Hard kidding

nzw tom · #1 02/13/12, 04:31 PM

About a week ago, I came home from work and Bee (Nubian x Boer cross) was kidding. The kid was dead. I thought she was done. The next day there was no after-birth, so I figured she ate it. She was bright eyed and active. Ate well.

The next morning, she started kidding again. The kid would not come out (just the nose). I could tell it was dead. I helped get it out.

Again no sign of after-birth. That was a week ago.

She is active and eating like a pig. I put her back with the group and she is playing with the other goats (head butting). She is a little thin (giving extra food), but looks o.k.

This was her first kidding and my first kidding, so I'm a little bummed.

Is it unusual for a first time kidding to go bad? The kids were huge!

Oh, for a couple of days afterwards, I did see some discharge. Nothing bad. She is clean now.

mpete · #2 02/13/12, 04:37 PM

It is normal for a goat to have a discharge for up to several weeks after.
What is her diet? I know that there are a few things that will cause dead kids. I think fescue will cause issues: http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/fescue.html

When was she due?

nzw tom · #3 02/13/12, 04:59 PM

Grass hay (small amount of alfalfa in it, very small), noble goat chow and oats.

My fainting goat "Daisy" is due to kid in April. She already looks huge. Hope things go better.

Backfourty,MI. · #4 02/13/12, 06:25 PM

I would try & incorporate more alfafa in their diets either in hay or pellets. They need the extra calcium especially the closer they get to kidding & afterwards.

Did you worm Bee, I always worm the day they kid & again about 10 days later.

There is a way you can bounce them to see if you feel more kids in there the next time. You straddle them, cup your hands & put them in front of the udder & sharply pull up. You should be able to feel hooves, or something when you do that if you question anymore babies in there.

Goat Servant · #5 02/13/12, 08:43 PM

Sorry about the losses. Just so you know, it is not normal even for an FF. Anytime a doe kids it's always a good idea to check if there's anymore shortly after the first delivery.
When a kid is dies inutero sometimes the doe just quits labor. The kid was stuck I would venture, maybe even before it expired. Was either head bent back?
As for afterbirth I let placenta lay around for a few hours but she does not always finish it.
Your girl will continue to have bloody discharge for several weeks, just when ya think she's done she'll pass another glob of blood.

nzw tom · #6 02/14/12, 07:07 AM

Thanks.

Bee was wormed about two weks prior to the kidding (the 2nd worming dose) and she had a shot of Bo-Se.

I will feed alfalfa a couple weeks prior to kidding.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 02/14/12, 07:11 AM

I an not going to deworm just prior to kidding any more. I had dewormed Lily about a week before she fell and lost a premie kid.

Deworm after the goat kids. I think it is less stress on the fetus.

This is just my opinion, based on one unfortunate event.

LoneStrChic23 · #8 02/14/12, 08:44 AM

She still needs to be dewormed the day she kids. The stress of kidding allows parasites to flourish.

What did you deworm with before kidding? I deworm before breeding (Cydectin), at 100 days bred I use Ivermectin Plus, then I deworm the day they kid.

nzw tom · #9 02/14/12, 09:06 AM

I dewormed with Ivermectin and then again 21 days later.

JBarGFarmKeeper · #10 02/14/12, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

I an not going to deworm just prior to kidding any more. I had dewormed Lily about a week before she fell and lost a premie kid.

Deworm after the goat kids. I think it is less stress on the fetus.

This is just my opinion, based on one unfortunate event.

I'm with you, Alice. I used Ivomec Plus last year on 2 does about a month prior to kidding and both aborted 4 days later. This year I used Normectin Plus on our milk cow...she aborted 4 days later...less than a month before she was due.

Maybe it was a coincidence...maybe not. I read on the Nubian or LaMancha Talk lists the other day that some use Safeguard (NOT my wormer of choice) at 2-3 times the normal dose for 3 days in succession if a pregnant doe NEEDS worming before kidding. I will keep this in mind.

mary,tx · #11 02/14/12, 10:23 AM

Yea, I would hold off on worming that next doe until the day she kids. I've also heard of wormers leading to abortions.

I was really shy about helping does when I first started with goats, not so much anymore. I'm very apt to just stick my hand in to be sure there is not another kid.

yarrow · #12 02/14/12, 11:36 AM

LOTS of things have changed here, over the years when it comes to worming & vaccinating ect..We don't ever worm during pregnancy.. ALL the does & bucks, are wormed with cydectin & get a BoSe shot about 3 wks BEFORE we begin breeding...(I don't worm the does again, until after they kid.. I DO worm all does the day they kid with cydectin).. I ONLY use cydectin most years.. if we have really warm/wet spring. I'll do two go rounds of Ivermec Plus, 10 days apart just to kill any possible liver flukes....
I've also gotten to the point of waiting until 10 days from due date, to give Bo-Se (we use to give it to the does 3 wks before kidding).. kids are up on their feet sooner.. better sucking reflex then when we gave BoSe 3 wks out.. completely QUIT giving CDT to the does.. AND.. to the kids..(I will give kids CD&T vaccination if they are leaving here and someone requests- I don't vaccinate my own keeper kids)...as for not giving the CDT, that was over 4 years ago (haven't seen a single case of entro since then... so I'm not sure it was really doing ANYTHING for us) that said.. I do keep a bottle of CD Antitoxin in the fridge!!!! haven't used it in a long time... I think you just have to do what works the best for your own herd, in your own situation.. for us.. less was better..

susie, mo ozarks

Backfourty,MI. · #13 02/14/12, 01:10 PM

I try never to deworm a goat while she's pregnant. The only time I would ever consider doing that is if she was in such bad shape with a heavy parasite load.
There are some wormers that are safe for pregnant goats but I still like to worm before I start breeding then I wait till they kid.

She still needs to be wormed the day she kids.