A newbie birthing goat question

[CookingPam777]

My goat is going to have kids in February. What supplies I need? I am new so I am no idea. I also heard that you give them molasses water why?

[mamahen]

Hmm - this is what I kept on hand:

Clean towels - to dry kids off

baby nasal sucker (can't think of the name )

Empty feed bags - to lay kids on

Some sort of lube - Dawn dish soap will work in a pinch

Iodine 7% - to dip navels (and some do the hooves, too)

A small container to put the iodine dip in

Warm water & molasses - it's just a nice pick-me-up treat for a job well done for momma - 1/4 cup regular molasses to 2 gallons warm water. She probably won't drink it all.

Bottle & nipple - if feeding baby or for some reason mom can't.

I also have a tube feeding syringe "just in case" I have had to use one before.

Also I worm mom the next day. Then again in 10 days. That's just me.

Good luck!

[DocM]

What I have on hand:

A good vet's phone number. Don't wait until your goat has labored for 24 hours before you call either. Know the signs of distress.

The phone number of someone experienced who can walk you through any minor emergencies and tell you when/if you need to call the vet.

Gloves. Some kind of hand sanitizer and lube for going in, although the times I have, I just went for it and didn't bother with gloves. The lube helps though. Use the hand sanitizer before you go in.

Lots of towels for drying kids. Paper towels for your hands. Old feed sacks to catch the mess.

Iodine and scissors for trimming and dipping the cord.

Some kind of drench for mom after - nutri-drench, cal-drench, or some kind of blend of molasses or karo syrup in warm water, but warm water even if you drench.

An antibiotic for mom if you go in with dirty bare hands.

Wormer - worm mom the day she kids.

A sharp knife and the will to use it if things go terribly wrong - you have about 3-5 minutes to get the kids out and save them if mom dies on you. Study up on the anatomy of a goat too, just in case.

Bottles, nipples - have them clean and ready to use. Have your equipment set up if you're going to do CAE prevention and you don't already have frozen colostrum, because you'll need to milk mom, heat it, and bottle it before the kids get to nurse.

Milking supplies and a place to milk - set it up before you need it. Know where everything is.

A note to yourself to freeze some of the colostrum (heat treat first) so next time, you'll have some on hand if you need it in an emergency.

Read this page and don't fret - your goat most likely won't need your help anyway. The best thing you can do for a lot of does is stay out of the way.

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/kidding.htm

[fishhead]

Fingernails trimmed very short.

[Minelson]

I'm new too...I found that the Fias website was extremely helpful... http://www.fiascofarm.com/
I printed out the instructions for kidding and made myself a binder with all the information I felt I would need at the time of kidding. Step by step instructions are helpful for me. It's a HUGE website with tons of information so make yourself a cup of coffee and sit down and read. Good luck to you!

[Feral Nature]

Other things:

Kid stuff: BoSe and small syrnges that you can draw up 1/4 to 1/2 cc in (insulin syringes), vit. E gel caps, betadine, dental floss for tieing cords, etc...in a separate tote or tool box that you can carry with you along with kids. Keep BoSe refirgerated when not actively uising.

Scale to weigh your kid goats, later you will kick yourself if you forget to weigh them and write it down.

A big box or playpen kid READY in the house so you don't have to find and set it up after the kids are born, if you bottle-raise.

A thermos for coffee/ cold drink, good electric lighting/good working flashlights, a comfy chair, mosquito repellent in warm weather, things to make YOU comfortable while you wait in the barn.

Extra goat clothes for you because you will get icky and need to change.

[Feral Nature]

I thought of something else...

walkie talkies are good too..if you need assistance, you can call in the troops ...or if you just need room service to the barn

[Cloverbud]

Originally Posted by DocM

What I have on hand:

A good vet's phone number. Don't wait until your goat has labored for 24 hours before you call either. Know the signs of distress.

The phone number of someone experienced who can walk you through any minor emergencies and tell you when/if you need to call the vet.

Amen! I used them both yesterday!

Might I add a cell/cordless phone with numbers programmed into them. I delivered my first babies yesterday with the phone to my ear.

