Kidding advice
In most cases, goats manage very well on their own come kidding time and need only minimal assistance. But, it always a good idea to be prepared. Here are some items to have handy.
The recommended list includes:
- A bucket for warm water
- Some clean cotton towels
- Roll of paper kitchen towels
- A pair of sharp surgical scissors
- An antibiotic spray obtained from your vet
- A stomach tube and syringe for colostrum feeding (frozen colostrum or colstrux powder should be on hand)
- Sucker bulb, like the one for cleaning the nose of a baby
The goat pen should be well cleaned and disinfected at least a week before kidding. Seperate, small areas for the new family is also a good practice if space is available.
Also, if the weather is cold, a heat lamp may be used for warming the sections
The telephone numbers to your vet or someone with goat experience if you are new to goats. many good folks are out there and can be found at your local goat association or 4-H club.
Once the kid is born, the doe will usually remove mucous by licking the kid. With a weak kid or inattentive mother (boars are not the best mothers), you might want to make sure the kid is freed from the amniotic sac and the mouth and nose are free of mucous. It is not necessary to cut the umbilical cord but it isrecommended you dip the umbilical cord in 7% iodine to prevent infections.
Usually within 30 minutes the kid(s) should stand up to nurse. It is important that the kid(s) nurse within an hour or two of birth to receive colostrum, which provides the important immunoglobulins for good health.
It is best to dehorn the kids before they reach ten days old. Some folks wait longer, but the sooner the better. Before dehorning, many folks give a tetanus antitoxin to provide temporary protection against tetanus. Dehorning is also a good time to castrate male kids (also known as wethers).
Feel free to add other thoughts.
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