Kiding Practice and Things to know

Wow Happy Farmer and Shia those are great lists and exactly what I am hoping for. And HF thanks for adding that last line. Hopefully more people are willing to step up and we can get some newbies a goat mentor that can actually help them out. You are awesome.

And we all know Minelson needs all the help she can get...:baby04::baby04: Love ya Minelson.................

Tracy in WA

I am in Colorado, 60 minutes south East of Denver. My number is on the website, or PM me! Tracy I keep two antibiotics on hand penicillin G and Biomycin the amount to give depends on the goats weight. You can buy these from a vet supply store, or feed store. Also how it is given depends on the medication. You can buy the nutra drench at the feed store. The book I use is "Goat Husbandry" by David McKenzie, it is old so might be difficult to find, that and it is from Scotland.

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Sarah Patterson
M & L Farm
Lamanchas, lamancha cross, Sable and Sable cross

You can also find us on facebook! M&L Farm

http://www.mandllamanchas.com *UPDATED*

Wondeful thanks Shia I will update the post. And thanks for the Mentor offer for Colorado.

Tracy in WA

Tracy...

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

I use the store brand of Betadine for the navals/cords becuase that's what I had here. TSC carries iodine as well.

When the lig's are gone you'll be able to but put your fingers around the tail where it meets the doe's spine & your finger tips will actually be able to touch when they are gone. I figured out where they were & how to check them by checking doe's that weren't pregnant & then KEPT checking the preggo one's to feel the difference at different stages of pregnancy.

If you have to swing a kid that means litterally swing them by holding on to the back legs & swing them to get the mucus & gunk out of there mouth's & noses. I've only done it once & it worked. I made sure the kid was breathing & crying good after that & she was fine after that.

My doe's all are usually very restless the day of kidding, a couple are very talkative, sometimes they will not want to eat, they will sometimes push there head against the side of a wall in there house(that is helping to posistion the kids). They are so different I think just like people.
I think when it gets close enough for you that you will see definate changes in your doe's behavior.

I always worm my doe's the day of kidding after the kids have a chance to get a couple good meals in & then I re-worm them again 10 days later. Also I don't give molasses water(mine have never liked it)but will make up electrolite water if need but normally mine LOVE warm water with apple cider vinegar in it. I actually give it to the boys & girls year around.

Ok curious minds want to know?? Apple Cider Vinegar?? I read that right?? What does that do for a goat and how on earth can anything stand it. Yuck!!!

Thanks for all the great info it is wonderful.

Tracy in WA

I had posted *ligaments* & labor/birth pictures it a different thread. It's been requested that I repost them here.. I'll also try to describe what I'm feeling for.

The pictures below are of Amelia (first freshening nubian doe) Four hours before these pictures were taken.. her ligaments were soft but still very *there* on both sides.. at 2pm when I checked her again..(we took pictures of this ligament check) the one on the left was totally gone, the one on the right barely there. (she had no vulva swelling or goo.. her udder was larger, her teats full) She KIDDED.. as in pushed 'em out and was cleaning off twin doelings.. in less then 15 mins. from the 2pm check! I'm using my index fingers to *feel* for ligaments. Normally I would have felt them under each finger. They feel to me like a thin cable (thinner then a pencil..taunt, but with a bit of bounce/give if you push them down.. when they are *GONE* you won't feel them at all.. just a hollow where they use to be.. before that when they are starting to get SOFT.. they will feel thinner, have much more give.. one side may be harder to find then the other (I personally have never had a doe that *lost* them & then they were magically back.. Up until 24 or less hours before kidding.. if I really feel around, I can find them)... NOT all does will totally *loose* their ligaments either.. In the picture I could still slightly feel the one on her right side.. the left one was gone.
When trying to *learn* how to check liagments, I always suggest that you get you hands on as many does ligaments as you can. Feel for them on young does, old does, early bred does, does about to kid.. right after a doe kids.. you fingers will quickly *learn* what they are feeling for. The ligaments fun from under where my fingertips are downward towards the top of the tail head in a V shape...

Amelia 10 mins. before kidding.. No swelling/NO goo




susie, mo ozarks

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"My darling girl, when are you going to understand that "normal" is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage."
http://www.agesagoacresnubians.com/