Updates!

So, it has been a long, long while since I last wrote.   Lots has happened to cause the delayed response.

With that said, we are in Birthing Season!!   I wanted to remind everyone of a few items that should always be on hand, near your birthing area, and ready to go at a moments notice.    The checklist that I will be providing is one that I have used year-after-year, etc.   It is tried and true.

Not all goat births go according to plan.    Some do, most don't.   Things can get complicated for an older nanny; first time birthing; inclement weather changes; multiple births; breech births.   The list is long.  Use my checklist as something that will aid in the overall process.

Things that I have listed in "Yellow" are the MUST HAVE items for your birthing kit.   I have all of my supplies, arranged in Rubbermaid containers and ready to go near or inside the birthing kit (depends on how curious mom-to-be is!)

Meet Apple and Cherry (Mom is Kiwi)

Whippoorwill Farm Checklist - Birthing Kit

This is a list of kidding supplies for goats. I keep these items in an easy to carry box as a kidding kit that keeps everything I may need in one place and I can carry it with me to wherever it is needed.

1. Flashlight & batteries - For those night time deliveries.
2. Latex gloves – In case you have to assist.
3. OB Lube/lubricant – In case you have to “go in” to assist.
4. 7% iodine – To treat the umbilical cord to prevent navel ill.
5. Small spray bottle or film container – for dipping or spraying the umbilical cord with iodine.
6. Dental floss – To tie the umbilical cord, if necessary.
7. Blunt nosed scissors – For cutting the umbilical cord if it is too long.
8. Alcohol - to sterilize tools
9. Baby nasal aspirator – To remove fluids from newborn’s mouth & nose, if necessary.
10. Clean towels, washcloths (white is best) – To dry kids to prevent chill & dry hands.
11. Bottle & Pritchard Nipple – In case you need to bottle feed, I have had the best luck getting newborns to use the Pritchard Nipple over others.
12. Lamb / kid puller – In case of a kid that is positioned wrong. (Usually just your hand is enough to help a doe that needs help but it is a good idea to have one).
13. Weak lamb syringe & feeding tube – To feed kids too weak to nurse.
14. Small scale - I use this to get a birth weight on the kids.
15. Feed bag or garbage bag – For picking up the afterbirth.  Wait until mom finishes choosing whether to eat it.
16. Soap & warm water - for washing up in case you need to assist.
17. Small notebook & Pen - to record birth weights, etc.
18. Digital thermometer – To check the temperature of chilled kids.
19. Quiet hair dryer – to warm a mildly chilled kid.
20. Phone # of 2 goat knowledgeable veterinarians - in case of an emergency.
21. Empty feed bags for birthing on with easy cleanup
22. Heat lamp – important if during winter and frigid temps; otherwise, craft some type of coat for the baby/ies.  Thick hats that can be purchased at Walmart/Dollar General work well.   You cut a head hole and 2 feet holes.   Leg warmers also work well.
23. Bulb syringe
24. Camera
25. Goat colostrum
26. Goat electrolyte
27. Goat Milk powder
28. Probios stick
29. Electrolyte drink – Pedialyte is best.   Packets work too.   In a pinch, Gatorade and Powerade work as well.   Fruity flavor is best
30. Molasses – this is important for right after birth.   Momma needs molasses mixed with warm water to regain strength, esp. in winter.
31. Apples and/or apple sauce.   Apples are a favorite of goats and good to convince momma to eat.   If she is weak, applesauce can be delivered via drench.
32. Goat drench.
33. Feeding buckets for water and food.
34. 16% sweet feed
35. Separate birthing area for mom to have so she can bond to babies and not have to fight for food.
36. Ample supply of hay.
37. Mineral oil or vegetable oil.   This is important as the first week or so, the baby/ies will have unformed poop.   If mom doesn’t clean them well, it can harden and block their anus (could kill them).   Oil mixed with warm soapy water on a clean rag with gentle massaging will remove poop.
38. Pepto – a must have for all goats.  Pepto is good for scours.
39. Baking soda – free will

Most births go very well and there is little assistance needed, problems are quite rare but can happen so it is always a good idea to keep a close eye on does that are close to kidding.

Some other kidding tips:

Always handle any goat, but especially bred does with care and in a manner that will not stress them.

Give your pregnant does their CD/T vaccination boosters 4 weeks before they kid to protect the mother and assure she passes those good antibodies on to her newborns. This is also a good time to check her for anemia, usually caused by worms. Pull down the lower eyelid & make sure it is a healthy dark pink color, not pale or white. An anemic goat may not produce milk like she should at kidding.

It is a very good idea to have frozen colostrum on hand for an emergency because it is absolutely imperative that the newborn kids get colostrum as soon after birth as possible. It contains the antibodies needed to help keep the newborn kid healthy. It is a good idea to milk out a little colostrum from a doe that has recently kidded after her kids have nursed, then freeze it in an ice cube tray and store the cubes in ziplock bags in the freezer for future emergency use.

After the kids are born, make sure the doe’s teats are not plugged so the kids can get their colostrum.

Give the doe some warm water with some molasses in it after she kids for extra energy and to help replace fluids, she will relish it.

Do not feed a severely chilled kid, warm them up first because a chilled kid cannot digest milk and will not want to nurse.

If you do have to go in to assist, it is a good idea to treat that doe with a round of Penicillin to prevent infection.

The doe should pass her afterbirth with-in 12 hours of kidding, if she does not a vet should be consulted. NEVER pull the afterbirth out of a doe as this can result in serious damage to the doe, let her expel it naturally.

First Aid Kit for Goats

Include the following equipment and supplies:

·        Surgical gloves

·        Drenching syringe for administering medications

·        Cotton balls

·        Gauze bandage

·        Alcohol prep wipes

·        Elastic bandage

·        Digital thermometer

·        Syringes and needles

·        Tuberculin needles and syringes for kid injections

·        20-gauge needles and syringes of various sizes — 3 cc, 6 cc, 15 cc

·        Tube-feeding kit (tube and syringe) for feeding weak or sick kids

·        Small clippers for shaving around wounds

·        Sharp scalpel

·        Sharp surgical scissors

Include these medications:

·        7 percent iodine

·        Terramycin eye ointment for pinkeye or eye injuries

·        Antiseptic spray such as Blu-Kote for minor wounds

·        Blood stop powder, for hoof trimming injuries

·        Di-Methox powder or liquid for coccidiosis or scours

·        Epinephrine, for reactions to injections

·        Kaolin pectin, for scours

·        Antibiotic ointment, for minor wounds

·        Aspirin, for pain

·        Activated charcoal product, such as Toxiban, for poisoning

·        Children's Benadryl syrup, for congestion or breathing problems

·        Procaine penicillin, for pneumonia and other infections

·        LA-200 or Biomycin, for pneumonia, pinkeye, or infections

·        Tetanus antitoxin, to prevent tetanus when castrating or for deep wounds

·        CDT antitoxin, for treatment of enterotoxemia

·        Milk of magnesia for constipation or bloat

You also want to include these items:

·        Betadine surgical scrub, for cleansing wounds

·        Probiotics, such as Probios or yogurt with active cultures

·        Powdered electrolytes, for dehydration

·        Fortified vitamin B, for goat polio or when goat is off feed

·        Hydrogen peroxide, for cleaning wounds

·        Rubbing alcohol, for sterilizing equipment