testing ph levels

[Lisa2manyponies]

Been doing ''foal checks'' for last 10 days and no foal's as yet ( we have 2 due any day now )

Have just ordered some ph testing strips they will be here Saturday so knowing my luck foals will arrive tomorrow night and I wont get a chance to use them lol

Anyway how do i use these strips ? do i just put milk on to strips ? do i need to mix it with anything ? and what should level be ?

thanks in advance

 

[EQUIDAE]

Treat them like a pregnancy test - just dip it in They do come with instructions though so don't worry. I don't buy the equine ones any more - I just use the ones for fish tanks Once you know what you are looking for they work out much cheaper

 

[Lisa2manyponies]

thanks i have just brought bog standard ph testing strips so i just pop milk on to strip and then read level and anything over 7 means she is going to foal soon ?

 

[Custard Cream]

I've just successfully used them and pinpointed my mares foaling precisely.

1. You need strips that read from pH4-pH9, any wider than that and they are too vague.

2. You only need tiny amounts of milk, you just dip them in, no need to mix with anything.

3. Anything over 7 is normal, mare not foaling anytime soon.

4. I found my mare dropped to 6.75 a couple of days beforehand.

5. 6.2 and foaling is imminent, within the next 6 hours for me.

I bought mine off eBay, not specialist or anything, but they must be the small range ones. Litmus paper type ones don't give enough colour variation. If you look on the 2016 foaling thread you'll see pics of the ones I used.

 

[Tetrarch 1911]

I have to say, CC, I've been very impressed with the PH testing you did for Junior's birth, and it appears to be a really good indicator alongside the more visible hints that foaling is imminent. I'm foal-less this year but I have a mare at stud right now, and I think I'll try this for next year. ANYTHING that assists with the waiting game must be a plus!! Has anyone else here used the kits? I'm bit old-fashioned but this sounds as though it won't be difficult for an old fogey like me!

 

[Lisa2manyponies]

thank you all test strips are due to arrive today.

First foal arrived today on his due date second foal is due tomorrow mare looking far to comfortable to be foaling anytime soon but I will be armed with test strips for this one !

 

[Tetrarch 1911]

Lovely! Could we have a pic, on the Foals Due 2016 thread? Another boy! Congrats!

 

[Lisa2manyponies]

will do it now