1st timer advice welcome

Tara2

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
9
Points
21
Location
C&T Tiny Farm
Hi all!!! I have read up alot on goats.. As I write this I await on my new kids to be winged.. WE get them April 11th.. Yaa so excited.. but i would like some advice from experienced goat owner plz.. any trick of the trade's and must know's,toy's, care, what to watch out for, ect.. just any wisdom ya all are willing ta share with me will be great.. I want ta be over prepared for them.. Below are our new kids Lacy & Hope...
lacy and hope.jpg
 

HoneyDreameMomma

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jul 30, 2013
Messages
619
Reaction score
499
Points
233
Location
North Texas
What cuties! :loveAs far is how to prepare for them, I would read up on a variety of sources, and don't be afraid to ask questions as you go along too. There are lots of helpful people on this site, and there are some great threads that will probably give you better advice than I can. Plus, there are lots of good resources on the Internet.

Basics: I would make sure you have a shelter that protects them from rain and snow, but is also well ventilated, and a well-fenced pasture or dry lot. Goats are notorious for getting through fences, so you'll be much more successful if you don't try to wing it. Well-planned fencing makes everything much easier vs. going with something just because it is a fast, cheap option (trust me, I speak from experience :hide).

You'll want to be sure to always have plenty of fresh water and free choice hay for them, loose minerals (I get Manna Pro from Tractor Supply), and determine what, if any grain you'll give them. I give my does about a cup-ish of standard goat feed per day, but I know some people who only give their goats grain when they are pregnant, nursing or being milked. Ask the breeder if they are getting grain/feed, and if they are, either get the brand name or ask if you can have a day or two's worth. If you can't find the brand they're on, mix what you get from the breeder with the brand you'll be using. It helps decrease the chance of scours. This is entirely personal preference, but I tend to be careful of sweet feeds - if the feed smells more like molasses than hay or grain, I usually don't want it as a long-term feed solution.

And of course, be prepared to love them! Be prepared to have your heart stolen! ;)
 

Goat Whisperer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Messages
4,832
Reaction score
6,567
Points
463
Location
North Carolina
Welcome from NC @Tara2 :frow You will love goats! I sure do love mine! :love

The main thing I tell people is to get a fecal run on the goats about 2 days after you bring them home. Internal parasites are a big killer in goats, especially in kids. Coccidia is usually the biggest issue in kids. You can either have a vet do it or have your state lab do it. Be sure you tell them to look for Cocci.

What state are you in?

Check for external parasites as well.

Understanding the breeders feeding practices is a big thing too, you don't want to bring your babies home and have digestive issues.

Ask the breeder lots of questions, do the use medicated feed? Do they do any preventives for worms/cocci? What type of wormers do they use? Are the parasites becoming resistant to the other dewormers that they have used?
What do they recommend when bring your new babies home? Some breeders will give Drench, Probiotics, B complex, antibiotics etc before the goats leave. I personally do not give anything- but I check the fecal before any goats leaves.

What type of hay are they being fed? Feed, what brand and is it sweet feed or pellets?

Do they they give copper bolus and/or Bose? If they are in a area that lack copper/selenium they may need to to give extra supplements in addition to minerals.

Did the kids have to be on anti-biotics, red cell, etc etc.

Vaccinating
Do they give a CDT and/or and other vaccines?

Testing
Do they test, and what do they test for? When I buy my goats I like to see a herd that is tested for CAE, CL, & Johne's. If they do, be sure to look at the documents yourself. If you are getting nubians, ask about G6S. Also ask about any eye issues.

Vet
Do they have a goat vet? If you don't have one already, you may want to start looking. Its best to have a vet BEFORE an emergency arises!

Teats!
Be sure to check the teats before you buy the kids, extra teats in dairy goats is a HUGE fault. If you are getting a male, be sure to check him as well.

Feel the goats all over, I usually start from the jaw and work my way down the neck and feel every inch of the goat then feel the face/ears. Check the ears for infection/mites or anything else. Check the mouth too! :)

If you haven't already, I would start to build an emergency kit for the goats.

Goats are crazy little things.... they like to play on just about anything! Spools are always great! Tires are also good.
 

Tara2

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
9
Points
21
Location
C&T Tiny Farm
Welcome from NC @Tara2 :frow You will love goats! I sure do love mine! :love

The main thing I tell people is to get a fecal run on the goats about 2 days after you bring them home. Internal parasites are a big killer in goats, especially in kids. Coccidia is usually the biggest issue in kids. You can either have a vet do it or have your state lab do it. Be sure you tell them to look for Cocci.

What state are you in?

Check for external parasites as well.

Understanding the breeders feeding practices is a big thing too, you don't want to bring your babies home and have digestive issues.

Ask the breeder lots of questions, do the use medicated feed? Do they do any preventives for worms/cocci? What type of wormers do they use? Are the parasites becoming resistant to the other dewormers that they have used?
What do they recommend when bring your new babies home? Some breeders will give Drench, Probiotics, B complex, antibiotics etc before the goats leave. I personally do not give anything- but I check the fecal before any goats leaves.

What type of hay are they being fed? Feed, what brand and is it sweet feed or pellets?

Do they they give copper bolus and/or Bose? If they are in a area that lack copper/selenium they may need to to give extra supplements in addition to minerals.

Did the kids have to be on anti-biotics, red cell, etc etc.

Vaccinating
Do they give a CDT and/or and other vaccines?

Testing
Do they test, and what do they test for? When I buy my goats I like to see a herd that is tested for CAE, CL, & Johne's. If they do, be sure to look at the documents yourself. If you are getting nubians, ask about G6S. Also ask about any eye issues.

