“HowToBeAMidwifeToGoats”

Deborah Niemann

*FULL TRANSCRIPT*

Hosted By Marjory Wildcraft www.TheGrowNetwork.com

2

© 2019 Copyright The Grow Network / Grow Your Own Groceries. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without the express written, dated, and signed permission from the author. DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. The author reserves the right to alter and update his/her views for any reason and at any time. This report is for study and discussion purposes only. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided in this report, neither the author nor his affiliates/partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. If advice concerning legal or related matters is needed, the services of a fully qualified professional should be sought. This report is not intended for use as a source of legal or accounting advice. You should be aware of any laws that govern business transactions or other business practices in your country and state.

NOTICE You do not have the right to reprint or resell this transcript.

You may not give away, sell, or share the content herein.

3

“HowToBeAMidwifeToGoats”

Deborah Niemann

Marjory: HelloandwelcometotheHomeGrownFoodSummit.ThissummitisbroughttoyoubytheGrowNetwork,whichisthepremiercommunityofpeoplewhoaremakingourownmedicine,growingourownfood,andwe'rebecomingextraordinarilyhealthy.MynameisMarjoryWildcraftandIgettobetheluckyhostofthisevent.

Ournextpresentationisallabouthowdoyoubecomeamidwifetogoats?Andourpresenter'sveryexperiencedwiththat.Iwillwarnyouthatthisismoreofanintermediatetoanadvancedpresentation,althoughIthinkbeginnersmightbefascinatedbyjustwhatisinvolved.We'redefinitelygonnabetalkingabouttherealitiesofdeathandbirthandeverythinginbetween.Thingsthatcangowrong.

DeborahNeimanisourpresenterandsheisjusttheperfectpersontodothis.She'sahomesteader,awriter,andaself-sufficiencyexpertwhopresentsextensivelyonskillsforlivingmoreself-reliantlife.Shehasraisedlivestockfor17yearsformeat,eggs,anddairyproducts.AndsheteachessustainableagricultureonlinefortheUniversityofMassachusetts.Aswell,ofcourse,shehasherownonlineschoolwhichiscalledTheThriftyHomesteaderAcademy.She'stheauthoroffivebooksincludingHomeGrownandHandmade,aPracticalGuidetoMoreSelf-ReliantLiving,andRaisingGoatsNaturally:TheCompleteGuidetoMilk,Meat,andMore.Andyou'regonnafindthispresentationveryfascinating.

Deborah: Welcometokiddingseason,it'sthemostexcitingtimeoftheyear.Inthisvideo,I'mgonnatalkaboutwhatyouneedtodotogetreadyforkiddingseason,includingwhetherornotyouneedtohavekiddingpens,aswellaswhattypeofequipmentyouneedtopurchase.Then,I'mgonnatalkaboutthesignsoflabor.Throughthisall,therewillbesomevideossothatyoucanbetterunderstandexactlywhatI'mtalkingabout.Ready?Let'sgetstarted.

4

Alotofpeoplewonderiftheyshouldhavetheirdoestogetherforkiddingoriftheyshouldhavethemseparatedintokiddingpens.There'snotnecessarilyarightanswerhere,foryearswekiddedinanopenbarnandnowwehavekiddingpens.Thebenefitofhavingthegoatstogetheristhatifyou'renottherewhenoneofthemgivesbirth,thereisagoodchancethatsomeoftheotherdoesaroundthemwillhelptocleanoffthekids.Theriskisthatifthisgoatislowonthepeckingorderorifsomebodyelseseesthisastheiropportunitytogetuphigherinthepeckingorderisthattheymaynotnecessarilybenicetothegoatinlabor.Youjustdon'tknowwhat'sgonnahappenineachparticularsituation.

Youdefinitelywannahavetheminacleanplace.So,weuseadeepbeddingsysteminourmainbarnwhichisonereasonwhyIdon'treallywanttohavemygoatskiddinginthere.Wedoputfreshstrawonitcontinuously,butwhendoesareinlabortheytendtopaw,alot,they'llscratchtheground,standup,turnaround,laydown,standup,scratchtheground.Whentheydothatinadeepbeddingsystem,they'regonnabediggingupalotofpoopandit'sgonnagetnastyreallyfast.So,that'sonereasonIlikehavingtheminkiddingpens,isbecausetheydon'tgointhereuntilthey'reclosetogivingbirthandI'veputdownfreshstrawontopoftheconcrete.So,eveniftheydoalotofscratching,they'renotgonnabediggingupalotofpoopandweturine-soakedstraw.

