Ok, so my FF Carmen is due 1/31, her udder has started filling and she is quite large. We are putting up a small pen for kidding in the garage tonight - when should i move her into it ? Thanks !
Me personally with my luck I would start putting her in it tonite...that way no surprises in the morning...so do go early...
If you know exactly date bred then I usually wait until last week then they are up at night and usually that whole last week if they have an outside pen too.
Thats what the hubby said too - i just wanted to make sure it wasn't too early, i actually think she will be happy with a break away from the other ladies anyways :+) And is it cold here - today it is -29 with the windchill - but tomorrow thru Monday at least it is supposed to be +26-34 during the day - i can't wait.
Anything is better than nothing. If you have inclines/hills that would be even better. We like to have our up close cows coming into the barn for feed because they have climb a steep incline to get there. Helps move the calf/kids into position. I'll pen upclose does up overnight and when I am not at the barn but usually I let them out when I am down there so they can move around and get plenty of exercise. They also have to walk up a short, steep incline to get to hay outside. Short walks are fine, just so long as she gets to move about on a regular basis.