I have a doe who gave birth to the first kidd at about 9:15 it is now 2:45 and she has not given birth to what I am sure is one more still to be delivered. She does not seem to be in any distress at this time but was wondering how long inbetween births do they usually wait. Also should I be worried if she is not showing any signs of distress. I can feel from the outside another kid and she is still very big. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), February 09, 2002

Answers

Gail according to my experience ( somewhat limited) and my goat vet manual, more than an hour after the water breaks, or more than an hour between kids, you've got problems. I think I'd either be feeling inside her to see if the kid's positioned wrong, or call your vet. Good luck!

-- CJ (cjtinkle@getgoin.net), February 09, 2002.

i'd say call the vet. we have had a doe lose a kid cause we didn't think there was any more after 2. came out the next morning and there were 2 cold ones ( and i don't mean beer by 2 cold ones) in the corner one was gone but we saved the other. we figured there was about 5 hours in between the kids cause we were cheeking one the family often. but we had missed 6 hours in the night. good luck and happing goating

-- marie (jolly_old_goat@hotmail.com), February 09, 2002.

Definetly, I would go do an internal exam on her.Did she pass an afterbirth? Are you sure you feel another kid? If a kid was stuck crosswise or tangled up the doe wouldn't be able to deliver by herself and after a while the contractions would just stop. Her cervix is probably going to need manual dilating at this stage. Usually births follow within minutes of each other, not hours. If you are not experienced or are uncomfortable doing this, call a vet.AS SOON AS POSSIBLE> I don't mean to be discouraging, but I doubt that any further kids will be alive.But they will have to be delivered.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), February 09, 2002.

gail, how is your doe??? It has been my experience over many years of goat keeping that my goats will not eat or drink anything until the delivery is completed of all kids, except perhaps a bite of hay to munch on. There have been many times when I have went in on a doe to find nothing when I was so certain there should be another kid. Now I offer nice warm water with honey in it and if they drink, I am home free. Never had it fail YET. (must include the yet cause if there is anything I have learned is that SOMEONE will take exception to my experience)

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 09, 2002.

After our most recent doe gave birth to two kids, she had the goop hanging out of her backsied 12 hours later. The vet told me to put my arm in and see if the stuff inside was just squishy, or if there were any bony things in there (unborn kids). Just squishy. It came out a coupla days later.

-- Paul Wheaton (paul@javaranch.com), February 09, 2002.

Gail, look at the newborn. Now look at your hand an arm. The kid is much bigger than both right? Lube up really good with oil and go in. It would take a great deal of deliberate force to do any harm. Anyone who has seen a prolasped uterus can tell you that it is very thick! Just your hand being inserted into the vagina, nearing the cervic will give the doe the urge to push, just let her push against your hand and go in and feel. Remember that their are two horns to the uterus, so sort of go to the right and then to the left. In 15 years we have never seen true retained placenta, where none of the placenta was hanging out, so if you don't have placenta hanging out than there is something else going on! I am not a "let nature take its course" kind of gal, I want those kids out once good active pushing labor has started, and assist in 99% of the deliveries. A lot more aggressive than my vet would like, but we have very few problems because of it! If you don't have placentas out in 12 hours get oxytocin from the vet, really is something that you need in the fridge anyway. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), February 09, 2002.

Check out this website: http://fiascofarm.com/goats/bouncing.html

it shows how you can tell if there's another kid in there uninvasively...

-- (teporaryme@cs.com), February 27, 2002.