a few questions

[oxdrover14]

my two boer does just had their babys two baby grils buttercup and bebe i was wondersin how long do i have to keep them seperate i have a large birthing pen with a center divider and i was wondering when i can let them in together for the first time and does anyone have a checklist of what the kids will need done in the next couple of weeks? we are raising them for pets.

 

[cmjust0]

I'm not sure I'd put two mamas with babies in a pen together, but then again it sorta depends on the mamas' temperaments and the size of the pen. It's not that I'd be so concerned about the mamas fighting each other as I would each mama trying to squash the other mama's baby.

Some -- many -- do that even in the field.. My personal opinion is that kids are only safe around non-mama adults when there's plenty of room to escape.

Another closely-related personal opinion is that baby goats are pretty much fully ambulatory within a few hours and are downright diggity fast within a day or so not just on account of predators, but primarily so they can outrun/outmaneuver the other non-mama adult goats in the herd!

You've heard the saying "Life's rough...get a helmet" right? Well...think about how fast they start putting on horns.

 

[oxdrover14]

thank you. and do you have a checklist of what the kids need done to them in the next few months?

 

[Ariel301]

They'll need their shots if you choose to vaccinate your animals. Not sure when to do those as I don't vaccinate mine.

If you do not want horns on them, they will have to be disbudded before the horns start to grow. Again, not entirely sure on the time to do that because I leave horns on mine.

You should also train them to wear collars and walk on a leash while they are still small, so they will be easier to handle as adults. I start this around a week old with mine.

 

[dhansen]

I disbud my bucklings around 4 days old and doelings as soon as they have horn bud...about a week. When I do that, I give them a tetnus anti-toxin shot.

 

[glenolam]

I love this site. She is so clear and precise giving methods for Traditional vaccinations as well as holistic methods.

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/kid-care.htm

 

[oxdrover14]

so if i choose not to vaccinate what does that mean do i not need to do anything?

 

[Roll farms]

I've seen goats (not mine) die from tetanus and it's not pretty....so I choose to vaccinate.
Mine get CD&T vaccine at (roughly) 10 days and a booster shot 3 weeks later, then a booster shot once a year after that.

 

[oxdrover14]

is that something i can purchase and give them myself if so where do i get it or do you reccomend the vet to do it?

 

[ksalvagno]

You can get everything at TSC and administer the shots yourself.

If you have never given shots before, then you may want to have another goat breeder or the vet show you how to do it.