GOATS ON FAR WESTERN RANGES. 19 
kidding start in this region not later than April 15 and last approxi- 
mately 30 days. 
~On farms of the Northwest kidding usually starts in March or 
early April, just before the feed becomes plentiful. If there is an 
overabundance of fresh, green feed, the does overeat and exercise 
too little prior to kidding, and this, it is thought by growers, causes 
goitre among the kids. There is little danger of range does obtain- 
ing too much feed without exercising sufliciently in obtaining it; 
still, if the does are kidded in pasture this should be guarded against. 
THE KIDDING CAMP. 
Kids are generally very delicate when first born, and for several 
days can not stand much cold or rain. Furthermore, it is the gen- 
eral belief that they can not be grazed along with their mothers until 
several weeks old. Therefore, to facilitate the handling of the does 
during kidding, and to care for the kids until old enough for the 
range, a permanent camp should be established near water. The 
pens constructed at this camp should be kid tight; for the larger pens 
34 or 36 inch woven wire, with the lower meshes small enough to 
prevent a kid getting its head caught, is preferable, but for small 
pens boards are best. A shed should be provided to give protection 
during storms. It may be made either with a permanent roof or 
with a framework of poles over which heavy canvas is temporarily 
stretched. 
HERDING AT KIDDING TIME. 
As most lids are born during the middle of the day, the drop band 
should be taken out to graze about 7 a. m. and brought in about 11 
a. m., or before that if many kids are being dropped. By 3 p. m. 
most of the does to kid during the day have kidded or have shown 
signs of kidding, and may be separated from the herd. Then the 
drop band should be taken out again and kept out until sundown. 
Kids dropped on the range should be carried in and their mothers 
marked and brought in with the herd; or, if there are about 8 or 10 
that kid on the range, the mothers may be brought in as a separate 
bunch from the main drop band. 
The does which have kidded should be formed into a band each 
day and quietly grazed from about 9 a. m. to 4 p. m., the kids being 
left at the camp. A herder should be continually with the wet band 
(does that have kidded) to prevent its mixing with the drop band 
and to protect it from predatory animals. Grazing the wet band at 
some distance from the camp saves the feed close about camp for the 
drop band. 
_ A crew of at least three or four men is necessary to attend the goats 
properly during the kidding period. One or two men should herd 
