken. The ligaments will get more loose until you cannot feel them anymore. When this happens, and the udder fills and gets tight, labor will start within the next several hours.
As labor nears, the doe will seek solitude away from the rest of the herd. She will look around for a safe space to have her babies where she won't be bothered by other goats. As solitude is observed, move the doe to the spot where you want her to have her babies (i.e. a kidding stall) because labor is imminent.
TO DO: Check ligaments and udder texture several times per day starting a day or two before her due date until she kids.
Ligament Test to Predict Kidding- Republished Blog post from 4/14/2013- Twin Willows Farm
Kat Von D is due this coming week. I took a picture of her hind end which has been shaved to prepare for birthing. This is Kat on day 143 of her pregnancy. If you look closely, you can see that her udder is filling and her vulva is swollen. When she wags her tail it looks very "jiggly" and you can almost touch your two fingers together under her tail head. Her body is preparing for the birth of her babies. When the doe gets close to kidding her ligaments on either side of her tail will soften. Start feeling for her ligaments well before kidding to get a feel for where they are. As the kidding date gets closer, her ligaments will go limp and eventually you will be unable to feel them. When they disappear from your touch, kidding is imminent. They might also get a sunken look on either side of their tail when the ligaments are gone.
Ligament test Update- April 2019
The loosening of the ligaments is the #1 indicator of how close a doe is to kidding. The loosening can happen gradually over a matter of weeks, or it can happen quickly over a matter of hours. As I was driving home from teaching class today, I was thinking about the does that I have due this week and next week. Because I have a 24/7 goat stream on Twitch now (twitch.tv/thegoatchick) I have many viewers asking about how close the does are to kidding. I have taught my loyal viewers all about the ligament test and I perform this test several times per day as my does approach their due dates. I have recently noticed that it is hard to describe just how loose or tight the ligaments actually are, and I wondered if it might be better to have a scale to record the current status of the ligaments. This would not only help my viewers to understand, but would also help us farmers to keep accurate records, especially when we have many due! I came home and devised a plan to develop a scale for recording the status of ligaments and will share it with you now. And because I invented it, I am naming it The Hopkins Scale for Recording the Loosening of the Broad Sacrotuberous Ligaments to Predict Parturition in Goats, aka The Hopkins Scale. Feel free to share =)
The Hopkins Scale for Recording the Loosening of the
Broad Sacrotuberous Ligaments to Predict Parturition in Goats
4- Ligaments are strong and rigid like a thin pencil, as if the doe were open (not bred).
3- Ligaments have a slight give (25%) when depressed with the fingers, but snap back into place instantly.
2- Ligaments are softened, and slackened (50%) and feel like like a strong rubber band. They are still easily felt with the fingers.
1- Ligaments are extremely soft and relaxed (75%) and are very hard to feel. It takes some time and concentration to find them with your fingers.
0-Ligaments can no longer be felt with the fingers. Labor is eminent!
Broad Sacrotuberous Ligaments to Predict Parturition in Goats
4- Ligaments are strong and rigid like a thin pencil, as if the doe were open (not bred).
3- Ligaments have a slight give (25%) when depressed with the fingers, but snap back into place instantly.
2- Ligaments are softened, and slackened (50%) and feel like like a strong rubber band. They are still easily felt with the fingers.
1- Ligaments are extremely soft and relaxed (75%) and are very hard to feel. It takes some time and concentration to find them with your fingers.
0-Ligaments can no longer be felt with the fingers. Labor is eminent!
Kidding Supplies
- Vet Emergency Number
- Your Mentor's Number
- Old Towels
- Absorbent (Puppy) Pads
- Lubricant
- Surgical Gloves
- Bulb Aspirator
- Piglet (or Lamb) OB Snare
- Iodine
- Surgical Scissors
- Nutridrench or Molasses
- A Big Bucket
- Tube Feeding Kit
- A Hair Dryer
- Insulin Needles
- BoSe Injectible
- Vit B Complex
- Dexamethizone
- Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
Important Note:
TAKE YOUR RINGS OFF WHEN YOUR DOE GOES INTO LABOR!