Vet
Do they have a goat vet? If you don't have one already, you may want to start looking. Its best to have a vet BEFORE an emergency arises!

Teats!
Be sure to check the teats before you buy the kids, extra teats in dairy goats is a HUGE fault. If you are getting a male, be sure to check him as well.

Feel the goats all over, I usually start from the jaw and work my way down the neck and feel every inch of the goat then feel the face/ears. Check the ears for infection/mites or anything else. Check the mouth too! :)

If you haven't already, I would start to build an emergency kit for the goats.

Goats are crazy little things.... they like to play on just about anything! Spools are always great! Tires are also good.
what great info some of this idk.. thanxs so much..I live in IL..what are some of the most common stuff i would need for a emergency kit.. I got chickens & rabbits and i have my kit for them..
 

Hens and Roos

Herd Master
Joined
Apr 19, 2012
Messages
5,487
Reaction score
5,208
Points
483
Location
South Central WI
Welcome :frow! We have a kit with: gloves- both regular and sleeve gloves, thermometer, lubricant, vet wrap, multi-purpose solution(for soft contact lenses), 1% iodine solution, 70% Isopropyl Alcohol, paste pro-biotic, powder pro-biotic, goat drench, cotton balls, quick stop powder(or corn starch), blue kote, 3 cc, 12 cc and 20 cc syringes with needles....I'm sure there is a few more items I'm forgetting- we have this kit set to be used with our rabbits and chickens too.

oh and be aware....they are just like chicken math ;)
 

babsbag

Herd Master
Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
7,886
Reaction score
9,317
Points
593
Location
Anderson, CA
In my experience the things the goats are going to die from the fastest are a respiratory infection and bloat or other rumen related problems. This kit is not for kidding emergencies.

So this is what I try to keep on hand. An antibiotic for pnuemonia, PenG, Bo-Se, Banamine, 5cc syringes w/ needles, pepto-bismol, baking soda, vet warp, gauze, blood stop powder, scissors, thermometer, large syringe for drenching, and beer. Serious about the beer and it is for the goat, not me. When I have kids on the ground I also have the C&D antitoxin; if you ever need that you will not have time to find any.

If I had any poisonous plants nearby I would also have activated charcoal and syrup of ipecac.
 

Goat Whisperer

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Messages
4,832
Reaction score
6,567
Points
463
Location
North Carolina
I agree with the other regarding the kit. This is what we tell most people when we are asked about a kit:

hemostats / tweezers

qwik stop

gauze

vet wrap

blue-kote

Utility scissors

syringes- 1ml, 3 ml, 12ml, 20ml

needles- 18G, 20G, 22G

Alcohol

Iodine

Cotton Balls

Ear cleaner

Antibiotics

Eye Wash

Vitamin Supplements

Probiotics
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/goats-prefer-probiotic-power-1-lb

Goat Drench
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/nutri-drench-supplement-goat-8-oz

Broad-spectrum dewormer & a coccicide for parasite blooms
Maybe Ivermectin PLUS and Di-methox


Hopefully you wont have to use most of the stuff above.... but it is good to have on hand!
 

Tara2

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
9
Points
21
Location
C&T Tiny Farm
Welcome from NC @Tara2 :frow You will love goats! I sure do love mine! :love

The main thing I tell people is to get a fecal run on the goats about 2 days after you bring them home. Internal parasites are a big killer in goats, especially in kids. Coccidia is usually the biggest issue in kids. You can either have a vet do it or have your state lab do it. Be sure you tell them to look for Cocci.

What state are you in?

Check for external parasites as well.

Understanding the breeders feeding practices is a big thing too, you don't want to bring your babies home and have digestive issues.

Ask the breeder lots of questions, do the use medicated feed? Do they do any preventives for worms/cocci? What type of wormers do they use? Are the parasites becoming resistant to the other dewormers that they have used?
What do they recommend when bring your new babies home? Some breeders will give Drench, Probiotics, B complex, antibiotics etc before the goats leave. I personally do not give anything- but I check the fecal before any goats leaves.

What type of hay are they being fed? Feed, what brand and is it sweet feed or pellets?

Do they they give copper bolus and/or Bose? If they are in a area that lack copper/selenium they may need to to give extra supplements in addition to minerals.

Did the kids have to be on anti-biotics, red cell, etc etc.

Vaccinating
Do they give a CDT and/or and other vaccines?

Testing
Do they test, and what do they test for? When I buy my goats I like to see a herd that is tested for CAE, CL, & Johne's. If they do, be sure to look at the documents yourself. If you are getting nubians, ask about G6S. Also ask about any eye issues.

Vet
Do they have a goat vet? If you don't have one already, you may want to start looking. Its best to have a vet BEFORE an emergency arises!

Teats!
Be sure to check the teats before you buy the kids, extra teats in dairy goats is a HUGE fault. If you are getting a male, be sure to check him as well.

Feel the goats all over, I usually start from the jaw and work my way down the neck and feel every inch of the goat then feel the face/ears. Check the ears for infection/mites or anything else. Check the mouth too! :)

If you haven't already, I would start to build an emergency kit for the goats.

Goats are crazy little things.... they like to play on just about anything! Spools are always great! Tires are also good.
what great info thanxs so much.. we still have a month before we get them.. but i will make sure to do all of this..
 

Tara2

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
14
Reaction score
9
Points
21
Location
C&T Tiny Farm
good question.. I have alot of this stuff but some i didnt think of.. thanxs so much.. keep the great info coming all..
 
Top