First time Momma

[Southern by choice]

Aw she is nesting!

Dog sweaters are great. Just make sure you fully dry the kids off before you put on any sweaters.

Give warm water with molasses mixed in right after kidding.
It will give her energy and usually most does will shiver after giving birth. Sometimes we will turn the lightt on and warm up momma a bit.

 

[nstone630]

To be on the safe side we will get just a 100 water bulb to keep on out there.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

The 100 watt bulb is fine for light, but probably won't do much to keep kids warm in this cold spell.

How high up are you keeping the lamp?
Given the size of the stall and the hight you have to keep it at so momma goat doesn't mess with it, it's not going to provide much heat.

Her kid/s should be okay if they are dried quickly and nurse soon after birth. The biggest threat is her not cleaning the kid off fast enough and dealing with a hypothermic or frozen kid.
If they are born during this cold spell I'd take a human hair dryer and use it (on low) on the kid/s after she cleans them. They are great at cleaning their own kids… but they do have a wet tongue so it's hard for the doe to fully dry the kid. Put the sweaters on (if needed) after the are blow dried.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Forgot to say- yes you do want to check the teats after she kids.

 

[samssimonsays]

On the heat lamps- that is fine but use several individual ways or attaching to lamp.

Every year many animals are lost by barn fires caused by heat lamps. I avoid them the best I can.

We ordered some different types of lamps from premier 1. I LOVE them!
Very safe and the bulbs are heavy duty.
We had several fires start with the other type of lamp- thankfully we caught it in time and didn't lose a building or animals.

When you start to further in this goat keeping adventure, please consider getting one or two.
View attachment 25316

https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/prima-heat-lamp

I bought this last year in case we got chicks or a pregnant doe and it is amazing! I got the orange one as at the time it was the only one they had. The story behind the guy who created them was very sad as well.

 

[samssimonsays]

Can you do one of those heated dog mats? I've never used one so don't know what the concerns are with them but it'd still give somewhere for them to get warm, right?

 

[nstone630]

Nothing new this morning...just fat! lol Luckily my DH is home from work today, I'll be getting updates Yesterday about drove me crazy having to be at work, and no one at home to check on her.
I guess hanging a light from the center of the stall wouldn't really work due to how high it would have to be so she won't mess with it! Guess that won't work. I'm going to search the lamp that was posted and see about getting one.

Hairdryer - check!
Dog sweaters - check (though I only have 2...might be a late night trip to Walmart if I need more)
Molasses and water - check - Will she want to drink this willingly? Or will I have to drench her?

My plan is to not go into the stall unless help is needed until after to help dry the babies if it's Friday night. She's so skiddish already, I don't want to stress her anymore than she already is with me up in her face during this.

 

[Hens and Roos]

when our 1st doe kidded (we had just picked her up about a week before and she was skiddish) we went in right next to her when she was kidding- this helped her to bond with us and she seemed to like us being there to comfort and help her.

Good luck for a smooth kidding!!

 

[nstone630]

So we are all agreeing NOT to use one like this right?

I'm just not sure I can get the other lamp in time for kidding I don't think I will try to ever PLAN a winter kidding again

 

[Hens and Roos]

I don't blame you for not kidding in winter, we don't breed our does until after Nov 1st so we avoid the extreme cold here.

We made warming barrels to use at kidding time, DH found several white plastic 55 gal drums, cut a hole in the side big enough for the kids to get in and out and a hole at the top to secure a heat source. Our kids used it and the doe would lay with her head right next to the opening or just a bit inside. I couldn't find a very good picture but this is one of our kids inside the barrel. You can probably do an internet search for goat warming barrels- I cant remember who gave us the link.