The Labor Process- Stage One
During the first stage of labor, the does uterus contracts to open her cervix to allow her kids to be born. This early stage of labor can last several hours. The biggest factor that affects the length of this first stage of labor is the position of the first kid. If the first kid is positioned correctly, his nose and feet will press against the cervix and cause it to open more efficiently. If the kid is not positioned correctly, then this stage of labor could be delayed. As you get more experienced with assisting at kiddings, you will be able to tell with some amount of certainty if the first kid is not positioned correctly due to how long the doe has been in labor. I usually let the doe contract for a couple of hours, and then go in to check the position of the kid and check her cervix. More on that later.
During this stage your doe may act restless, be vocal, paw the ground, exhibit the Flehmen response, and back her hind end up into a corner with strong contractions. Her mucus discharge will go from white, to clear and stringy, and then finally to yellow and ropey. Her tail will raise up with each contraction. Just like in humans, her contractions should get gradually stronger and closer together. As she progresses, she will eventually start to lie down with strong contractions. She will also normally kick her legs out straight from her body and hold them there as her contraction continues. This is the sign that the second stage of labor is starting and she is ready to push.
Please be aware that some goats like to push in a squatting position, so do not completely rely on her laying down and kicking her legs out to observe pushing. I've had goats deliver completely standing up before, and when they push they squat as if to urinate.
The Labor Process- Stage Two
Stage Two begins when the doe starts to push. This is also known as active labor. She might start off with a few test pushes just to see how it feels. She will most likely be lying down (although I've had a few deliver while standing) with her legs stretched out stiffly from her body. She may also brace herself against a wall, a fence or the floor to get more traction. If you have a walled stall, 9 times out of 10 the doe will position her butt in a corner where you can't see. This is ok as she will likely get up and down again many times before the first kid is born. She may begin licking the air and licking your hands as the hormones surge through her body in preparation for her to clean up her newborn kids.
Pushing can be identified by the raising up of the hind end in short bursts. She may grunt as she pushes. You may not see much progress at first, especially if she is a first freshener. If you have not seen any progress in 30 minutes of pushing, it is time to go in and feel for the presentation of the first kid. More on that later. The second stage of labor ends when the last kid is born.
As kids are born, clear their mouths and noses immediately with a towel. When they are breathing well, move them to the dam's head so that she can clean them up while you wait for the next kid to be born. ALWAYS ASSUME THAT THERE ARE MORE KIDS IN THERE! I never leave a doe alone until she passes her placenta and I know that she is finished. We will further explore how to care for kids once they are born in the Kid Care section.
Stages of Labor- Stage Three
During the third stage of labor, the kids have been born and momma is busy licking them clean. The passing of the placenta is the third stage. After the kids are born, you may see some bloody cordlike tissue and fluid filled bubbles hanging out of the doe's vulva. This is the placenta, and your doe should deliver it naturally about 45-60 minutes after the last kid is born. DO NOT PULL THE PLACENTA! When it is delivered, you can allow the doe to eat it so that she can replenish her body with the nutrients it contains, or you can clear it away.
If the placenta has not been delivered within two hours of the kids being born, it is possible that your doe has a retained placenta, although a true retained placenta is one that has not been passed in 12 hours. This is usually the sign of something else, most likely selenium deficiency. In a true retained placenta, your vet will probably prescribe oxytocin to induce the delivery of the placenta. You must be absolutely sure that the doe's cervix is still open when using oxytocin. Natural oxytocin can be generated in the doe's body by simply milking the doe.
Care After Delivery
The day following delivery, give your doe a full spa treatment. Clean up her hind end by giving her a sponge bath. Brush out her coat. Clip her udder short so that the babies can readily nurse. Milk out some of her colostrum to freeze and use in an emergency. Give her hooves a good trimming, and DEWORM WITH CYDECTIN! Deworming after kidding is extremely important, because the hormones generated by labor and delivery can cause a massive barberpole bloom, which can overwhelm a doe very quickly, causing death.
Now let's take a look at Difficult Kidding Issues (Dystocia)...
