First time pregnancy,..not sure how far she is

[kehranc]

Kehran will you allow me to make a couple of observations? Well I'm going to anyway, I hope you dont mind! I see lots of grass round the outside of your dry lot, do you give Molly a chance to graze on Dr. Green regularly? Green 'stuff' is so very important on the run up to foaling and afterwards - helps to keep plenty of moisture going naturally through the system, plus it is the natural food for a good milk supply.

The second thing is your shelter for Molly. I know that it is/has been very hot but you do need to attach some boarding to the bottom of your walls, plus whatever you will be using for a front panel/door should also be boarded from the ground up to at least 2 foot in height. This is for the safety of both mare and foal. Mares do all sorts of silly things when in labour without thinking - up down, up down, roll, roll again, they can get quite frantic in their efforts to give birth. Imagine Molly suddenly laying down, then flopping flat out and putting her head outside the shelter, and getting a bang on her head as she suddenly sits up again. Or thrusting her foot under and through the gap at the bottom of one of the other walls. To be safe for her all walls should reach firmly to the ground. Also you may find that your new foal rolls out under the higher gap or even, like Molly, could roll over after a snooze (lots do!) and stick HER foot/leg under the lower wall giving herself a possible nasty injury as she struggles to her feet.

You may already have considered this and changed/altered your shelter, but just in case you haven't, I felt I should mention it - hope you didn't mind.

HI Anna and a HUGE thankyou I didnt even think of these things. I will be right on it today. Yes she is in the smaller shelter during the night but she is out in the Green grass all day from about 6am - 7.00pm.. then there is still a green area in her closed off section . I will make the alterations to her pen today though because I didnt think about her thrashing around.. Unfortunately I have only had goats have babies here and they have all been really calm...whoops

..We didnt put up a door panel as we have never locked her in such a small space, but I will if you think its safer. Also how long should the foal be kept in the smaller area ???

PS I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas Day and santa bought some pretty cool pressies

 

[kehranc]

Here are some photos of her yard during the day

...and another side shot. Udder is filling up again but she wont let me behind her today Sorry

...I will try again later

 

[countrymini]

Hey I worked a way to get a look at Bindi when she's a grump. If I line her up parallel to the fence with her food then hop on the other side I can lift her tail, look around and she still is a grump but knows she can't kick me lol

 

[kehranc]

Hey I worked a way to get look at bindi when she's a grump. If I line her up parallel to the fence with her food then hop on the other side I can lift her tail, look around and she still is a grump but knows she can't kick me lol

thats cool I am going to give that a try ...hahhaha

 

[AnnaC]

Now that 'space' is what I would call a paddock Kehran! It is so difficult with all the different words used for 'space' around the world - those in the US often call their gardens 'yards' for instance, whereas 'yards' to me/us here in the UK mean small bare spaces, hard dry mud/concrete etc, used for rubbish bins/parking/machinery! So not always easy to work out what sort of 'space' folks are talking about sometimes. LOL!!

Regarding the foal, the time 'restrained' will depend upon the foal itself (and the weather). As you are in Aussieland we will assume that the weather is good so no problem there! If the foal is born in the afternoon, then I would usually keep mare and foal stabled until the next day. If born in the early morning and all is well then an hour or so outside late aftenoon is ok. If born during the night, then again, time out from, say, lunchtime onwards is fine. You have to remember that if a mare is used to plenty of grass, then it is important for her system to return to the grass as soon as possible.

Obviously all this is just my opnion, but as you only have a smallish stable for her, getting her and her baby out for as much exercise as possible is important. Also by keeping her in 'restrained' for too long may lead her to rush about kicking up her heels etc, which can be very stressful/exhausting for baby who then rushes after Momma in a panic. Even if we have a foal who appears a little weak, we still slowly lead the mare out for grass that first day for an hour or so, grazing her in hand and leaving baby to 'toddle' around her at it's own pace - if you do have to graze in hand, remember to stand right up against the mare so that the foal cannot rush between you and Momma and run into the rope/lead you are holding!

As your paddock opens up directly from the stable, then I would think you could just open the 'door' - you will probably find that the foal wont follow her out at first, but just keep well out of the way (dont distract the foal) and all will be well in the end. If you do things this way and leave them to wander by themselves, then I would put Molly's feeds and any hay back in the stable to encourage her to go back in regularly, this will give baby a chance to lay down for a snooze on a nice comfy bed and will also make it learn that a stable is a good/nice place to be - very useful for the future!!

 

[kehranc]

Thanks Anna all your info is great and yes I will definitely keep it all on board...

... your advice and everyone elses has helped us immensely... I cant wait to thank and reward you all with some special Foal Photos

 

[countrymini]

Anything happening today?

 

[kehranc]

Hi guys, the only thing happening today is a full udder and alot of grass eating ...lol... Wish I had more news ...maybe tonight or tomorrow or next month hahahahahahahaha.....I am sure she will sort it out soon..

 

[kehranc]

Well I am sitting here waiting and watching catching up on paperwork so hopefully !!!!

 

[kehranc]

ok Finally had some sleep as nothing happened again last night or early this morning.. Udder is still full , she is just wondering around happily eating her grass..

 

[kehranc]

OK I thought I would take some more pics for everyone. Molly is still just eating but her udder is still up and getting bigger again so here are the photos from this afternoon...And yes I think she is definitelt going to be a sneaky one

 

[kehranc]

this is a selection of her udder shots

13th Dec

16th dec

20th dec

22nd dec

24th dec

28th dec

any thoughts ????? Does this look normal ...lol

 

[AnnaC]

Oh yes, quite normal! If she doesn't decide to do a 'sneaky' one but continues on course, then once her udder stays the same for 24 hours (full and tight, not reducingwith daily exercise), you will soon be seeing a little baby! Her udder may take on a sort of shiney appearance towards the end as the skin stretches tight.

 

[jessj]

Woohoo Molly! You are getting there!

 

[kehranc]

Thanks anna and Jess I thought I would just post the pics and ask some advice...

 

[Bonny]

Another thing I have noticed, when they are real close to foaling, when you take a picture the udder has sort of a pink hue to it. Prolly because its so tight and full of colostrum

for comparisons to show the color difference :

( Katie mini mare couple days before foaling has no pink tinge)

http://s423.beta.photobucket.com/user/ShyBon/media/Katie%20foal%202012/6-19-12am003.jpg.html?sort=6&o=19

Katie day of foaling has pink tinge, tight and shiny!

http://s423.beta.photobucket.com/user/ShyBon/media/Katie%20foal%202012/6-22-127pm004.jpg.html?sort=6&o=1

 

[jessj]

Molly and Katie are killing me with these giant udders and no foals....makes me think that I am going to be waiting another 6-8 weeks or so for Izzie to pop. I will go insane by then!

 

[lexischase]

Someone needs to have a foal ASAP

:frusty

 

[countrymini]

Ditto to Di!

 

[kehranc]

hahaha, sorry ladies we are still waiting....I had to get some serious cleaning and gardening done today after the xmas period.. Molly is doing fine still eating like a trooper Udder is staying full...She lays down alot at night now . I think she is getting really tired..A friend told me its probably a colt as they usually go quite late ????.. what do we all think about this...I really want a filly but at the end of the Day my perfect wish is for a great birth and healthy foal and mumma... But interesting thought... Thanks for the udder photos they are great and she isnt quite that full yet ..haha.. I will be up as usual till 4.30am so I will keep you all updated if there is any change