162 MODERN MILK GOATS 



pawing, and at last the appearance of a string of mucus 

 from the vulva. All should now be in readiness for the 

 coming of the kids. 



Care of the Kidding Doe. — Suggestion has already 

 been made as to the bedding of the kidding pen. What- 

 ever material is used, it must be abundant and clean. 

 The doe must be loose, never tied. The pen should be 

 reasonably large for the comfort of the doe and her 

 caretaker. It is probable that among our milk goats, 

 with their warm affection for their owners, the business 

 of kidding actually gets on more quickly and more com- 

 fortably if the caretaker is at hand than if the doe is left 

 alone. Most does certainly behave as though they appre- 

 ciated and wanted your presence at this time. Usually 

 no assistance is required. 



The normal presentation is front feet first, nose be- 

 tween the feet. Once this much of the coming kid is 

 visible no further anxiety need be felt. The birth, even 

 if sometimes a little slow, wiU be achieved . without 

 trouble. Occasionally the hind feet come first. Such a 

 birth is likely to be slow. It can be assisted safely by 

 pulling a little, outward and downward, on the hind legs 

 of the kid, pulling only at the time of the doe's own 

 efforts at expulsion. More rarely one forefoot will he 

 doubled back. This is usually of no consequence. More 

 rarely still the head will be doubled back over the 



