I am keeping for a few weeks....

[TheBiscuitQueen]

3 baby goats! A Saanen male and female, and a female Oberhasli, or at least that is what my friend thinks she is. We got them from a horrid man who collects animals like some might collect coins, and buys and sells all the time. He would be nice but he refuses to stop collecting animals. I am not going to buy anything from him, but my friend is going back for another Saanen doe tomorrow. They are weened and were eating chicken food as soon as they got in the stall.

But, we need to quarentine them from her goats, so I get to keep them for a few weeks! They are so cute. I am keeping them in a horse stall which has a screen door to the outdoors(and also a heavy slider to go over the screen at night.) Plus the normal half door into the barn.

So, a few questions. How deep should the bedding be? Are pin shavings OK, or should I get straw? What is the best waterer to use (there is only chicken waterers there right now). I will be bringing them fresh brush as well as hay and my friend will be buying them feed tomorrow. Do they like any toys, like large balls? (I am a dog person, and am always making sure the critters are not bored.) SHould I put a few boxes around for them to climb?

My friend has tons of goat expirience, but I have never had them before. I thought this would be a good practice for when I get goats in the spring.

[southerngurl]

Don't feed them the chicken food. Just let them have roughage (hay/alfalfa pellets/browse) for now. Goats have sensitive stomachs, and suddenly getting chicken pellets can definately make them sick or kill them depending on how much they get and what they were eating before.

But with them being moved, it's stress to their body, so it's best to just keep them on a simple, safe diet until they adjust.

All dietary changes should be made slowly because their guts are big fermentation vats. The bacteria have to change and adjust to different food sources, or the bad bacteria can take over and cause sickness/death.

Alfalfa is good when they are growing.

[christij]

Pine shavings or straw are fine -- personal pref on what you prefer to clean. I would get something sturdier for the water -- goats are frisky and will probably have them knocked over in no time if they're the little plastic ones.
Goats love to climb and jump around... you could give them some large size stumps or some other type platform they will have a blast playing king of the mtn.
Enjoy caring for the little ones - they offer a lot of entertainment!

[TheBiscuitQueen]

Thanks!

Nix the chicken feed-got it. It was mash and some grain, so they were probably not getting enough to make them really sick. I don't think they can scoop the powdery stuff in as fast as pellets. The chicken feeder was already in place for my chickens, and they ran to it as soon as they got in the stall.

Stumps, I think I can find some.

I am going to try to find some alfalfa hay for them, if not see if I can talk a local farmer into selling me a few large bags of green stuff.

[deafgoatlady]

Hey dont worry. U will be fine. I knew that u didnt meant to feed them chicken feed. It is probably it was ALREADY there before u put them in there... the baby boy goat can breed the baby girls. So be sure he is castrated or seperate... They will be fine.. Just feed them hay and feed them some grain later on (not right now)... Feed them with water in a bucket. be sure it is upbove from ground so that way they wont poo in there... And U did fine!... any bedding is fine. straw or shavings... Be sure u check them for worms. Be sure u take the stool to the vet becuz after they move in and they will be stress out. U want to make sure and be ready before something happens..

[DocM]

I can't imagine that you'll be able to keep 3 baby goats for any amount of time... and just give them back. Baby goats are the downfall of many a homesteader. May as well pay close attention, you'll be a goat owner soon enough.

[southerngurl]

Sometimes I'm so worried about stuff I'm now fun. Forgot to add to enjoy them! And yes, it won't end here.

[nehimama]

Originally Posted by DocM

I can't imagine that you'll be able to keep 3 baby goats for any amount of time... and just give them back. Baby goats are the downfall of many a homesteader. May as well pay close attention, you'll be a goat owner soon enough.

EXACTLY what I was thinking!

NeHi

[oceanmist]

I haven't read in these posts how old these babies are, anyone know?

Out of curiosity don't they need milk for a while, like up to 2-3 months?

