I had posted on this thread yesterday that all seemed well & this morning I noticed some of this clumping. I haven't hooked up with a vet yet - I guess I better get that done ASAP. I've got him picked out, but haven't worked with him yet. he's supposed to be good w/goats.
i'm going to have to absorb and grasp your post elevan. some of it is too late. I haven't quarantined them at all. I penned them for a few days, then let them out into the fenced area (3 1/2 acre). no livestock has been in this area since I've had it, which is about 30 years. what do you mean "pick up your non-selected worms"?
i'm pretty embarrassed to confess my ignorance. I had been stalling getting goats while I gradually absorbed information. then hubby said, enough stalling, we're getting them now. so, we found a guy that I got a strong impression he knows a lot about goats, but he's elderly and maybe not as involved in the business as he used to be. his herd was beautiful, no sign of weakness, lethargy. no signs of bad poop or poor coats. his set up was clean, his LGDs were in good shape. I was so freaked at getting goats so quick, I hadn't figured out what to ask, what to see. so i'm shooting in the dark pretty much. I've had them now nearly a month. no issues, except this new "clumping" of poo from what I think (by quantity) is from a single animal. they're all good energy. they've had no traumas, except the move, which I understand can cause a bloom in worm load.
I've come to understand that goats have a lot of diseases & parasites are a HUGE issue for goats. i'm not used to doctoring livestock. I've got my pets (cats/dogs), but other than vaccinations/spay/neuter, they stay pretty much in peak condition. i'm intimidated & worried that these goats that came to me in good condition my fall into illness because of my ignorance.
my plan:
get his vaccination dates & specific dates of birth
visit the vet (take some poop with me while i'm at it) & get acquainted.
figure out a method to treat individuals (I don't have any set up to contain an animal).
make sure my goats are vaccinated w/appropriate vaccines.
don't introduce any other goat into my herd without absolute confidence of condition
start building a first aid kit
my goats, by the way, are the loveliest goats ever. I bet y'alls goats were never as smart or pretty as these goats.