It'simportanttousestrawinsteadofshavingswhenyouarekiddingbecausekidscanaspirateorchokeonshavings.Thebiggerkidsactuallyaremoreatriskofthis,thesmallerkids,someoftheshavingsmaybetoobig,butkidsareverygooeywhentheyarebornandshavingsarejustanightmaretotrytogetoffoftheseverygooeykidsiftheyhappentofallintotheshavingsandtryingtogettheshavingsoutoftheirmouthisreallyscaryiftheywindupinthere,unfortunately,wedidn'tknowthisandweusedshavingsforthefirstcoupleofyearswehadgoats.

Iambehindthecamerathistime'causeIwannagiveyouaquicktourofourkiddingbarn.Now,Ididsaythatyoucangivebirthinanopenbarnwithyourothergoatsaround,andthat'sfine.Wedidthat

5

foralongtime,butaftersevenoreightyears,wedecidedthatwewantedtohaveakiddingbarn.Theseareourkiddingpens,wehavefourofthemhere.Thisoneisfivefootbytenfoot,thisoneisalsofivefootbytenfoot,andthenwe'vegottwooverherethatarefourfootbytenfoot.Thereasonforthatissimplybecauseofwherethetwobysixesareonthewalls.

There'stwotherethatareeightfeetapart,sowesplitthedifferenceandmadefourfootpens,andthenoverhere,thisoneis10footfromthecorner,whichiswhywehavetwofivefootpens.IfyouhaveNigeriandwarfs,fourfootby10footpensareokay;however,whenwehadLamanchas,IreallydidnotlikethosepensfortheLamanchas,Igreatlypreferredthefivefootby10footpens.It'samazinghowmuchofadifferenceonefootmakes.

IfirstgottheideaforkiddingpenswhenIvisitedsomeoneelse'sfarmandtheyhadcreatedkiddingpensbyputtingtogetherpigpanelsintobigsquaresinawideopenbarn.SoIdecidedIwantedtodothat,Icamehomeandwedidthatandwediscoveredthatwhenyoujusthavepigpanelsorlivestockpanelssittingonconcrete,thatthegoatsmovethemaroundlikecrazy.Theygotreallyhardtohandleandtheymovedalot,andsothat'swhywecreatedwhatwehavehere,andsothere'saframeworkforthem.

Basicallyontheverybottomherethere'sapieceofallseasondecking,whichisthestuffthat,it'sacompositeofwoodenplastic,becauseweknowthatverybottompieceisgonnagetwetfromurineandstuff.That'sthispiecerightherethatI'mtalkingabout.Thatsitsonthegroundandthenthereisatwobysixthatsitsontopofthat.Ifyouseethebottomofthattwobysix,youcanseeit'sgottenwetovertheyears,soitcouldstandtobeupoffthegroundalittlemorethanitis,buthopefullyit'llstillgiveuslotsofgoodyearsofservice.Thenweattachedthepigpanelstothetwobyfourswiththeselittlemetalstrapssothatbasicallythegoatscan'tmovethemandtheydon't,sothisisgreat.Thepigpanelsgointogroovedpiecesofwoodontheendofthepensalso,andthenwe'vegottwobyfourrailsacrossthetoptogivethatmoreaddedstability.

6

Alotofpeoplewonderabouttheseshelvesattheback,andthatwasjustserendipitous,thisgreatbigonehere,whichhasannoyinglegsthatstickdownintothepen,actuallythatwashereinthisbarn.Itoldmyhusband,"Justleaveit,that'sgreat,"becausegoatsareverycuriouscreaturesandthey'regonnabestickingtheirnoseintostuff.Ifyou'vegotakiddingboxoryou'vegottowelsorwhatever,theymaybemessingwiththem,andsoIjustputthosethingsuphereonthisshelf.

Thenweaddedashelftothefourby10pens,andsoit'sconsiderablysmallerbutitstillworksandthat'sareallygoodsize.We'vegotoneoftheheatlampssetuphere,andyoucanseethatwe'vegotalargeI-hookthatisscrewedintothetwobyfourhere,andthenit'sgotacarabinercliponitthatholdsontheheatlamp.ThesearetheheatlampsfromPremier1thatweuse,whicharemuchlesslikelytostartabarnfirecausethey'reverysturdy,sothey'renotnearlyasflimsyasthosecheapmetalonesthatyoucangetatlocalfarmsupplystores.

