surprise kid!!! help!

rainbowmoon · #1 01/13/08, 10:50 AM

my goat just had a baby! I didn't even know she was pg!! (I only got her in Sept) please tell me everything I need to know! what do I do?!?!?

RedTartan · #2 01/13/08, 10:56 AM

Uhm... What breed is it? How long ago did she have the baby? Could there be more?

Make sure it eats (restrain the doe if you have to so that it can nurse) and stays warm.

RedTartan

rainbowmoon · #3 01/13/08, 11:02 AM

about 25 minutes ago.

she is an mini saan-alpine mix

that was my thought too, is there more!?! she is up and licking the baby. baby is up too. the placenta is still hanging from her vulva.

I had no idea she was pg! i am new to goats! I thought she was just a pig and hungry all the time!

how do I keep baby warm? they are in the sun right now. it's about 60 degrees.

rainbowmoon · #4 01/13/08, 11:03 AM

ok placenta is dettached. babe is nursing. mom is still trying to clean her though.

RedTartan · #5 01/13/08, 11:08 AM

At www.fiascofarm.com they recommend keeping kids inside for the first two weeks. If I were you I'd put the doe and kid in a stall for the rest of the day in case there are more. With temps in the 60's that will be enough to keep the kid from getting chilled. Watch her and make sure she's letting the baby eat. I think she'll eat the placenta when it comes out. Some people take the placenta.

You can "bump" her to see if she has anymore kids in there. See this link to learn how:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/bouncing.html

Hopefully some more experienced people than me will chime in soon.

RedTartan

RedTartan · #6 01/13/08, 11:09 AM

It's good that she's cleaning her. They're bonding. So far so good.

RedTartan

Patty0315 · #7 01/13/08, 11:12 AM

Do you have iodine to dip the navel ? Dip it now and then again tonight . Make sure both teats are open and you can get milk . Worm Mom today.

Patty

rainbowmoon · #8 01/13/08, 11:12 AM

omg!! I am so excited! thanks for the tips! as for the stall thing, they currently just have doghouses though under the porch. ideas!?!?

btw there is a pic on my blog in my siggie.

fishhead · #9 01/13/08, 11:31 AM

Some people give the doe a bucket of warm water flavored with molasses. Make sure the kid can't jump in and drown.

Also, some people worm the doe right after giving birth because worms can sometimes take advantage of the changed brought about by birthing and explode in numbers and kill the doe.

That's great that she is cleaning the kid. Make sure she let's it nurse even if just for a few seconds at a time.

Alice In TX/MO · #10 01/13/08, 11:46 AM

If it's warmish and sunny, the dog houses will be fine!

rainbowmoon · #11 01/13/08, 11:59 AM

i tried to get them to go in the goat (dog)house. they aren't going for it right yet. the goats don't sleep in there anyway. lol. (at least they haven't as of yet)

mom doesn't seem to want to nurse but just wants to lick the babe. I tried to hold her but she is getting mad. she is pawing the ground alot. she will let me touch her udder/nipples though. I am watching and waiting. I don't think there are anymore. I tried the bouncing thing and she is squishy.

Oat Bucket Farm · #12 01/13/08, 12:08 PM

Oh congrats! The baby is precious!

rainbowmoon · #13 01/13/08, 12:20 PM

ok mom will nurse if I am petting her.

Alice In TX/MO · #14 01/13/08, 12:35 PM

Now that the crisis is over, the rule is that you have to post pictures!

rainbowmoon · #15 01/13/08, 12:53 PM

www.xanga.com/earthymama

Blossomgapfarm · #16 01/13/08, 01:05 PM

How sweet! Congrats. Glad all are doing well. Have fun with the new baby.

Minelson · #17 01/13/08, 01:17 PM

Oh how cute!!! what a wonderful surprise for you

!!!!!

mtnmenagerie · #18 01/13/08, 01:19 PM

what a fun surprise!

such cute, fuzzy baby. i wonder what the dad is?? did you happen to see a buck at the place you got her from?

congrats

rainbowmoon · #19 01/13/08, 01:24 PM

the dad was a dwarf nubian

goatkid · #20 01/13/08, 01:41 PM

The baby is adorable. Congratulations. Is it a buckling or doeling? If you have more than one adult goat and are housing them in dog houses, I'd be very careful that the baby doesn't get laid on. I had that happen once when the weather turned bad and most of the goats tried to crowd into one dog house. The smallest kid got smothered. If you have several adults, you might want to section off part of the pen with one house for the mom and baby. If you want to baby to be tame, it's important for you to play with her daily.