Its the most wonderful time of the year!

As we conclude December we are rapidly approaching one of our favorite times of the year, kidding season! All video cameras are up and does who are reaching their due date will soon be check on around the clock to check for signs and symptoms of going into labor. While we do our best to keep record of symptoms each doe has before kidding we have many first year does we are not familiar with yet so we have to use the typical tell tale signs and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Although these are not always present and they can carry doe to doe here are nine symptoms of a doe who is soon approaching labor. (Published by The Free Range Life)

A Full, Tight Udder

About 4-6 weeks before kidding you should start to see growth in your does udder as it slowly fills in preparation of kidding. But just before delivery the udder will fill more completely. The skin will look tight and almost shiny. If you see this there is a good chance kidding will happen in the next 24 hours.

The Loss of Tail Ligaments

There are 2 ligaments that run alongside where the tail meets the spine. In a non-pregnant goat these ligaments will feel like pencils, but as pregnancy progresses they soften and about 24 hours before kidding the ligaments will have softened so much they will have seemed to disappear. If you try to wrap your fingers around the spine at the tail head your fingers should almost touch.

Vaginal Discharge

Discharge is often one of the first signs that your goat is closer to kidding, but unfortunately it can happen weeks before the big day. The amount of discharge is often what will tell you the most. If your doe has a lot of heavy discharge, she is probably close to going into labor for real!

Swollen Vulva

This is one of the signs I look for as a first sign. As the kids drop lower into the birth canal they will put pressure on the goat’s rear end causing it to swell and open slightly.

When I see a doe with a noticeably more swollen vulva I know she’s close- usually 1-5 days. This is when I start to do barn runs more often and start looking for other signs that tell me labor is near.

Standing Alone

Behavior changes can tell you a lot about how a goat is feeling. When my most social doe doesn’t run to the fence when I come to say hello, but instead stays pressed against the barn, I know something is up. This is especially true if I am there with a feed bucket! If she is just off grazing in another area, that is okay. But if you see her just standing around, not chewing her cud. Then you should think about putting her in a kidding stall.

Another sign that usually means delivery will happen in the next couple of hours (or minutes) is standing alone with her head pressed against a wall or corner. This is usually a sign of contractions, pain, and bearing down.

Nesting

Just before kidding your goat will likely separate from the herd. You might see her pawing at the ground and laying down, getting up, repositioning herself over and over again. She is trying to make her nest for kidding.

You may also notice her “talking” to her belly during this time. These nesting signs usually tell you that labor will start fairly soon.

Sunken Sides/Prominent Hip Bones

This is another first sign for me. As the kids drop lower and enter the birth canal, your goat’s body will change in appearance. Her spine and hip bones will stick out and be more prominent. And her sides will sink in and she may appear a bit skinny compared to the weeks prior. Her belly will appear to hang lower too.

Crooked Tail

Like with the sunken sides and prominent hip bones, the tail will change as labor gets closer. It will become a bit crooked in appearance- almost hooked. And it will stay that way until after delivery.

Contractions!

Contractions are a sure sign that labor is starting. You will see her arch her back and her tail will become even more crooked. You may notice her breathing heavy or panting between or during each contraction. If you see these, keep a close eye on her. You could be holding new babies very soon!

Source :https://thefreerangelife.com/signs-your-goat-is-in-labor/