[CookingPam777]

Well I don't have a cell phone. Hmmm I could borrow my brother's. Thanks for all the help. I am getting a list together. My doe looks like she might kid early. So I want to get everything ready as soon as possible. And seeing as she will definantly want me there I will need that comfy chair and warm coffee mug! Do you all have tips for birthing? This my first time so maybe I should read the ABC Beginner's Guide to Birthing hehehe!

[mamahen]

Tips...hmmm..

Know what presentation you're looking for. Hooves (front), with nose/mouth between. Don't panic if it's a different presentation, but know what you're looking at and what to do (even if it's call the vet, friend, husband..who ever)

Keep calm and read lots of articles on kidding. Fiasco farms site is great. I had a few books that I kept close by, just in case. And make a list of what you should be doing....it really helps for the first time.

When my first doe went into labor, I was estatic. Until I saw head, no feet. I quickly called the vet (my cordless phone reached the barn). He was of no real help, didn't want to come out, so called mother-in-law (lots of calves born). While on her way down, I kept working the head & the opening, and manuvered the little bugger out. MIL wasn't even thru the field yet!! She got to witness the second kid, perfect presentation.

My other doe had a quick trip to the vet clinic, after hours of course. Oh, I called during hours and they let her labor with legs out for 1.5 hours or so. I know the kid wasn't coming. They pulled him & broke his lower jaw. He's fine now. Just turned 2 and is a healthy wether.

Both of my does like to kid about 3 pm. A really nice time!

Here are a few helpful links - some with full color birthing pics!

http://bedford.extension.psu.edu/agr...%20Kidding.htm

http://www.cornerstonefarm.net/kidding.html

http://www.sa-boergoats.com/asp/4h/g...eparations.asp

http://www.boergoatshome.com/Kidding_Photos.php

http://www.goats4h.com/Pigman.html - I really like this one for first timers, gives you a list of supplies, and breaks down the whole process. Really good.

[CookingPam777]

mamahen I went to the store to purchase Iodine 7% just as you said and they told me they had 2% and 70%. Did you mean to type 70%? If you meant 7% do you know where I can purchase it?

[mamahen]

No, I found the 7% at either our feed store, or Tractor Supply, here's a link to one brand (I just had the generic)

http://www.jeffersequine.com/ssc/pro...56MTMV789XF2B8

[hoofinitnorth]

I asked one of my vets for 7% iodine and he doesn't use it anymore. He said that Betadine is the next best thing. He also did not advise tying off umbilical cords unless they would not clot readily on their own after dipping. What do you folks think?????

[mamahen]

I don't tie either. When mom stood up & turns around, they usually snap.

Betadine is fine, too!

[hoofinitnorth]

I also wanted to mention that when I asked for Lactated Ringers to have on-hand, the vet sold me Normasol instead. It's pretty much the same thing but they said they don't use Lactated Ringers anymore at all so can't sell it to me!

[LMonty]

Apologize in advance for the thread drift-

Heather, I used to be an advocate for RL (ringers lactate) too. ( i went to the "Johnny Gage school of Emergency Medicine" LOL starting my ER nursing career in the mid 70's). Have changed my mind over time.
IMHO, saline (0.9% NS) is really all we need. Its less irritating to tissues than RL if used SQ. If used IV and you want sugar, can add sterile Dextrose to it to make D5NS soln very easy, and injectable vits can be added that are far more effective than the little bit of lactate. (that reminds me to pick up some Dextrose inj and check with the pharmacist at work exactly how much to add to make a 5% soln, I keep meaning to do that and forget!)
NS tends to be cheaper, at least some times, since its more available and more of it is produced since its used so little in human helathcare anymore. There were Emergency Medicine studies in the 80's IIRC that showed RL wasnt anymore effective than NS and had more problems when used in fluid resuscitation. Havent used it in trauma much since the late 80's early 90's we all switched over to saline for that reason. So dont feel bad about getting the normasol, it may be a better choice to keep on hand in the long run.

[hoofinitnorth]

LMonty - that's pretty much what I am getting from my human health care friends. They still use RL in the surgery centers here and that stuff burns the heck out of me when given IV pre-surgery. YUCK! My Normasol cost $18 for 1000ML!!! YIPES!