New Twins...Help needed

Minelson · #21 05/12/09, 05:20 PM

oh no! I am so sorry they passed away

Quit blaming yourself...You could have had the same outcome if you had done anything different. Hugs to you

goatkid · #22 05/12/09, 05:35 PM

Sorry you lost the kids. Any time I have listless kids or suspect they might be born early, I immediately bring them in the house. If they are cold, I submerse them in warm water, holding their heads out of the water until they are warm. I get them dry and fed.
I would be milking the yearling. They establish their lactation ipattern their first freshening. I have one yearling that lost her triplets when she kidded a month early. I harvested her colostrum to freeze and save for other kids and am now milking her twice a day. In spite of her early kidding, she gives about a gallon a day and is well trained to the milk stand.

Jyllie63 · #23 05/12/09, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susanne

sorry i read too late.
next time, don't wait until the kids are cold. take them in the house keep them warm and feed them right away.
preemies do not do well if they get cold. dry blower is not exactly the best method to keep them warm as this just dehydrates them. submerge in warm water ( in a plastic bag with head out) will bring the temp up in about half an hour. to keep them warm, better put plastic bottles with warm water in the box where they are laying.
they should have had to drink at least every two hours.

there is no reason not to milk the dam. make her use to the milk stand and the routine. you will have it easier next year when she is bigger

sorry for the kids. not all are meant to live.

These kids were born around 3pm. They each had about an ounce of colostrum before 4pm. I fed them again around 9pm and then again at 11pm. Each time they took about an ounce. I did try the warm water bath, but unfortunately I got them wet which is where the hairdryer came in to play

. I guess each catastrophe is a learning lesson. I was torn between feeding them warm colostrum and not feeding them because they were too cold. Thanks for the tip on the warm plastic bottles. I will definitely try that if there ever is a next time. I certainly hope there isn't one though

As far as milking the dam...she looked so sore and swollen. I just didn't have the heart to put her through more torture. It's been a little over 24 hours now...can I still try and milk some colostrum out of her?

Jyllie63 · #24 05/12/09, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dosthouhavemilk

Jill,
I am so sorry. I wish I could have done more.
Anyone who keeps goats for any length of time and has them kid out is going to run into these issues. There are times it seems like it all happens at once.
You did the best you could for them.
Keep an eye on the dam's udder.

You calmed me down! That was plenty LOL. What exactly am I looking for with her udder?

Jyllie63 · #25 05/12/09, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

oh no! I am so sorry they passed away

Quit blaming yourself...You could have had the same outcome if you had done anything different. Hugs to you

Thank you! You know how we pet goat owners are...these are our kids! LOL

Jyllie63 · #26 05/12/09, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goatkid

Sorry you lost the kids. Any time I have listless kids or suspect they might be born early, I immediately bring them in the house. If they are cold, I submerse them in warm water, holding their heads out of the water until they are warm. I get them dry and fed.
I would be milking the yearling. They establish their lactation ipattern their first freshening. I have one yearling that lost her triplets when she kidded a month early. I harvested her colostrum to freeze and save for other kids and am now milking her twice a day. In spite of her early kidding, she gives about a gallon a day and is well trained to the milk stand.

I just asked this from Susanne's post...is it too late to try and milk her...it's been a little over 24 hours. I seriously don't know what I would do with all the milk! I have jars everywhere and that's just from 1/2 gallon a day that I get from my other doe.

kreddish · #27 05/12/09, 09:41 PM

May their little soulds rest in peace:baby04: We all know they are is better place

Hope next year will we happier.

Chaty · #28 05/12/09, 10:13 PM

I freeze mine when I have too much and this way I have milk when I dry my does off. Yes you can still milk her...it takes about a week before they start drying up, but you can bring her back into milk by milking. Sorry about the babies I lost a set of triplets and a set of twins that were born to early this year. I know the feeling.