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Hi can someone tell me what would happen if a doe wasn't separated in time and she kidded with another doe (experienced or maiden/doeling)in the pen? I can expect that there could be trouble with a maiden/doeling because she doesn't know what's going on and could feel the newborn is a threat and beat it up, but the older does that have had many kids should be "understanding," yes?

Thanks,
Teresa

Maybe. It depends on the doe, and how important is her seniority in her group. Some feel threatened by kids, and will bash them mercilessly. Are you able to house them side by side in their pen, but seperate them somehow till the newborn is up and about (and then see how your senior doe does with the baby)?

Ours kid in the paddock, not is sheds, and they ALWAYS take themselves as far from the rest of the herd as they can to have their babies. There's probably a good reason for this. Some senior does will watch the birthing from afar, but not interfere, and I had an older one who would stalk the mum-to-be just so she could bash the babies (she was done away with, as this was only one of her many deviant behaviours).

Andrea
NZ

Some might also try to "steal" the kid, so you should at least keep a close eye - they might get on perfectly well.

Hi, Like farmerdrea, ours kid in the paddock and also move a bit away (although not too far) from the main herd. They usually remain there for a couple of days (I am thinking that is to get familiar with their own particular kids sent so that they can recognize them in the midst of many others) as well as for protection until the kids are up and about more. I usually take some tepid water immediately after the birth and leave a bucket of water and some food so that the Mum can eat and drink. Some will leave their babies for a short while to do this and others simply will do without (unless you provide it, rather than leave their new kids - that includes maidens as well).

I think it may be a problem kidding with any other other doe or doeling in a stall and if possible, I would separate the soon to be mum before the kidding and for at least the first few days after. As already said, depending on her social status in the herd it could be a real problem. Probably something I wouldn't take on unless there was no other option.

Thanks for all your advice. I was able to get partitions up in the pens in plenty of time and nobody jumped over. First kidding of the year was this past Sunday afternoon. Now I can relax and wait for the others...:)
Teresa

Ah well - the first is always the most exciting! All went well, I suppose?

Well it was the coldest day of the year(-20 to -30C), the doe was a yearling (my first yearling kidding), and her kid was large and had a really big fat head so there was a lot of screaming going on and not much action: I'm glad I was there to help her. All of us are doing fine now though:)

Is 4kg pretty average size for a newborn dairy kid?

I'm not really up to scratch with dairy goats... Is it a Saanen? They are pretty big...

The kid is 1/4 saanen, the doe is half boer half alpine