Thehayfeedersthatwehaveinherearetheseplasticonesbecause,I'llneversayanythingisimpossiblewithgoats'causethey'reverysmartandcreativecreatures.Sofarwehavenothadakidhangthemselvesinoneofthese,Idon'treallyseehowthat'spossible,butlikeIsaidgoatsarereallycreative,soI'mnotgonnasaythattheycan'tdoit,theyjusthaven't.WeusedtohavethistypeofhayfeederinthekiddingpensandIgotreallytiredofhavingtorescuekidsfromthem,causeyouseehowthesetwopiecesherearenotparallel,it'smorelikeaV,andsothekidisstandingonmom'sback,sticksitsheadthroughheretograbapieceofhay,fallsoffofmom'sbackandnowit'sstuckinhere.

AfterthefirsttimethathappenedImovedthemdown,soIputthemdownheresothatthey'rebasicallyonthefloorandIfoundmany,manykids,Iwouldcomehereandfindalotofkids,they'rerighttherebecausetheirheadwasstuckinhereandtheycouldn'tgetitout.Eventuallythat'swhywedecidedtoswitchfromthistothisplasticstyleherebecausetheredoesn'tseemtobethatdanger.We'vehadthesenowforquiteafewyearsandwehaven'thadany

7

problemswiththem.TheonlythingIdon'tlikeabouttheseisifyoukeeptheminheretoolong,somekidscanbecomequitethejumperbythetimethey'reacoupleofweeksoldandtheyjumponmom'sbackandthentheycanjumpinhere,whichjustmeansthey'repeeingandpoopingonthehay.

Someofthethingsthatyouwillneedforkiddingarelistedhere.It'sveryimportant,younoticeIputmostimportantnexttobabymonitorandtowels.Really,it'stoughformetosaywhichoneofthoseisthemostimportant,ifIreallypushedme,IguessIwouldsaythebabymonitor;becauseyoucan'tbetheretodryoffthekidswithtowelsifyoudon'thavethebabymonitor.Ifyoudon'thaveababymonitoryouwillmisssomebirths,evenifyoujustcomeintothehousetogotothebathroomandhavelunch.Itisamazingtome,oncewegotababymonitorhowmanygoatswouldgivebirthfiveminutesafterwecameintothehouse,wewouldberunningbackouttherebecausenowshedecidedtogetserious.

Thebabymonitor,Iamtalkingaboutoneofthose15or20dollarmonitorsthatpeoplegetfortheirhumanbabies.Ifyouhaveametalbarn,you'regonnaneedtoputthesendinghalfnearawindoworadoor,becauseit'snotgonnagothroughthemetal,ifyouhaveawoodenbarnyoushouldbeokay.Wehavemetalbarns,sowealwayshadtoputthemnearawindoworadooranditworkedfine,'causegoatsscreamprettyloudwhenthey'reinlaborandtheywillechothroughthebarn.Infactnewbornkidsscreamreallyloudly,sothereweretimeswhenweheardakidscreaming,someofthedoesweremorestoicanddidn'tmakenoise,oncethekidcameout,itwasmakingalotofnoiseandwecouldhearthatovertheMonitoralso.

Nowyoumaybewonderingwhyyouhavetohaveababymonitortobethereifonly5%ofbirthsrequireintervention.Wellbyinterventionwe'retalkingabout,thekidsaretangleduporsomethinglikethatwhereyouactuallyhavetodosomethingreallybigandimportant.Inmostcasestheonlythingyouhavetodoisdryoffthekids,alsowithfirstfresheners,sometimestheyhavenoideawhatishappeningtothem.

8

Yourexperiencedmomswilloftenpushoutakid,jumpup,turnaroundandstartlickingthemoff.Firstfreshenersalottimesthey'rejustscreamingbloodymurderbecausetheythinkthey'redying,andwhenthebabycomesouttheyarejustsorelieved,theyhavenoideathatthey'vejustgivenbirthandsoyouneedtobethere,ifthatsacdoesn'tbreakwhilethekidisbeingborn,youneedtobeabletobreakit,otherwisethekidisgonnasuffocate.UnfortunatelythathashappenedmoretimesthanIwanttoremember,onetimeIwasrunninginandoutthroughthebarninthemiddleofdoingchoresandthinkingthatIwouldhearherwhenshekiddedandIdidn't.It'sreallyeasytomissitifyoudon'thavesomekindofamonitor.

