Help!

I am so sorry you all went through all that stress and the kids were lost. But it would be hard to be prepared being that there was no knowledge of a pregnancy, plus like others have said, she may have been bred to a larger breed which would not be good for her birthing--there are a lot of unknowns here. I would doubt highly that it had anything to do with the hay, jmo. So sorry for you loss, I feel relieved though that you did not lose the doe, you should feel good that you pulled her through a very difficult situation.

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Chris

2 dogs, 1 parrot, 2 horses, colorful flock of egg-layers, peafowl, dairy goats, porchful of hummers, and a garden full of monarchs

I'm sorry to hear this. It could have been worse, you could have lost the doe too. It doesn't sound like you could have done anything to change the outcome at this late date.

Have you given the doe warm molasses water?

It's time to start thinking about worming her too.

If she has milk I would milk out the colostrum and freeze it just in case you need it for the other kids.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

I agree you did a remarkable job. You pulled her threw a VERY dangerous situation And im glad you stuck with her. I have seen people just walk away and say what ever happens, happens. Not even trying to bring there doe threw a ver hard delivery. It sounds like a late abortion or early delivery. I feed mine just hay and some grain and they deliver fine. They can be thrown into labor by being butted very hard by there herd mates. I was expecting Violet to abort Isabelle she would get her head stuck in the feeder and the cow would beat the snot out of her. But she did deliver izzy.
I pray your next girl will have a much easyer delivery and you get some very healthy babies.

I swear the first are alwyas the hardest and gives you more knowledge than you would realy want to learn at that point.
Good Job sticking with the DOE. And give her a good molassis water dring (warm) and a grain treat milk her out and freeze the colostrum you may need it later. You now will have fresh milk for your family.

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I'm so done here.

Would giving her a calcium rich diet help now? I know that calcium is needed to help muscles contract and deliver kids so possibly she might be lacking and maybe that's why she couldn't deliver. Plus now with producing milk she's going to need a source of calcium.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

i've milked some of the colostrum out, shes still kinda weak i've given her a drink of warm molassas water thanks for that tip she sure loved it.....on a happier note...i went out to gather the eggs and heard lots of cheeping....i got Christmas babies anyway....7 new chicks the other does sides are moving alot like little ones in there i sooo hope she has them, but this time i hope to be a little more prepared

if they were dead for a while, what kind of condition was the placenta, the color of them, etc? The size of the smaller goat is strange, even for a pygmy - Sounds like a late term abortion, (4-6 weeks early). Were they fully developed (full hair, even ear tips? are you open to doing a necroscopy and checking for mature lungs, etc?) - you could be looking at chlamydia, or other disease. Doubt a butt would kill both like that.

Do NOT grain heavily last month of gestation especially on such a small breed. Think of human pregnancies - the last couple months is just putting FAT and weight on the baby. If you make the baby too large, you'll end up with mom needing a c-section. Check body condition of the doe, if she is keeping good condition, no sense in adding grain, ESPECIALLY with pygmies. Save the grain for lactation. Decent hay and a loose mineral should be more than sufficient!

Andrea

I don't understand the comment on page 2 about feeding small bales.

Pregnancy diets are important to consider. Many people will warn you as thatcompchick did about too much grain during the last bit of pregnancy. This is usually a problem with does that have a large development area with a relatively small delivery area. This is common in pygmies, unfortunately.

Sorry you had such a difficult introduction to the birthing process. We do need to consider finances, but if you *plan* to have more babies in the future, be sure you set aside an emergency fund to pay for c-section or euthanasia. This will put your mind at ease and help you make that decision easier when the time comes.

Next time, please don't leave the doe until you are sure she is done delivering everything. You should see afterbirth naturally delivered within an hour or so after the babies and you will eventually be comfortable enough to go in and do a gentle sweep to be sure there are no more babies in there.

You did great asking questions and noticing your doe was "off". Here's hoping your next deliveries will be smoother!

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Heather Fair
Fair Skies Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats
All I Saw Farm
Wasilla, Alaska
http://HoofinItNorth.com
http://FairSkiesAlaska.com

thanks ya'll have given me soo much to think about!! the emergency fund is a definate must, i don't want to lose any more babes....i think i might have misunderstood what everyone is calling grain...i've been feeding them loose hay and goat feed from the store, its in a bag is this the wrong thing to be feeding my goats?

edited: didn't read everything before I posted.....so sorry you lost the kids but very glad you saved the doe.

I am also sorry you lost the kids, but glad your doe is ok.

I am so sorry! Please do try to enjoy the rest of your Christmas!

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I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam.

Popeye

I'm sorry you lost the babies and am glad your doe is OK. Since the babies were dead for awhile, I'd give her Biomycin, every other day for three doses, to prevent a uterine infection. Goat feed, such as Purina Goat Chow, is grain. I feed my pregnant does alfalfa hay and just a little bit of grain. I increase the grain when they kid. Mine aren't Pygmys. From what I've been told, it's best not to grain that breed until after they kid.

Oh I'm sorry you had such a hard time with a dreadful outcome But, like others said you saved your doe! And baby chicks are wonderful

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Teach only Love...for that is what You are

You saved her life.

Did the vet recommend any follow-up care?

Oh, man, I am so sorry. How is the doe doing now?

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Becky

need to worm her and get her some biomysin she has been up eating today and moving around some

Oh, that is wonderful news! You should be so proud of yourself for pulling her through this.

Just so I know for future endeavors...what was the meaty thing hanging out of her?

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Becky

from what i could tell it was the birth sac and umbilical cord neither of the babes were still in birth sacks they came out with out them so i'm guessing that was what was coming out first, when i go to vet tomarrow to get the anitbiotics i will ask him

Arkansas - gosh that makes me cry...you are such a hero...God Bless you for being there for your doe and taking remarkable steps to save her.