I need a hug!!

Tam319 · #1 02/06/07, 11:22 PM

Hi all,
Well, I just had to come here to whine a bit.

We bought a herd of bred Savanna x does about 3 weeks ago. The reason was that I have a 15 month old son and wanted an endevour where I could stay home and add to the family income. These does look really good, healthy and well put together. We brought them home, vaccinated, dewormed and gave them vitamin shots. They started kidding last Monday.

This is not going as well as I had hoped!! So far we've had 17 kids, and four have died. Three from goiters (poor nutrition from last home) and one suffocated with the sack over his head. We are running on no sleep as its -20C here and we have to check every hour to ensure nobody is freezing their little ears. One Mama rejected her kid after we warmed it in the bathtub so we've been working hard to keep him going and trying to get him onto his foster Mom.

The worst was tonight a goiter baby was born. She was underdeveloped, hairless and looked like a wee skeleton with skin over her and a giant lump at her throat. She was crying and crying, and died about 10 minutes after birth. It was so horrific.

To top it off I was hoping for lots of twins and doelings to keep to expand the herd. So far we have 13 healthy kids and only 4 are girls. These does are first kidders so most have been having singles. So frustrating.

So sorry for my vent. I am just so discouraged and trying to keep going!! I am dealing with the previous owner's poor management decisions (ie. kidding in the coldest months of the year!) and poor nutrition.

Thanks for listening! I feel better just to tell someone else about it!

diamonds · #2 02/06/07, 11:28 PM

I do not blame you for whining at all...I would be too.

GrannyCarol · #3 02/06/07, 11:29 PM

It really does sound awful.

The good news is that next year, when you have cared for the does properly and made sure they didn't get any toxic plants too... they will be second timers and ought to do you well.

I know that it makes you sick to see the poor babies that way, but don't give up. It's never easy, but I doubt it will ever be worse. If you make it through this year, then it is likely to only get better. Remember that you DO have healthy babies to enjoy. Don't let the losses make you so depressed that you can't enjoy the babies you have!

((hug))

goatkid · #4 02/06/07, 11:42 PM

It's hard to lose babies, but like the others have said, it does get better. The first year we were in goats, we attempted to raise wethers we got from a dairy for meat. We used milk replacer and lost about 1/3 of the wethers. The others did not reach the weight we had hoped for. Our doelings did better, but when they frshened for the first time, I only got one doeling, my precious Isis. The rest were bucklings. Since then, things have gotten better. We've had more does than bucks and last year, we did not lose any kids. Hang in there.

Caelma · #5 02/07/07, 12:07 AM

Sorry to hear you've had a rough start with your
new goats. Look forward to next year.
To be quite frank, it seems like everyone is having
I know of, is having a heavy buck year.
((((((hugs))))))
I know things like this can be discouraging but try not
to let it get to you to badly.

TexCountryWoman · #6 02/07/07, 01:02 AM

Yes, there are lots of bucks this year...it makes you wonder if there is something to that. And remember, you just cannot save every baby. Do your best and treat your animals well. There will always be losses, it goes with the territory. Celebrate your victories when you can. The livestock business always has it's ups and downs..hang in there and HUGS to you

Patty0315 · #7 02/07/07, 06:23 AM

Please go over and post at dairygoatinfo.com Maybe the girls there can come up with something to improve the out come of the rest of the babies. have you spoken to your Vet ?

As far as the baby with no mama either milk out another doe and feed him or use whole cows milk. The baby will be just fine doing this.

It does get better HUGS

Patty

Sher · #8 02/07/07, 07:09 AM

Gosh .. you can have more than one hug from me. I am soo sorry that you are having to go through this. I would be tossing out iodine blocks like crazy..if they are short in iodine..they will get on those blocks and you can't get em off unless they have what they think they need.

The vet popped my girl with something after she kidded..I wish I could remember what..it was to improve her iodine levels. Also gave a goiter baby a shot and guess what? He made it just fine..took a while for his goiter to subside..but it did.

I would call the people you bought them from and ask what kind of hay they are feeding and yes..if it has flixweed. But I have also read that any brassica hay can affect the iodine levels. It won't be as abrupt as the flixweed..but it will gradually, over time deplete the iodine in goats and I think cattle too.

