New to goats

[scoresjewel]

Hello from Ca I’d like to introduce myself I’m am new to goats and I purchased a Nigerian dwarf and to my surprise she is pregnant I believe she is going to kid very soon and I am very nervous not sure what to get for supplies any info would be great

 

[Carla D]

Hello from Western Wisconsin. How exciting is that? I have never been present for a kidding. I have only wethers. But I’m thinking some of these people should be able to walk you through the process and answer your questions. @Baymule , @B&B Happy goats , @Southern by choice , @Bruce . Could any of you help this excited new member out? This person is new at this and has a goat they feel is close to kidding. There are a few questions they need to have answers to.

 

[scoresjewel]

Hello Western Wisconsin. Thank You for responding to my post my little Doe that is pregnant has been having a white gooey discharge for 4 days now could someone please tell me what this is...she has not had this for the 4 months I have had her and I Have a question just for my own information what should a goats temperature be so I can take note of that I'm trying to take note actually on everything I learn since this is all new to me and I'm am extremely nervous about her birthing

 

[Carla D]

http://goat-link.com/content/view/61/47/#.XIGBMBpMGhA

This has the standard vital signs. I’ll see if I can find pregnancy related information for you as well.

 

[Carla D]

Here are a few really good sites that have information on many aspects of goats. You will likely find these quite useful. I know I have.

http://goat-link.com/content/view/61/47/#.XIGByxpMGhB

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/articlesMain.html

For body conditioning scale, http://www.luresext.edu/sites/default/files/BCS_factsheet.pdf

Prior to kidding,
https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/livestock/goats/ten-ways-to-recognize-goat-labor-signs/

https://thefreerangelife.com/signs-your-goat-is-in-labor/

https://www.openherd.com/pages/5126/whistlemir-pre-labor-and-labor-signs

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com...n-your-goat-is-in-labor-or-getting-close.html

I hope you can find whyou are looking for in these. I’ve never gone through the kidding process before. I’m as clueless as you are. But, these sites have been very helpful to me, at least the first four have been.

 

[Daxigait]

Those are great sites to help out. While there are a ton of things that you can have in your kit for kidding and probably should here are a few. I keep everything in a basket there are some basics you can start with.
There are a few things that I keep handy to the foaling stall. first things that are not in the foaling kit things like a couple of paper feed sacks they were great one to put the baby on while you're trying to dry it off and one to put stuff in, all that nasty wet bedding and after birth in so you can just take it all out and burn it as is.
The most basic things to have in a kit while there are others are paper towels towels, something reasonably sterile if you have to pull the kids, something to clean your hands and gloves, one of those nasal syringes that sucks the snot out, given the time of year depending on where you are I keep a hair dryer and extension cord. A good light particularly if you have a headlamp. Blood stop powder, thermometer, strong iodine in a film/pill container for navals you want to change the iodine between kids. A sharp pair of scissors and dental floss for dealing with their navels also. you don't always need this cuz often it breaks off short and neat but sometimes it does not. I keep mfo solution to give my does after kidding (50-60 cc for 3days) and you want to keep some calcium on hand in case you ever have trouble with a cervix. A bucket with warm water and molasses or electrolyte some people use ymcp it just depends on what but something to give the doe energy and replace stuff after she kids. A lot of people warm right after kidding I usually wait a few days.
You want a good colostrum on hand in case something happens with the doe, they need that regularly for the first 24 hours then you can move to those milk or cow's milk I would use one of those over replacer. I get some from the dairy if I need it. Some people also suggests keeping some sort vitamin energy and colostrum supplement on hand for the kids if they are weak.
those things in a basket will go a long way while there are many others and longer list those are the basics. not to mention a cell phone with a number of your vet and your goat mentor or somebody who's willing to take a call anytime I'd be one if you don't have someone and you need help. I would spend a bit of time reading on normal birthing positions in common issues and don't panic most of the time things go quite well. You know your goats a trust your gut if you think things are really wrong. Normally things go well the most common issue will be a presentation problem we're like a foot or head that's back that you might have to get into position but the vast majority ofthe they're going to deliver well. Good luck. This is all you're going to get for now cuz I got to work.

Meds like penicillin oxytocin banamine not to mention thymin & B12 get a dose of k from your vet in case you get a bunch of bleeding too. 3 + 12 ml syringes with mostly 20 gauge needles and 18 if you need to gI've the penicillin

 

[Daxigait]

If you live somewhere cold and you don't plan on taking them inside 55 gallon drum with a 125 watt heat lamp set up is a great thing.

 

[Daxigait]

Before labor I do a couple more things as well. you're probably too close to do the cd&t shot and multimin shot that I give four to six weeks out. But you can still trim her tail. Get all that hair off like a show if you live somewhere warm on both the Tail and the udder. If you don't live somewhere warm cut it off till it's about a half or quarter of an inch and do the backside of the udder with Vaseline. This will help with everything that's going to come out at the birth and all that stuff she's going to discharge for about a week and a half or better after. It is a nasty mess to get out when it cakes and dries on if you don't.

I would also have someone try to show you where that ligament is in their butt. If you can feel that, it usually disappears it gets thinner and thinner as they get close and disappears within 12 to 24 hours of kidding.

Also if you have or know someone who has a baby monitor they're great to set up saves you a lot of trips out to check. I love my hello baby

 

[scoresjewel]

Here are a few really good sites that have information on many aspects of goats. You will likely find these quite useful. I know I have.

http://goat-link.com/content/view/61/47/#.XIGByxpMGhB

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/articlesMain.html

For body conditioning scale, http://www.luresext.edu/sites/default/files/BCS_factsheet.pdf

Prior to kidding,
https://countrysidenetwork.com/daily/livestock/goats/ten-ways-to-recognize-goat-labor-signs/

https://thefreerangelife.com/signs-your-goat-is-in-labor/

https://www.openherd.com/pages/5126/whistlemir-pre-labor-and-labor-signs

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com...n-your-goat-is-in-labor-or-getting-close.html

I hope you can find whyou are looking for in these. I’ve never gone through the kidding process before. I’m as clueless as you are. But, these sites have been very helpful to me, at least the first four have been.

Thank You for all these threads this will help a great deal with this journey

 

[scoresjewel]

Thank You for all these links this will help a great deal during this journey