Thetowelsaresuperimportantbecauseyouneedtodrythosekidsoff.Yes,thedoeswilllickthem,butunlessit's90degreesoutside,theycangetcold,especiallyifthere'sabreeze.Soyoudefinitelywannamakesurethere'snotabreezegoingthroughyourbarnoranythinglikethat.Thecolderitis,thefasteryouneedtogetthemdrybecausethegreatertheriskofhypothermia.Also,thesmallerthekids,thegreatertheriskofhypothermia.

That'swhyIalsohaveablowdryeronthislist.Weneverevenusedablowdryeruntilwehadourfirstbelowzerokidding,thenwestartedusingitaround10or15degrees.Now,honestly,Iuseitwhenit'sjustbelowfreezing,becauseIdon'tliketodealwithhypothermia.Thefirstsymptomofhypothermiawithkidsisthatthey'renotgonnanurse,anditgetsreallytiringtohavetobemilkinganewmomandfeedingababywithabottleoraneyedropperforthefirstfeedingbecauseitdoesn'thavetheenergytosuck.

Youcanalsogetfrostbiteontheearsandthetailsiftheydon'tgetdriedoffandwarmedupfastenough.Dryat10or15degreesiswaydifferentthandryonceyougetbelowzero.Onceyougetbelowzero,itisinsanehowlongittakestogetakiddryandyouespeciallyhavetopayattentiontotheearsandthetailbecausethosearethepartsthataregonnafreezeandfalloff.Youcanalsolosefeettofrostbite,butthatisevencolder,ithastobelike20degreesbelowbeforeyoulosefeet.Soyouneedtomakesurethosekidsareabsolutelycompletelydryandkeepcheckingafteryouturnofftheblowdryer.

9

Youneedaheatlamp.Anythingbelow40degrees,I'mgonnauseaheatlamp,justforthefirstcoupleofdaysandthenthey'refine,they'reabletomaintaintheirbodytemperatureandrememberthattheyarethenumberonecauseofbarnfires,sodon'tuseitunlessyouabsolutelyneedto.

Ialsohavemadekidcoats,that'swhat'sinthepicturethere,Imakeitoutofasweatshirtsleeve.Youcanseethatthewristbandofthesweatshirtisnowtheneckbandofthekid'sCoat.Shouldalsohavesomepritchardteatsandbottlesandthesewillfitonjustaplasticdisposablewaterbottleorsodabottle,soyoudon'thavetobuybottles.Althoughifyoubuythebottlesthey'rereallynicecausethey'vegotmarkingsonthemforhowmanyouncesormlisinthebottle.

Theoneontheleftisarealpritchardteat,theoneontherightisaripoff,IthinkmaybebecausethiscompanyisfromNewZealandthatthey'renotreallyenforcingtheirtrademark.Soyouwannamakesureyoucanseeexactlywhatyou'rebuyingbecausetherealpritchardteatismadewithrubberthatripoffismadewithplastic.Theripoffdoesnotlastverylong,kidscanbitethatthingandbitebigholesinitreallyeasilyanditdoesnotlastaslong.It'sreallyfrustratingthatsomeplaceswillsaythey'resellingPritchardteats,youorderthemthroughthemail,thenwhenyougetthemyoufindoutthatthey'rethosepinkishlookingthingsmadewithplasticinsteadoftheactuallatexonesthataretheoriginals.

Youshouldhaveoneortwooftheseatleastevenifyou'replanningtoyourkids,causeyouneverknowwhenyoumighthavetobottlefeed.Ifagoathastoomanykidstofeedherselforifakidgetshypothermia,sometimesittakesadayortwoforakidtogetoverhypothermiaandbythenthemomdoesn'trecognizethem.Youjustneverknowwhenyou'regonnaneedtobottlefeedakid.

Now,eventhoughPremier1sellsthesecoolbottlesandotherpeoplesellbottleslikethattoo,thathavetheirnameonthemandstuff,youdon'thavetobuythose.Thesewillscrewontoyourregularwaterbottlesandsodabottlesandthingslikethat.OnethingI

10

wannawarnyouaboutthoughis,ifyouuse,there'salotofwaterbottlesnowthey'retryingtosayplastic,andsothiscolorisreallysmall,solookatthis.Soyousee,youscrewthisonthereandit'snotallthewaydown,soitneedstobescrewedallthewaydowntothatgasketsothatitdoesn'tleak.

