1st Kidding didn't go well

1sttimemom · #1 02/02/13, 12:41 PM

Well, we just lost our 1st kids of the yr. Really bummed!!! I think they were a little premie and I was not expecting them quite yet. First time mom. I came home from work last night about midnite and checked on them because our other young doe was running around yelling her head off. I saw her friend was kidding. 1st one was already out, still wet, and was dead. 2nd kid was head/neck out but no feet out. I was able to gently ease it out. It was super weak. They had hair and looked "normal" other than being small. The hair coat was very short and like velvet. The live one had no suck reflex and was limp like a ragdoll. We put them in a warm area in hubby's shop and mom was cleaning it etc and baby bleated a few times. It just kind of faded away, was unable to even pick up it's own head let alone bottle feed. Mom had and still has NO udder development and no milk at all. I am really bummed. It was an adorable doeling...Togg and LaMancha cross with little elf ears and wattles. And I am wondering why she would deliver with no udder development? How long should we wait before attempting to rebreed her? The only saving grace was it was late and our human kids were sleeping so they don't know. I will let them assume she was never preggo and hopefully the other does will do better!

Alice In TX/MO · #2 02/02/13, 12:48 PM

Sounds premature. She may not cycle again till the fall.

nehimama · #3 02/02/13, 01:36 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss. Huge disappointment for you! ((Hugs))

LearningLife · #4 02/02/13, 03:28 PM

I'm so sorry. We just had our first bad kidding experience, although not our first kids born here. We lost 3. It's hard to deal with, not knowing what might have happened or if I could have prevented it.

Minelson · #5 02/02/13, 03:57 PM

So sorry for your loss

wintrrwolf · #6 02/02/13, 04:42 PM

Was there a recent trauma or scare that might have made her go early. Then again the one being dead could have started her kidding early. Watch her for depression had one goat that went through that when she kidded early and little one didn't survive..

Oat Bucket Farm · #7 02/02/13, 08:35 PM

I'm sorry.

GoatJunkie · #8 02/03/13, 01:29 AM

I'm sorry for your loss. That is headtbreaking.

1sttimemom · #9 02/03/13, 11:48 AM

Nothing that scared them that we are aware of. The goat pen & barn is right across the driveway from our house on the bedroom side. My hubby and kids were home asleep. If something serious was getting at them I think they would have heard it & woke up. Our dogs don't bother our goats but dogs were sleeping in the house anyway. I am a nurse and usually work late so was just getting home. All the goats & horses were calm except the other young doe who was obviously freaking out about her friend having babies.

On a good note, the doe who delivered seems to be doing fine. Passed afterbirth OK. Is up and eating, etc. They had been wormed & cocci treated, etc. They are in good weight. I think it was just one of those weird things. 1st time dam who was just right at yr old so ... I will do the worming and all like she had kids just to be safe. She was looking & calling for the babies a little. I put her back in with the other 2 does and she was a bit happier.

I am going to study up on tube feeding baby goats. I have dropped a bunch of NG tubes on people so figure I can do it once I know the basics. I might have been able to save baby goats that way. I do think this one was just too early. Mom still has NO udder or milk today.