The first time Zinfandel was bred, she was just about two weeks before her due date when she started showing signs she was interested in building a nest and she did build one, even pulled fur. She kept it as a nest, nice and clean, but as much as she seem to think she was ready to be a mother, the week before her due date, I was pretty sure it would not be that time. Although I have been wrong and caught off guard before, her due date came and went, to our disappointment.
I bred her again to the same proven buck and she readily lifted. However, as I had written in previous posts, it was rather late in the season so we prepared a place for her in the garage. Yesterday, she started picking up her hay and trying to prepare a nest. Like before, she began this two weeks before her due date. In hopes that she would again keep the nest clean, I gave her a nesting box. This morning I found she had pulled fur so she is ready.
But, the question: is she actually pregnant? I palpated and she feels the same to me as she did last time two weeks prior. She seems to have some thickening of the uterus but nothing specific that seems to be fetuses to me. However, I admit that I seem better at detecting pregnancy when they are about 7 to 10 days before the due date.
Here's to hoping!
Here's to hoping!