danger to a new born kid?

[newton the goat]

That'll notify them to look here. It's like summoning the experts lol!

Thanks your awesome!

 

[babsbag]

Welcome to BYH from sunny, soon to be soaked California.

The last few weeks a goat can suddenly look very very pregnant, that is pretty common, especially for a first timer. I have had some that I questioned if they were even bred up to a week before kidding. I usually look at udders, that is a better predictor for me.

My bucks and does are always separate but the kids will sometimes squeeze through the stock panel and visit the bucks. My bucks have always ignored the kids, but I wouldn't want them together during kidding just to be safe.

Also, raising sheep and goats together full time can be a challenge as goats need minerals with copper and sheep can't have copper. But to have them together short term would be ok.

 

[newton the goat]

Welcome to BYH from sunny, soon to be soaked California.

The last few weeks a goat can suddenly look very very pregnant, that is pretty common, especially for a first timer. I have had some that I questioned if they were even bred up to a week before kidding. I usually look at udders, that is a better predictor for me.

My bucks and does are always separate but the kids will sometimes squeeze through the stock panel and visit the bucks. My bucks have always ignored the kids, but I wouldn't want them together during kidding just to be safe.

Also, raising sheep and goats together full time can be a challenge as goats need minerals with copper and sheep can't have copper. But to have them together short term would be ok.

... I didn't know they need copper.... damnit .. anything else they need? We've read that it's better for does who are pregnant that it isn't the best for them to have too many grains is that true? We have tried spreading out her diet so she has more of the things she needs.... first time ever raising goats still learning new things every day. She has a salt lick, easy access to fresh hay and a combination of different feeds my dad was told would help

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Thanks, and we will try to do that. Don't want to take any chances, the only problem is newton gets extremely lonely and will go into a depression ( reason why we got rosco in the first place). We are looking into getting a couple ewes that are giving birth around the same time... is that safe to do?

Also, raising sheep and goats together full time can be a challenge as goats need minerals with copper and sheep can't have copper. But to have them together short term would be ok.

I agree with Babs except for the section quoted.

Having had sheep and goats together… I would NOT recommend that.

It COULD work out. Or you could have dead animals. Sheep head butt very differently and will do far more damage in one blow.
If you take a ewe, stress her by moving her, then she lambs, she could very well kill the goat kid out of the stress alone.

I personally would not do it.

When Newton kids her kids will be the center of her world. She shouldn't deal with the depression.

You will need to keep her separated from here on out until it's a safe time for her to get bred again. Goats can cycle soon after kidding and you don't want her getting pregnant right away.

I also think if you can take it a little slow and learn about goats before you add another type of animals. Sheep and goats are very different. Learn goats and get a feel for livestock. Then research sheep and get them at the right time. I never want to push anyone away from "backyard farming", but going slow is one of the best things you can do


ETA: just saw this post was edited.
Apparently stupid spell check changed KIDDING to killing. Grrr!

 

[babsbag]

Feeding a goat is a crap shoot. LOL. There are so many feeds, and so many hays and a lot depends on where you live (you can add that to your profile for all the world to see...it helps). There are as many ways to feed as their are goat owners.

I'll tell you what I do. I have 40+ goats and I am building a dairy. I like to keep it simple. I feed 100% alfalfa hay to all, bucks and does and kids. The does get extra grain when they are being milked. I get a good loose goat mineral and put it out for them 24/7. My favorite is made by Sweetlix, called Magnum Milk, it is designed to compliment an alfalfa diet.

When I had a few goats I would feed hay and Purina Goat Chow, the one called Dairy Parlor. I can't do that with 40 goats, they fight over the feed trough. A little extra grain while your girl is pregnant won't hurt her, you just don't want a fat goat.

The buck can have the same hay and minerals. If you give him extra goat feed he should have the one with Ammonium Chloride added so he doesn't get Urinary Calculi. It is not the calcium that causes this as some people think, it is the calcium to phosphorous ratio and grains are very high in phosphorous. The ratio should be 2:1 calcium to phosphorous. The calcium can go higher, but not the Phosphorous.

Listen to @Goat Whisperer...she is wise... I have never owned sheep, but I do know a few people that keep them together, but probably not a good idea when they are pregnant.

Has your girl had her CDT vaccine?

 

[newton the goat]

I agree with Babs except for the section quoted.

Having had sheep and goats together… I would NOT recommend that.

It COULD work out. Or you could have dead animals. Sheep head butt very differently and will do far more damage in one blow.
If you take a ewe, stress her by moving her, then she lambs, she could very well kill the goat kid out of the stress alone.

I personally would not do it.

When Newton kids her kids will be the center of her world. She shouldn't deal with the depression.

You will need to keep her separated from here on out until it's a safe time for her to get bred again. Goats can cycle soon after killing and you don't want her getting pregnant right away.