TAKE YOUR RINGS OFF WHEN YOUR DOE GOES INTO LABOR!
The Labor Process- Stage One
During the first stage of labor, the does uterus contracts to open her cervix to allow her kids to be born. This early stage of labor can last several hours. The biggest factor that affects the length of this first stage of labor is the position of the first kid. If the first kid is positioned correctly, his nose and feet will press against the cervix and cause it to open more efficiently. If the kid is not positioned correctly, then this stage of labor could be delayed. As you get more experienced with assisting at kiddings, you will be able to tell with some amount of certainty if the first kid is not positioned correctly due to how long the doe has been in labor. I usually let the doe contract for a couple of hours, and then go in to check the position of the kid and check her cervix. More on that later.
During this stage your doe may act restless, be vocal, paw the ground, exhibit the Flehmen response, and back her hind end up into a corner with strong contractions. Her mucus discharge will go from white, to clear and stringy, and then finally to yellow and ropey. Her tail will raise up with each contraction. Just like in humans, her contractions should get gradually stronger and closer together. As she progresses, she will eventually start to lie down with strong contractions. She will also normally kick her legs out straight from her body and hold them there as her contraction continues. This is the sign that the second stage of labor is starting and she is ready to push.
Please be aware that some goats like to push in a squatting position, so do not completely rely on her laying down and kicking her legs out to observe pushing. I've had goats deliver completely standing up before, and when they push they squat as if to urinate.
The Labor Process- Stage Two
Stage Two begins when the doe starts to push. This is also known as active labor. She might start off with a few test pushes just to see how it feels. She will most likely be lying down (although I've had a few deliver while standing) with her legs stretched out stiffly from her body. She may also brace herself against a wall, a fence or the floor to get more traction. If you have a walled stall, 9 times out of 10 the doe will position her butt in a corner where you can't see. This is ok as she will likely get up and down again many times before the first kid is born. She may begin licking the air and licking your hands as the hormones surge through her body in preparation for her to clean up her newborn kids.
Pushing can be identified by the raising up of the hind end in short bursts. She may grunt as she pushes. You may not see much progress at first, especially if she is a first freshener. If you have not seen any progress in 30 minutes of pushing, it is time to go in and feel for the presentation of the first kid. More on that later. The second stage of labor ends when the last kid is born.
As kids are born, clear their mouths and noses immediately with a towel. When they are breathing well, move them to the dam's head so that she can clean them up while you wait for the next kid to be born. ALWAYS ASSUME THAT THERE ARE MORE KIDS IN THERE! I never leave a doe alone until she passes her placenta and I know that she is finished. We will further explore how to care for kids once they are born in the Kid Care section.
Stages of Labor- Stage Three
During the third stage of labor, the kids have been born and momma is busy licking them clean. The passing of the placenta is the third stage. After the kids are born, you may see some bloody cordlike tissue and fluid filled bubbles hanging out of the doe's vulva. This is the placenta, and your doe should deliver it naturally about 45-60 minutes after the last kid is born. DO NOT PULL THE PLACENTA! When it is delivered, you can allow the doe to eat it so that she can replenish her body with the nutrients it contains, or you can clear it away.
If the placenta has not been delivered within two hours of the kids being born, it is possible that your doe has a retained placenta, although a true retained placenta is one that has not been passed in 12 hours. This is usually the sign of something else, most likely selenium deficiency. In a true retained placenta, your vet will probably prescribe oxytocin to induce the delivery of the placenta. You must be absolutely sure that the doe's cervix is still open when using oxytocin. Natural oxytocin can be generated in the doe's body by simply milking the doe.
Care After Delivery
The day following delivery, give your doe a full spa treatment. Clean up her hind end by giving her a sponge bath. Brush out her coat. Clip her udder short so that the babies can readily nurse. Milk out some of her colostrum to freeze and use in an emergency. Give her hooves a good trimming, and DEWORM WITH CYDECTIN! Deworming after kidding is extremely important, because the hormones generated by labor and delivery can cause a massive barberpole bloom, which can overwhelm a doe very quickly, causing death.
Now let's take a look at Difficult Kidding Issues (Dystocia)...
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