New baby 3 weeks earlier than planned

Ziptie · #1 01/27/15, 11:20 AM

So, went out to do my morning chores. Bam..clean but wet baby(girl) on the ground. Did not give the doe any vaccines or such. I put a 55 gal metal drum with a heat lamp for the baby to go into(but is not useing). It is a balmy 35 degrees here today.

Baby got it's first drink though the mom kept kicking her off.

Questions..What next. I am thinking of having the vet come show me how to dehorn...in what 5 days..can't remember when. Any other vaccines that should be given.

I am planning on leaving the babys with the doe's. When do I start milking this evening? Then is it every day once or twice a day for the next two weeks.

Excited but not quite prepared.

**mygoat** · #2 01/27/15, 12:44 PM

3 weeks earlier? Sounds like she was bred the cycle before you thought.

Disbudding is generally done in the first week of life.

Do not milk the dam for a few weeks unless she really fills up or is really producing like crazy. You CAN milk out some colostrum to save for emergencies if she has a lot. Dam raised kids often favor a side, so keep the other side balanced so it doesn't damage and doesn't bag up and reduce production. Most people that dam raise dairy kids will close the kids up overnight at 2 weeks of age, then milk in the morning, and let the kids out with the does all day.

Hopefully the dam will calm down. Keep an eye on the kid and make sure it nurses when you go out there. Make sure baby makes it inside again this evening. Otherwise, she should be fine in this weather. The first week of a kids' life is most critical, even dam raised kids should be checked on regularly to make sure they aren't stuck outside, wedged in a corner, or hypothermic/struggling for any reason.

No true vaccines will be effective in young kids until passive immunity from the mother's colostrum wanes... This is why we booster young animals several times, because determining exactly when that is is difficult - I generally vaccinate at 4 and 8 weeks of age with CDT. With no vaccines, you will want to continue to follow good feeding practices with that kid as it transitions onto hard food. You CAN give tetanus antitoxin (short term tetanus protection) at disbudding, but personally I do not choose to do so as the wound is not really that likely to have a tetanus infection - plus I try to vaccinate pre-kidding and hope that works.

Ziptie · #3 01/27/15, 05:14 PM

Yah, the place we bought her from was a little off. Guess the buck snuck in sooner then he thought.

Thanks for the info. Interesting I have two books on goats and neither talks about milking schedules with the kids still on.

So, when can I completely wean the kid and go to twice a day milking on her?

nehimama · #4 01/27/15, 06:34 PM

I normally don't fully wean kids away from their dams 'til 3 - 4 months of age. Mygoat gives extremely good, experienced advice.

billinwv · #5 01/27/15, 06:36 PM

Your doe shouldn't be "kicking the kid off". Watch her closely. My alpines need relieved right away. A single kid is likely to nurse only one side. The other side will need milked twice a day soon. I would go out at least six times a day for a few days and hold the doe for the kid or just bottle feed it. I never let does nurse. They just make a better all round animal to work with in the future if bottle fed. Do you have calcium gluconate on hand? Don't forget to iodine umbilical cords.

**mygoat** · #6 01/27/15, 08:02 PM

Kids should never wean younger than 8 weeks old. Many people wean much later, at 3-5 months of age. For us, it changes about every year depending on our plans and milk supply. I can't think of a year I've weaned less than 3 mon of age.

Start thinking about your coccidia prevention now. If you want that doeling breeding size by this fall, a strategic deworming and coccidia prevention schedule is your BEST friend, especially when dam raising - she's currently exposed to a heavily infested pen while living in with the adults, and she has zero immunity to parasites - and won't until she's 6 mon old or more. Consider wether or not you want to creep feed and/or use a medicated feed as part of your coccidia prevention plan (It won't be effective until she's eating at least a lb of it a day, nor is it as effective as a coccidicide so I do still suggest using a preventative until she is 4 months old or so).

Ziptie · #7 01/28/15, 12:31 PM

Seen the kid nurse at least twice yesterday. Went out this morning found the heat lamp on the ground with the kids laying right next to it(about had a heart attack). After I took the heat lamp away I moved around stalls to there is no way that heat lamp can get on the ground. Anyone have a good heat mat instead?