I also think if you can take it a little slow and learn about goats before you add another type of animals. Sheep and goats are very different. Learn goats and get a feel for livestock. Then research sheep and get them at the right time. I never want to push anyone away from "backyard farming", but going slow is one of the best things you can do

For the most part my father has put me in charge of caring for the goats... which as you can tell I'm still learning ( regret able I wish I knew more of this sooner) he is planning on getting sheep earlier spring time so he will be in charge of them... thanks for letting me know about how the sheep and goats could be incompatible. .. that could have been an issue we didn't need. Honeslty I wish things could just slow down a bit ... learn a bit more about the animals we have before adding more.... but since that isn't happening I'm doing the best I can to learn all the things I need....
Newton's kid will be born late January or early February. .. anything I need to make sure to have for when it arrives?

 

[newton the goat]

Feeding a goat is a crap shoot. LOL. There are so many feeds, and so many hays and a lot depends on where you live (you can add that to your profile for all the world to see...it helps). There are as many ways to feed as their are goat owners.

I'll tell you what I do. I have 40+ goats and I am building a dairy. I like to keep it simple. I feed 100% alfalfa hay to all, bucks and does and kids. The does get extra grain when they are being milked. I get a good loose goat mineral and put it out for them 24/7. My favorite is made by Sweetlix, called Magnum Milk, it is designed to compliment an alfalfa diet.

When I had a few goats I would feed hay and Purina Goat Chow, the one called Dairy Parlor. I can't do that with 40 goats, they fight over the feed trough. A little extra grain while your girl is pregnant won't hurt her, you just don't want a fat goat.

The buck can have the same hay and minerals. If you give him extra goat feed he should have the one with Ammonium Chloride added so he doesn't get Urinary Calculi. It is not the calcium that causes this as some people think, it is the calcium to phosphorous ratio and grains are very high in phosphorous. The ratio should be 2:1 calcium to phosphorous. The calcium can go higher, but not the Phosphorous.

Listen to @Goat Whisperer...she is wise... I have never owned sheep, but I do know a few people that keep them together, but probably not a good idea when they are pregnant.

Has your girl had her CDT vaccine?

No she hasn't yet... I feel like such an irresponsible owner just learning all of this now.... is it okay that she get it while pregnant?

 

[babsbag]

Yes, she should have it 30 days or so before kidding so now would be perfect.

Again, I am a minimalist when it comes to kidding. I keep towels and iodine on hand. I also like those big disposal bed pads or puppy pads to lay new born kids on but straw works too, it just sticks to them. You need to dip the cords as soon after birth as possible. My vet tells me that for the first 24 hours you should dip the cords every time you see the kids...I don't, but it is a thought.

@ goat whisperer do you have a list to share?

You might want to do some reading about normal kid presentations during birth so you know what to expect and what is normal.

 

[newton the goat]

Yes, she should have it 30 days or so before kidding so now would be perfect.

Again, I am a minimalist when it comes to kidding. I keep towels and iodine on hand. I also like those big disposal bed pads or puppy pads to lay new born kids on but straw works too, it just sticks to them. You need to dip the cords as soon after birth as possible. My vet tells me that for the first 24 hours you should dip the cords every time you see the kids...I don't, but it is a thought.

@ goat whisperer do you have a list to share?

You might want to do some reading about normal kid presentations during birth so you know what to expect and what is normal.

My dad is hoping for an as natural birth as possible ... which it night now go as planned.... I have been studying hard all things that could happen during the birthing....and am feeling more nervous than probably newton ever will ... one problem we are worried about is there is snow on the ground here still and the baby is being born during the coldest month out here.... someone told me that a sweater that would be normal used on a small dog will better it's chances of survival.. is that true? Or would It cause unecessary issues?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

This is a copy/paste of one of my old posts.
I know I have more than listed on hand but it's 1am and I can't remember everything at the moment. I'll add anything else later.

This is my kidding kit, you don't need to go out and buy ALL this stuff LOL. Over the years we have added in a few things here and there just to have on hand. I bolded the things that should be first to go into your kit The Jumpstart paste like $7.50 a tube, it has saved some of my babies before and I always get a tube around kidding time.

You should always have a basic kidding kit when you are expecting baby kids!

My kidding kit includes:
Towels! Lots of em!
Paper towels
Trash bags
Floss (for the navel)
Iodine+ a cup
Scissors
Rubbing alcohol- I use this to clean the scissors before cutting the navel
Flashlight
Thermometer
Bulb Syringe
Bottle/nipples
Frozen colostrum
Disposable gloves
Shoulder length gloves
Lube
CMT mastitis kit along with TODAY mastitis treatment tubes

Weak kid syringe-I haven't had to use it and I hope I never will, but it is a great thing to have on hand.

Small dog sweaters for the baby goat kids- if it is cold outside. I also keep "hot hands" warmer and heating pads around. A hair blow dryer as well.

I also keep on hand-
Jumpstart Plus paste, I got it from TSC and I don't think a few of my kids would be alive without it. It was a rough birth and they were very weak and this stuff helped a lot.

Nutri-Drench

Molasses- I give some in some warm water after the doe kids.

Penn G* (antibiotic)

LA 200* (antibiotic)

*These antibiotics aren't really for kidding- I always keep them on hand and if the doe had an issue such as a retianed placenta or stillborn kids, an antibiotic may be necessary.

NOTE: Do not give molasses or Nutri-Drench to an animal with a fever, it will only make it worse.