Irememberwhentheyfirststarteddoingthis'causewewerejustusingoldwaterbottlesinitially.Theywereworkingjustfine,andthenonedaywewentandusedoneanditleakedallovertheplaceandthisiswhy,becausetheyhadmadethispartsmallerandsoitwasnolongersealedonhere.Mostofyoursoftdrinkbottlesarestillbigenoughthatthisisgonnaworkjustfine,butnotyourwaterbottles.Somakesurewhenyouputthisonabottlethatit'sbigenoughtoseal.

Youalsoneedabulbsyringeandthat'spicturedrightthereontheright,andyouneedtomakesurethatyoukeepitinawarmplace.Ifyouhaveitinabarnthat'sfreezing,it'sgonnafreeze,andwhenyougotouseit,well,firstofall,you'renotgonnabeabletosqueezeit,'causeyousqueezethatbulbandthenyoucanputitintheirnosetosucksnotoutifthey'rehavingtroublebreathing,whichdoesn'thappenveryoften.Thisisthething,thisisoneofthosethingsthatyoudon'tneedituntilyouneeditandthenyoumeetitrightthissecond,soyouneedtomakesurewhereit'sat,atalltimes,'causewhenakidisbornandit'shavingtroublebreathing,youmayneedtosuctionitalittlebittogetsomeofthemucusout.Soyouneedtohavethebulbsyringetheretodothat.

Youcanalsoswingakid,butitdoesn'tworkanywherenearasgoodasthatbulbsyringe.I'veonlyswungakidtwice,itwasbecauseIcouldn'tfindthebulbsyringeandIwaswishingthatIhadthebulbsyringebecausetheswingingjustdoesnotworkanywhereclosetoasgoodasthatbulbsyringedoes.

Youalsoneediodine,thatmaybetocuttheumbilicalcordifyouwannadothat.Idon'tcutumbilicalcords,Iletthembreaknaturallyandtheyusuallywillbreakafewinchesfromthekid'sbody.It'sbeen,Idon'tknow,alongtime,probably150birthssinceIhadtocut

11

acord,itwastoothicktoactuallybreakonitsown.Mostofthetimetheydobreakontheirownwhenthey'rebeingborn.ThemainthingIuseiodineforisifIneedtointerveneinabirth,IwillsquirtiodineallovermydisposableglovesbeforeIactuallygoin,andI'llwipeoffthedoe'sbackendwithsomegauzeandiodine.

Scissorstocuttheumbilicalcordifyouwant.Iactually,ifIdon'thavescissorsanywheretodothat,ifthecorddoesn'tbreak,Ijusttearit,thewaythatyouwrapapieceofsewingthreadaroundyourfingersandripit,that'swhatIdo.Leavingatleastthreeinchesattachedtothekid,becauseI'mtryingtomimicnatureasmuchaspossible.Disposableglovesareespeciallyimportantifyoudon'tknowyourdoe'sdiseasestatus,orifyouarepregnant,orifyouneedtoputyourhandintoadoe.Inthatcase,you'redoingittoprotectheralso,you'reinabarnsoyou'renotgonnakeepthingssterile,butyouwannatryandkeepthemascleanaspossible.

Thatthingthatyouseedownthereonthelowerrightisa60ccsyringe,60ccsisabouttwoouncesandithasafeedingtubeattachedtoit.Dependingonwhereyoubuythem,thefeedingtubemaybebrownoritmaybeclear,butthisiswhatyouwouldusetotubefeedakidifitisunabletonurseortakeabottle.AfterIfirstlearnedtotubefeed,Igotwaytoocomfortablewithitandfoundmyselfdoingitwaytoomuch,nowItryreallyhardnottotubefeed,andsoasaresultIwinduponlyneedingtotubefeedaboutonceeveryfiveyears.Soit'sbeenafewyearssinceIdidit,sohopefullyI'mnotgonnahavetodoitagain.

Thelastthing[inaudible00:19:51]hereisacalciumdrench,andthecalciumdrenchiswhatIuseifagoatseemstobehavingareallylongfirststageoflabor,Iwillgiveherthat.Somepeoplegiveittoeverygoatthatgoesintolabor,Idon'treallyseeapointinthat,Ijustdoitiftheyseemtobehavingareallylongfirststageandjustincasethey'realittlebitlowoncalcium.

