[sweetgoats]

Ok, I was just wondering. What size kidding pens do you have for your goats? Also how soon do you put them in the stall before their due date, and what do you do if you do not know the date?

For me I have three kidding stall that are 6' x 5', and I try very hard not to lock them up until I know they are in labor, or if they are getting really close I lock them up at night only.
I have noticed that if they are locked up to long before they kid, then they really do not have the energy like they do f I let them just go free. I have other stalls I can kid in if I have more then the three going at once. They are a lot bigger.

 

[kelebek]

My kidding stall is 8 foot by 12 foot, but I am going to put a make shift fence up in there to make it 8 x 6.

I am not planning on locking up Daisy until her ligaments are gone or she shows signs of contractions. If she starts getting real close to date, and I have to go to work, I may seperate her with a friend while I am gone to be safe.

I am not sure when I am going to allow the kids in the pen with the others, I think it will be fairly quickly, probobly within a few days, but only while I am home watching.

 

[fcnubian]

6x4. if I know their due date they go to the kidding stalls a week before they are due. giving them a week gives them time to settle down, if the doe is by herself, I'll move a quiet doe/wether in across from her to keep her company. After the doe kids I leave them for a few days, making sure everyone is bonding and the kids are eating well.

If I dont know the due date I'll guess and hope I dont move them too early or to late.

 

[getchagoat (Julie)]

At our old place we had 3 horse stalls and 3 made with cattle panels. The stalls were 16' by...8 or 10'. And the made stalls were 12' x 12' or something BUT we put 2 does in each when everyone started kidding. Our kiko group never went into stalls. We kept boers in for 3 days and then let them out. Just gave them time to bond. Kiko group did fine without this.

This year, we've got 2 stalls so far. And they are probably 8' x 8 or 10'. They really don't need to be any bigger than 4' x 4'. We put them in when we think they are going into labor - dripping, acting funny, or trying to be by themselves. We used 4x4s the first year with no issues. The smaller works better for first timers as they are sometimes confused when this little creature tries to drink.

 

[cjpup]

Im not really sure how big our pens are, they are actually horse stalls boarded up with plywood to keep the heat in during the winter. We dont lock up any of our girls until we see signs that birth is eminent and will be soon. Such as no ligaments, pawing, talking, discharge etc. Please remember that excersise is extremely good for expectant mothers and can actually flip the switch in turning on labor. THus penning them up early keeps them from excersising and can actually hold off labor. Same principle as human mothers. Our girls have never been locked up in birthing pens for more than 24 hours before kidding. Once they have kidded, we keep them in the pen for a few days (depending on the weather and strength of the kids) so that we can let mom and babies bond. We also keep them penned up so we can make sure they are strong enough and healthy enough to roam the pasture with mom. Its all a matter of speculation. It all depends on the doe and the weather (strange combo but seriously!)

I hope this helps a little.
CJ

 

[sweetgoats]

CJ, I agree with you, that is why I asked the question about locking up goats before they are in labor. I try very hard not to lock them up unless I see some action, or I am leaving and I am not sure what is going on,. Like today, I had to go to town for several hours, so I locked up a doe that is going to be a first timer and she had a major discharge, so I did not want her to be outside in the 11* temp, and as I got home and she still is the same, I kept her locked up because it is so cold and I do not want the other to bother her if she did go into labor.
I also believe that they more exercise they get the easier the labor will be.

 

[alyssa_romine]

I have separated my big stall with a dog kennel pannel and my kidding stall is 10' long and probably 4' wide. I only put them in when I think they are going into labor.

 

[oldntimes]

I have a 10X10 that I put two Doe in at a time that are due at the same time, and a 6X12 that one go's into. I usually will put them in about 3 days befor thier due dates so they have time to adjust.
They do really well with this arrangement here. Mine are Nigeriand and usually always go on thier 147 day, but I have had some go earlier so I usualy put them up at 143 days.

 

[all1965]

We have 5 horse stalls but im not sure how big they. We use 1 stall per doe. Our does don't get along well enough to share a stall especially when kidding. If I have 2 that are due at the same time and seem like they are going to go at the same time I will split the stall with hay bales becaue I only have 1 camera that is working at the moment.

 

[Sara]

I don't have an official kidding pen, but my shed is an 8x12 and I plan on putting a puppy fence up in the middle and seperating Holly, but she'll be able to see and smell Thomas and Indy.