She also didn't mention anything about mom? Since her friend is knowledgable I am guessing she knows that they are old enough to be on just solid/ leafy foods.

you might consider getting a fecal done and checking for coccidiosis since they are young and the previous owner probably didn't worm or anything else...

Misty

[TheBiscuitQueen]

Thank you for all the advice! I am very much enjoying them, we went out this morning and let them play in the front of the barn.

We got the goats from a man who had just bought them at auction.

I will ask her how old they are tonight, they are about thigh high right now, the little one maybe knee high or a bit higher.

Got goat pellets and straw, have to find a bucket and a place to hook it to the wall. DOubt the chicken waterer will last long.

I almost lost one just now..my learning curve is pretty steep right now... my G$# D$^& Bull terrier came out with me, and ran around to the side door, smashed through the screen door, and had one around the neck in 2 seconds flat.

Have reinforced door with 3 inch nails.

I know that it is in her nature to grab new things around the neck, but now I will spend the next few weeks teaching her 'leave it' for goats. She has learned to leave the chickens, so there is hope. But from now on.....on leash!

Oh, and baby boy has diarrhea, and they all have runny noses. Any advice?

One more thing, I am getting 3 more grown does to borrow tonight.

[susanne]

i would bring a fecal to the vet.. they probably need worming and cocci treatment.
the diarhea could be from the chicken food last night. feed only good grass hay to him, no grain.
take the temperature to make sure they don't have fever.

[TheBiscuitQueen]

Are the goat pellets grain? I am using Blue Seal Caprus, but there was no list of ingredients on the bag. The woman at the feed store read the description which said it is good for both young and adults.

Thanks!

Could we just deworm them anyways, or is the fecal check necessary? (It will be her choice, but I will be getting goats this spring and will need to know anyways )

Mine will go to the vets for a checkup anyways when I get them, but my friend does not have a lot of money right now so I am not sure what she will do with hers.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Susanne knows way more about goats than I, but if your friend doesn't want to take a fecal or go to the vet I would go ahead & worm them, also since it doesn't sound like they came from a very good place they are probly stressed a little. Watch their runny noses closely, it could be shipping fever, & I definately would keep the 3 adult does away from the babies till everyone is fine & you know no one is sick.

[TheBiscuitQueen]

Ok, we now have 6 goats, 3 babies and three adults. I put the three babies in one stall and adults in the other, they cannot get to each other, and we are feeding and watering separately. That is good biosecurity to keep them separate.

The only problem is the babies were housed overnight in the space the adults are in now, but I did spread fresh hay out for them. I will clean it out tomorrow just to be sure. I hope that does not cause problems-at this point it is a little late to change anyways. I did not know I would be getting 3 does until after I put the babies in the one stall, and the other has a large cage in it that the does would not fit with. The babies, however, love to climb in and out of the big cage.

She estimates the babies to be 3 months old. The smallest one, the buck, has diarrhea and is very thin, she is worried about him. She will pick up electrolytes tomorrow, and we have a lamp on them tonight. Can I just use Pedialyte if she can't get some specifically for goats?

The colored baby is an Alpine, not an Oberhasli, and the three adult does are 2 Alpines and a Saanan, which is pregnant.

I am very glad I did not just jump in with my own goats-I do not like not having any clue here! Hope it is ok I keep asking questions.

She said she is planning on deworming them all anyways, but as I said when I get my own goats I will follow your advice and have stool samples checked.

[fishhead]

Be careful with that heat lamp. If they can jump on it, yank it down by the cord or any other possibility they will and that could start a fire.

[TheBiscuitQueen]

I thought of that, I too was worried about it. I have it draped over the back of a pallet which is out of thier reach, then tied to the stall door outside the stall. Even if they knock it off the clip, it should not be able to reach the ground. I will go check it anyways before I go to bed, then take it out first thing in the morning.

Goats are worse than toddlers!

Should I think about bringing him in the house in a crate if he does not start inproving?