ThenextthingI'mgonnatalkaboutishowtofigureoutwhenyourdoeisinlabor.Nowobviouslythisdoeisinlabor,butshe'sabout30secondsawayfromgivingbirthhere.It'snotusuallythisobviousin

12

thehoursleadinguptobirthandsometimesnoteveninthedaysleadinguptothebirth.Thisiswherealotofnewpeoplehavetrouble,Iknowwhenwewerenew,wespenthoursandhoursoutinthebarnassumingthatagoatwasinlaborwhenshewasn't.Sometimessomebodywouldbesleepinginthebarnfortwoorthreedaysbecausewethoughtthatagoatwassoclose.That'swherealotofpeoplestarttoreallyworry'causetheythinkagoatisinlaborandthentheygoonlineandtheygetintoagroupandsay,"Mygoat'sbeeninlaborfortwodays."Everybodyelsefreaksoutbecausenobodyasks,"Well,what'syourgoatactuallydoing?WhatsignsofLaborhasshebeenshowing?"

Ievenknowawomanwhothoughthergoatwasinlaborforacoupleofdaysandthenshefinallycalledthevetoutthereandthegoatwasn'tevenpregnant.I'veactuallyheardofthatmorethanonce.Sometimespeoplewanttheirgoattogivebirthsobadlythattheywishitintolaborandit'snotlabor.Alotoftimesyoucancausealotmoreproblemswhenyouassumeagoatisinlaborandthey'rereallynot.Sothat'swhatI'mgonnatalkaboutnext,ishowtotellwhenagoatisgettingcloseandwhentoknowwhenshe'sgonnabegoingintolabor.

Adoewillstarttogetanudderaboutamonthbeforeshekidsinmostcases,attheverylatestyoushouldbeseeingsomethingwithinatleastacoupleofweeksbeforeyouexpecthertobedue.However,within12to24hoursofheractuallykiddingiswhenyou'regonnaseeabigchange.Inasecond,I'mgonnashowyousomevideostoshowyouwhatImean,basicallyadoeshouldgofromhavingcompletelyflatuddermorethanamonthbeforekidding,tohavingalittlebitofanudderandthenit'sgonnagraduallygetbiggerdaybydayoverthatlastmonthuntilonedayyou'regonnawalkoutthereandgo,"Wow."Becauseallofasuddenithasincreasedtremendouslyandnowit'stotallyfillingupthatareabetweenhertwohindlegs.

Tailligamentsareoneofthefirstthingsthatpeoplementionwhenitcomestofiguringoutwhenadoeisclosetogivingbirth,unfortunately,thisisthemostdifficultthingfornewpeopletolearn.

13

IttookmydaughtersandIaboutthreeorfouryearstogetgoodatthis,andsomepeoplehavehadgoatsforevenlongerthanthatandthey'restillnotgoodatit.Alotofpeopleconfusetheligamentswiththemusclesaroundthetail.Whenyouhearsomebodysaythattheycanwraptheirfingerscompletelyaroundthetailhead,soitmustmeanthegoatisgonnagivebirthsoon,theyreallydon'tknowwheretheligamentsare,becausethosearemusclesthatallowthemtodothat,themuscleshavesoftened.

Theligamentsarefartherawayfromthespine,soyoucanveryeasilywrapyourfingersaroundthattailheadwhentheligamentsarestilltotallythere.Thesoftnessoftheligamentsisconnectedtothedoe'shormonelevels,soasthehormonesgethigherandshegetsclosertogivingbirth,theligamentsgetsofter.Youneedtostartlookingforthoseligamentsacoupleofweeksbeforeherduedaysothatyoucangetanideaofwhattheynormallyfeellike,andifyou'retotallynewtogoats,it'sagoodideatostartevenamonthbeforeshe'sdue,sothatyouknowwhattheyfeellike.Thentowardstheduedayyoucancomparehertootherdoestoseehowtheyfeel.

Thelastthingthatyouseealotoftimesisthatthebellywilldropwithinafewhoursofherkidding,andthat'sinbetweentheribsandthehips.Basically,thatpartofthebellysinksdownsothatitstartstolookhollow.Throughoutmostofpregnancyagoat'sbellyisreallyhigh,mydaughterusedtosaytheylooklikeatabletopandwhentheyweregettingclose,shewouldsaythatshedoesn'tlooklikeatabletopanymore.