I wish you much luck. Know that this is not your fault and I believe, with help from your vet, you can get these girls back to good health. I do believe I would have a vet pull blood on a handful of goats..from some that have lost their babies and from some that have viable babies. I think this would show you what kind of a problem you have.

This too shall pass..good luck and hugs!

ozark_jewels · #9 02/07/07, 07:09 AM

Yes, it does get better. Just remember, you are dealing with somone elses problems. Just be prepared with proper minerals and proper feeding techniques next year so that you don't have to deal with *your* problems the same way.

gryndlgoat · #10 02/07/07, 07:42 AM

Tam
A big hug from up here in Canada. I can sympathize with the hairless bleating baby- we had one of those too. Horrific is right.

And now, to top it off, you are working on sleep deprivation. Never puts a good perspective on anything!

Things will get better! And the babies you have will make all this so worthwhile and bring smiles back to your life.

Good luck, and feel free to whine anytime! Lots of understanding ears here.

pookshollow · #11 02/07/07, 09:15 AM

Oh my, I don't blame you one little bit for being down - what a way to start out. I'm with everyone else, though - I'm sure it will be better next year, because you'll be looking after them properly.

Quote:

I can sympathize with the hairless bleating baby- we had one of those too.

Any idea what caused it, Gryndlgoat? (Since I'm in your neighbourhood, and we probably have the same soil deficiencies

)

gryndlgoat · #12 02/07/07, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pookshollow

Any idea what caused it, Gryndlgoat? (Since I'm in your neighbourhood, and we probably have the same soil deficiencies

)

Not to worry Pook. This was one of triplets that were aborted after the herd queen was severely frightened by a fox or something in the barn. She wasn't due for another month but aborted all three, small and hairless and blind. Two were not breathing but the last one was. It lasted about 10 minutes- absolutely heartbreaking. Didn't appear to be a deficiency or disease as the rest of the does are fine (and delivering- we're on baby watch again today).

Sweet Goats · #13 02/07/07, 10:30 AM

Tam, Without sounding like a weird person, is it possible to post a picture of one of the babies that is born "weird"? I would Love to have a way to show 4Hers about things like this.
I am SO sorry to hear about your troubles. BIG hugs from CO. It will get easire. Just look at it this way, God is saying if you can handle this then he knows you will do fine. God Bless you.

momofmany · #14 02/07/07, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Goats

I am SO sorry to hear about your troubles. BIG hugs from CO. It will get easier.

Big hug from this part of Colorado too.

pookshollow · #15 02/07/07, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Not to worry Pook.

OK!

Dee · #16 02/07/07, 11:21 AM

(((huggs)))

Laura Workman · #17 02/07/07, 11:23 AM

Oh my gosh! How awful! And that poor baby, I can't imagine. I'm tearing up just thinking about it. But you know, it will happen, soon, when all your babies will be healthy, bouncing kids. Later you'll look at them running through spring grass and then you'll know why you do this. It will get better. Much, much better. Just hang in there.

gryndlgoat · #18 02/07/07, 11:37 AM

Just wanted to add:

Thank goodness these goat are now in your hands! I can only imagine how they would be faring now if they were kidding at their old place, poor things. Despite your losses and how hard they are on you, you have probably saved a number of them that wouldn't have had a chance before.

the mama · #19 02/07/07, 12:44 PM

Things will get better.

Tam319 · #20 02/07/07, 03:00 PM

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You all make me feel MUCH better. I know that its out of my hands and I am dealing with someone else's problems...but its still hard to watch, ya know? I just keep reminding myself that this will be THE WORST year we ever have for kidding. From here on out we will not be dealing with someone else's poor management and decisions.

I'm taking the lil hairless kid to the vet for post mortem tomorrow. Thanks for the advice on having blood drawn. I'll talk to the vet about that as well. I have free choice mineral w/iodine out and I will be getting some kelp to put out free choice this afternoon. It might be too late to salvage some of the unborn kids, but I will do what I can for the mamas and the healthy kids already on the ground.

Our little bathtub baby has a new foster mama. She had her kid yesterday and accepted this extra little guy. I've been "assisting" every couple of hours but he is enthusiastic about eating and she is patient so fingers crossed.

I also did take a picture of the baby and will share if you like. I don't know if everyone wants to see it or?? I could just PM if you'd prefer. It really brings home the reality of why you need to be diligent and provide proper feed and care.

Anyway, thanks again. I sure appreciate all of the support