When I took the heat lamp away she started shivering, tired to get the kid to nurse but it didn't seem interested. Mom was really full so I milked her out a little but. Going to go out again in a bit. Should I be concerned yet? Mom seems very attentive licking and talking to the little one. She also did push the baby in the 55 gallon drum yesterday to stay warm. After I put the kid in the drum she laid down by the opening and was chewing her cud.

**mygoat** · #8 01/28/15, 12:58 PM

As long as the kid is eating and the housing is dry, she should be fine. We don't use a heat lamp except while we're towel drying the dairy kids. You got very lucky with the heat lamp - that is exactly the reason you likely won't catch me using a heat lamp except supervised.

A fast/easy way to check temp is stick your finger in the mouth - should be warm.

Ziptie · #9 01/28/15, 01:32 PM

Much thanks on the help.

I know there are kinda pad heaters for the calf huts. Have you seen anything that could be for goats? Seems like such a safer way to go. Though I didn't want any kids this early and my plans are not to have kids till the end of Feb.

**mygoat** · #10 01/28/15, 01:49 PM

If its made for calves, it would probably work for goats. I still wouldn't want it in my barn. You'd have to have a way to keep them from chewing on it, rubbing on it etc - both the kids and the adults exposed to it. They're also likely expensive.

What is the temp where you're at? I doubt you need to do anything of the sort - many people are kidding out this time of the year and do fine so long as the kids are well fed, well bedded, and births are attended. You do have to check them often to make sure they don't get wedged/stuck somewhere and that they're nursing, but otherwise should be fine except in the coldest of temperatures. If it makes you feel better, you could make a sweater out of an old sweatshirt sleeve.

Ziptie · #11 01/28/15, 03:39 PM

Our highs are around 30 and lows around 15. This weekend lows around 6. It's a heat wave! I was told last winter we had times we were colder here than the Arctic.

Baby was up and moving (might have just finished eating) mouth was warm but the little thing was still shivering. Was thinking about the jacket thing but afraid mom would eat it as she is always licking and fussing over the little thing.

kasilofhome · #12 01/28/15, 06:08 PM

Zip....

I know firstly hand that a dried off newborn with dry bedding and a5sided small but large enough box lined with reflective insulated bubble wrap works here when temps are minus 42.

Scared me.... I kept an eye on the three with hourly checks that week. Dry and fed did not lots one.

Ziptie · #13 01/29/15, 11:54 AM

Good idea with the wrap. I am thinking of extending the goat pen under the stairs to the loft. There is a small landing. Was going to block that in with some insulation.

Well the kid was not shivering this morning...Whooo. Actually milked mom out a little last night and this morning. She is bursting at the seems(dripping milk while she was eating breakfast on the milk stand) though I know some of it is edema.

Frosted Mini's · #14 01/29/15, 12:57 PM

You can milk her out completely. You won't be taking from the kid, because she is constantly making more. It will make her more comfortable and prevent mastitis. The milk you get probably won't be too edible yet for humans, but you can save it in the freezer in case you have a bottle kid, or feed to other animals-chickens, pigs, dogs...none of them would notice a problem with the flavor.

Usually, after a couple of weeks, the milk is good to drink for people.

Ziptie · #15 02/11/15, 08:08 AM

Just thought I would update and add a pic. Mom and baby are doing well. Mom needs to be milked in the morning and at night due to so much milk that she gets too full and won't let the baby nurse because she hurts. Thanks again everyone for sharing your knowledge.

mrstillery09 · #16 02/11/15, 08:35 AM

Oh my!! Such a cutie!

dozedotz · #17 02/11/15, 10:16 AM

What a little doll!! Congrats on the good start after a surprise beginning!!

Backfourty,MI. · #18 02/11/15, 10:31 AM

http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...ria=heat+lamps

If you must use heat lamps the link above is the best kind to get, it will not start a fire. We put them right in the top of plastic drums for the babies to go in if it's too cold here.

Your little one is adorable & glad she & mamma are doing so well.