Hello.IamherethismorningtoshowyouhowIamcheckinggoatstoseewho'sgonnakidorwho'sgettingclosebasically.We'vegotabunchofgoatsherethatwerepenbred,soIdon'thaveexactduedates.Whatwe'vebeendoingforthepastmonth'causeweknowthey'llbekiddingbetweentheendofJanuaryandtheendofFebruary,andsowhatI'vebeendoingisgoingaroundandlookingatuddersandcheckingligaments.Forexample,thisisagoat,shedoesnothavemuchofanudder,butshedoeshaveanudder,sowhenyoufeelthisyoucanfeelalittlebitofanudder,that's.ThenwhenI

14

feeltheseligaments,they'restilllikepencils,soshe'sdefinitelynotkiddinganytimesoon.

ThisisAgnes.WefirstnoticedanudderonheronDecember24thandnowitisDecember19th-January.It'snowJanuary19th.So,almostamonth,soshe'sgettingprettyclose.Soshe'soneIdefinitelywannabecheckingtheligamentson,andtheydon'tlikethatusually,whichiswhywe'vegot,it'smostlyofit'sjustenoughtokeepthemreallyinterested.So,yousee,she'shuge,shehashadfivebefore,Ireallyhopethatdoesn'thappenthistime.Themusclesinherearereallylooseningupbuttheligamentsarestillthereveryclearly.

YouseeIcanreallywrapmyfingers,Iprobablywasn'tnearlycloseenough.Thisislady,andshe'sgotaprettydecentudder,Iwouldliketoseeitbiggerbeforesheactuallykids.Justsneakupsoyoucanseethis,herligamentswouldreallyfoolalotofpeoplenow,youseehowalotofpeoplearelike,"OhIcanwrapmyfingersaroundhertailhead,thatmeansshe'sgonnakid."Itdoesn't,becausetheligamentsarestillthere.So,she'srightoverhere.Theligamentsarenotthatclose,theligamentsattachtothesebonesouthere,soyouneedtofindthosebonesandthenyoucanfindtheligament,sotheligament'srightthere.Icanstillfeelitniceandfirm,soshe'sgonnastayoutheretoday,I'mnotworriedaboutherkiddingtoday.

ThisisScarletandshehadtwicelastyear,heruddernotfull,it'sgettingtherebutit'sstillprettyfloppy,soI'mnottooworriedaboutherkiddinganytimesoon.BythatImeanwithinthenextfewdays,nottoday.Here'sBlanche,thiswhitedoehereisBlancheorCream.Again,Icanreallypressintothat,buttheligamentsarestillthere.HeyBlanche,honey.So,theligamentsarestillthere,stillveryfirm.Sofromthatbonetothespine,Icanstillfeelthemveryclearlyeventhoughthemuscleshavesoftened.

We'reback,it'sSunday,youcanseethatthesnowhasmelted,it'swarmedupquiteabit,it's41degreesnow,whichIthinkiswonderfulconsideringthatwegotagoat'sduesoon,hopefullytheywillkidwhenit'sstillniceandwarmout.Sowe'recheckinguddersagain,wedothisalsointheevenings,butintheeveningthey'reinthebarn,so

15

Ihaven'tvideoedanyofthat,Itriedactuallyandit'sverydarkinthere,sothevideojustdidnotcomeout,itwasn'tveryeasytosee.

Thislittlegoathere,Ihaven'tshownyouherbefore,butshe'sgonnabedueprettysoon.She'sasecondfreshener,andherudderisgettingtobeprettynice.So...Wecouldaddthese.

HeyAgnes.So,getdownlow,seeherudderreallygood.SoAgnes'udder,lookslikeitmightbealittlebitbigger,She'sthefirstonewenoticedanudderon.It'snotfirmyet,it'sstillsquishy,soeventhoughit'sgottenprettybig,it'sstillsquishy.Consideringshe'sasixthorseventhfreshenerandsoshe'sgonnahaveareallyimpressiveudder.

Here'sBlanche.Samethingwithher,Blanchewasourbestmilkerlastyear,soIstillexpectedudderbealotbigger.Seehowtheligamentsfeel,yup,Icanstillfeelthem.Soitgoesfromrighthereonthespine,outtothatbonewheremyfingeris,rightthere,thatisexactlywheretheligamentis.Seethemusclesarereallysoft,Icanreallysquishthosemusclesandwigglehertailaroundandeverything,butligamentsarestillthere,andtheudderisnotnearlybigenoughtobeworriedabouther,soshe'sdefinitelystayingoutsidetoday.