[susanne]

i probably would treat for cocci at this age, you can get something from your vet. the diarrhea will probably not resolve by itself.
is he still eating and drinking? can you take his temp? this is very easy done with a thermometer from the pharmacy

your friends goats are faster multiplying than mine when i started

[oceanmist]

Originally Posted by TheBiscuitQueen

I thought of that, I too was worried about it. I have it draped over the back of a pallet which is out of thier reach, then tied to the stall door outside the stall. Even if they knock it off the clip, it should not be able to reach the ground. I will go check it anyways before I go to bed, then take it out first thing in the morning.

Goats are worse than toddlers!

Should I think about bringing him in the house in a crate if he does not start inproving?

We still need to know how old they are??? You need to NOT give them any grain. Period. The stress of moving and boy I am really guessing they should be nursing, but don't give them any grain just yet. You need to find out WHY the runny noses and poopy butts...

to treat for Coccidiosis aka Cocci... you will ned 12.5% Sulmet or Albon. You will find this in the poultry section of your feed store. You need to treat them ASAP.

You need to give each kid three to five cc's of undiluted liquid Di-Methox 12.5% orally for five days in a row. For adults, dose at eight to ten cc's again orally for 5 days straight.

You are just setting yourself up for a disaster by not having the proper housing in advance. Bringing those does in from somewhere else and putting them in the same pen the babies were in has opened you up to some potential problems.

Hopefully the babies arent' carrying too many bug and you are just dealing with Cocci and some worms, nothing more serious....

You need to get yourself some books and do some online research. I hope you are not working, because you have gotten yourself into a full time project here. LOL

I would go ahead and give them some Poly Serum, it's a cattle product at your feed store, runs about $30 for a huge bottle of it. It will boost their immune system.

I don't know if you've taken any temps, but don't run for anti-biotics until you know they have a fever...

you poor girl you are diving into this head first that's for sure... nothing like problem goats to induct you into goat ownership!

take care, Misty

[oceanmist]

Originally Posted by TheBiscuitQueen

Ok, we now have 6 goats, 3 babies and three adults.

>>>She estimates the babies to be 3 months old. The smallest one, the buck, has diarrhea and is very thin, she is worried about him. She will pick up electrolytes tomorrow, and we have a lamp on them tonight. Can I just use Pedialyte if she can't get some specifically for goats?

>>>I am very glad I did not just jump in with my own goats-I do not like not having any clue here! Hope it is ok I keep asking questions.

Are they all from the same place? Get that baby boy started on Sulmet ASAP, get some probios and electrolytes.. Re-sorb is good, again a calf product..

do you have a feed store nearby? Not sure what good the lamp is going to do... they are sick on the inside, probably wormy and sick...

you know this is one time I would recommended going ahead with some anti-bioitic, like Oxytet ... I usually don't, but this little guy sounds like he could use all the help he can get...

their temps can be taken with a digital thermometer and should be between 101.5 and 103.5...

what meds do you have access to?

how close is your goat owning friend in case of an emergency?

Where are you located btw?

Misty

[TheBiscuitQueen]

I am in upstate ny, fingerlakes area.

I do not own a thermometer, because I used to be able to tell the (human) kids temps to the degree without one, so we lost it when we moved. I will go buy one today, it would be good for the dogs too.

I have a feed store on my way to school, so I will pick up:

Sulmet
Re-Sorb
undiluted liquid Di-Methox 12.5%

SO what can I give them besides grain/pellets? Hay, weeds?

So I should when I go out care for adults first, then babies, to minimize cross contamination with the baby?

When should I bring him in the house, if I have to?

My friend is about an hour away. This was an impulse buy, she was not planning on doing this right now. I agree, we should have gotten everything set up ahead of time. Yes, I feel thrown in the fire, but I find the best way to learn and get good at something is to do it. So...I am doin it!


edit to add:

I just went out this morning to check on them, everyone is doing well. Baby boy is up and acting normal, but they all have little coughs. I am encouraged that he is active however.

I am heading off for school in a few minutes, but it is a short day and I will be back by 11. I will stop at the feed store on my way home.

Again, thank you for all the help.