Goat labour?

Hoping to pick your brains here for the moment.

I have 2 goats - a 3 year old nubian cross and a year old alpine cross.

Goat 1: Hannah.

Yesterday (friday) morning i noticed she would keep peeing and pooping. Like 2 or 3 times in a row just a few minute apart then she would stretch a few times in a row a few minutes apart.

This continued every hour or so throughout the day. Over the course of 2 nights and this morning
- her belly has continued to droop lower
- tail is open - i cna wrap my fingers around
- back ligaments gone
- baby has moved back
- constant pooping and peeing
- cervical check has been at 1/2 to 1 cm and hasnt moved however it has become stretchier.

Goat 2: Sparky-Ella

I checked the goats last night (saturday) and i noticed sparky was looking kind of off.

We did a quick check on her as i felt she got pregnant round the same time as hannah.

We moved her to the shed and so far has the symptoms:
- belly starting to droop
- white discharge/goopy clear discharge (when palpated)
- no cervix (feeling a squishy buldge)
- 2-3 fingers able to be inserted.
- wont lay down

Based on your experience, what is your thoughts?

Labour happening soon?
Over the next couple days?

Thanks all!

I'm better with sheep, but

They sound like they are within 3 days.  I would do an every 4-6 hour check at this stage.  That's looking in on them, not actually touching them.  

Just like humans generally don't like to have people poking and watching them while we take a massive and painful dump on the toilet, a goat will seek out a calm and private place to kid.  I find the more I interact with them at this stage, the longer it is until they birth and the more complications due to them not being able to relax.  

If you've got your diet and minerals right, the girls should be able to do it on their own.  Trust them.  But do check in on them every few hours.  

I'd say it's happening soon, but a watched goat never seems to kid! There's no danger in just letting her take her time, sometimes they can seem to be taking ages for it to happen, but late births are normal and healthy, and nothing to worry about.

When mine are like that, I try to observe from a distance, keep to normal routines, and be observant if they seem to be telling me something, sometimes I've had goats that want me to be there when they kid, other times they want to go off on their own. Whenever I'm there at the birth I keep enough physical distance to not annoy them, stepping back and keeping quiet if they seem to be stalling. Often it's better to not be there though, they can relax more and follow their instinct, but it varies from goat to goat.

I definitely agree with what R has said above!

How are they doing today?

r ranson wrote:How are they doing today?

Well. Things havent changed since I threw them both into birthing stalls.

I'd love to leave them in the shelter with the other gosts however we're about to hit a -30C dip and a winter storm here starting tonight.

Crossing fingers that if this happens it doesnt happen when i'm not watching.

Kate Downham wrote:I'd say it's happening soon, but a watched goat never seems to kid! There's no danger in just letting her take her time, sometimes they can seem to be taking ages for it to happen, but late births are normal and healthy, and nothing to worry about.

When mine are like that, I try to observe from a distance, keep to normal routines, and be observant if they seem to be telling me something, sometimes I've had goats that want me to be there when they kid, other times they want to go off on their own. Whenever I'm there at the birth I keep enough physical distance to not annoy them, stepping back and keeping quiet if they seem to be stalling. Often it's better to not be there though, they can relax more and follow their instinct, but it varies from goat to goat.

I definitely agree with what R has said above!

I totally agree that a watched goat never seems to kid. 🤣

Of the 4 times my goats have given birth on this yard ive only caught 1 and that was when she was RIGHT about to push the baby out.

However this cold... im nervous to let these 2 first timers go on their own because if something goes wrong or we're about to head into one heck of a cold dip... i dont want tiny freezing.

I have a goat in labour, can only see bag, how long should I leave her for?
All done now haha two cute kids latee