Alright.Sohere'sLady,she'stheotheroneyou'vebeenseeingalotof.Sheknows.

Yeah,theyknownow,ohgosh,Idon'twannathecamera,putthecameraaway.Soudderstillnotverybigandohwow,herligamentsarestill,theyfeellikepencils.There'sreallynotmuchgiventhematall,sodefinitely,eventhough...LookathowIcantouchmythumbwithmyfingerthere,that'showloosemusclesarearoundhertailligaments,buttheligamentsthemselvesstillfeellikepencils,soshe'snowhereclose.That'sthekindofthingthatmessedusupwhenwewerenew,wewouldfeelthatandsay,"Ohmygosh,theligamentsaregone,"buttheyweren't.

Thesearesomesignsoflaborforadoethatiswithinanhourortwoofgivingbirth.You'llusuallynoticeachangeintheirbehavior,thisiswhyit'snotagoodideatobuyagoatthat'sduetokidanydaynow,becauseyou'renotgonnaknowwhathernormalbehaviorislike,so

16

you'renotgonnaknowwhenitchanges.Forexample,wehadagoatthatwasaLamanchaandshewastheherdqueen.OnemorningwhenIwentoutthereandshewasoffinacornerbyherself,Iknewsomethingwasupbecausethat'snother.Shewasalwaysoutthererightinfrontwantingeverybody'sattention.

Anotherthingthatyou'llseeisthatgoatswillloseinterestinfood.They'reprettymuchalwayswantingtoeat,ifyouputhayoutthere,they'llrunrightupandcheckitoutandstarteatingit.Certainlyifyougivethemgrain,they'regonnagobbleitup,evenifthey'renothungry,weusuallygrain.Soifagoatistotallyrefusingfood,that'salwaysabadsign.Imeanifyourgoat'snotduetokidandshe'srefusingfood,youshouldwonderwhybecauseshe'sprobablysick,butifagoatisduetoakidandtheysuddenlyarenoteating,thenit'susuallybecausethey'regettingclosetogivingbirth.

Thelastthingismucus.Nowthisistheleastreliableindicatoroflaborbecauseasmallamountofmucusreallymeansnothingatall.Ireallyhatethetermmucusplugbecausethereisreallynosuchthing.There'sjustmucusandthere'stonsofit.Soifyouseeatinyamountofmucus,Iwouldn'tgettooexcited,butifyouseethekindofmucusthatisinthisphoto,thenyeah,thatmeansthegoatisgonnagivebirthprettysoon.Alsotheotherthingyounoticeaboutthisphotoisthatherudderiscompletelyfillingupthatareabetweenherhindlegs.Ifyoucouldfeelthatudder,youwouldfeelthatit'sextremelyfirm,it'snotsmushyatall.SosheisdefinitelyinlaborandsheactuallyIthinkgavebirthabout15minutesafterthatphotowastaken.

Thereisnothingonthehomesteadthatcausesmoreanticipation,excitement,happiness,andunfortunatelyworryandsometimesheartbreakthankidding.Kiddingisdefinitelymyfavoritetimeofyearandthemorepreparedyouareforthiswonderfulevent,theeasierit'sgoingtobeforyouandyourgoats.Youcanvisitmywebsite,thriftyhomesteader.com,formoreinformation.You'llfindlotsofarticlesonthereaboutpregnancy,birthingandraisingkids.IalsohaveanonlineclassaboutbirthingavailableatThriftyHomesteaderAcademy,whichismyonlineschool.Thanksforjoiningmetoday,if

17

youhaveanyquestions,feelfreetoshareitinthecommentsectionbelow,I'llbecheckinginthroughthedaytorespond.Happykiddingseason.

Marjory: IwillsaythatIhaveneverbeentoagoatbirthingbutI,andmydaughter,gotinvitedtoalambingthisspring.Andso,lambsandgoats,Ithink,areprettysimilar.Anyway,I'mvery,very...Iwasveryexcitedtoseethis,toseejustexactlywhat'sinvolved.AndIthinkthatyou'llalsoreallyappreciate...Ohmygosh.Thatfootageofthosenewbornbabygoatsissocute.

Anyway,hereisDeborahNiemannonbasicallyhowtobecomeagoatmidwife.