Kid questions

[Sophienee]

One of my Nigerian Dwarf babies was laying with her sis tonight right after feeding and she pulled her lips back while looking at the ceiling and turned her head back and forth a couple times. She did this twice. Do I need to worry?

The girls are fed every 4 hrs ish per instructions found for weight on line. 3oz for the 5lb and 5 oz for the 10 doeling. Not sure if that is relevant, but thought I'd mention.

They were just switched from mom's milk to replacer a couple of days ago, and the tummys seem a bit off (a bit of dark diarrhea) giving a natural GI soother and that seems to help as it seems to be firming up. How long do I expect them to take adjusting to the new feed?

They sleep inside in a kennel right now as its a bit cold outside for just the two of them. They are fine in the barn or in a small pasture during the day and are loving the sunshine today.

So sorry for all the q's, but we are new to goats and we lost a couple to what I think looked like goat polio possibly caused by using corid. When several people told me to use it I researched dosing but saw nothing about a thiamin problem until it was too late and we lost our first two babies. We are heart broken and really don't want to lose any more. I don't think we could take it right now.

 

[babsbag]

If they are on a replacer make sure that it is milk based and not soy based, goats don't do well on soy. I have never used replacer, always used cow's milk from the store if goat milk isn't available. I don't think you need to worry about the little one, goats make funny faces and sleep in crazy ways all of the time. Just today I stopped my car to check on one that looked "dead"...she wasn't.

I'm sorry you lost a couple of babies. Corid is used successfully all of the time, but I have also heard stories of polio from it. It is hard to say what happened without a lab doing a necropsy. I am hoping you never have to go through this again. You will want to find something to use for cocci prevention.

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

Always a good idea to have injectable B vitamins and know how to dose. Any time a goat is 'off' dosing with B won't hurt and might prevent anything worse. About Corid... I have used it over thirty years to dose puppies, poultry, calves, kids, lambs, and never had any problems. But, I did know what to look for if there were problems and how to treat. We all start out not knowing stuff, green as grass, and loose animals along the way. So sad to hear of your losses. I have also had good result with milk replacers. Don't scrimp though on a bargain priced as you get what you pay for quality wise. It has been a few years, but Land o, Lakes makes an 'all breed' replacer that worked well for me. I raised 40 to 60 kids a year on cold all they can eat method. They grew off as good as dam raised kids.

 

[Sophienee]

Hard to find stuff locally, but I do have Vit B on the way, not here til tomorrow.

Milk replacer is "Sav A Kid" don't think it is a horrible relacer (it's all the feedstore has for goat kids and is about $30 for 8lbs.) is this a decent brand? I had my first ones on 1\2 this and 1\2 fresh cow milk, but took them off of it cause I though maybe their tummies were not liking it? May have been fine I'm just nervousy I guess.
I did see a cow milk based homemade formula online. Should I look into that? we have TONS of fresh cows milk? Possibly could find some goat milk locally??? Wondering now if I should try to find some.

Also I bought a "nutri drench" should I give a dose of that? Seems that it has great stuff.

Thanks for the help, I really do appreciate it.

Erin

 

[Sophienee]

Also was going to order an electrolyte online, again can't get locally, and readily find Manna Pro is this an ok one to get them?

Should I also get a goat mineral supplement? Or is this something only for full grown? I see a Manna Pro locally or online for that...

Sure wish the gal I bought them from would have told me to have this stuff on hand. She did not give me many details when asked about stuff to have here. Oh well lesson learned I guess.

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

Electrolyte you can use what is for children, just make sure not full of sugar. I keep a couple packs of the calf electrolyte solution that is in a packet (the plain without any gelling agent) and most feed stores carry (about $3 a pack). Overfeeding is biggest threat when you are new to this.... a hungry baby is less prone to scours, bloat, etc.... Basically what you are doing is filling the kid's stomach and milk will curdle and set a curd. Water is removed, solids are digested and on to intestines to be absorbed. If you happen to overfeed and liquid milk gets flushed into intestinal tract the bacteria go nuts and bloat/scours likely. Feeding every four hours is OK for first two weeks and then add grain, back off to every eight hours. Grain actually forms volitile fatty acids that encourage rumen to form. Good hay to nibble is OK, too, but it is grain that is important. Ensure water is available, but they can't drown in it.
Also check butts and make sure not pasted shut. Yeah, even on dam raised kids you need to check butts for first few days (as well as umbilicle to ensure it is dry and not infected.)
It had been almost ten years since I had bottle raised a baby and last year had to raise my new buck..... those first few weeks were a bit trying as I had forgot how nerve wracking the worry could be. All my kids are dam raised, so I just check behind momma to ensure all are well.

 

[Sophienee]

Thanks everyone. We have been to see the vet and are doing all the things now to help these babies survive and thrive. Thanks so much. for answering all the newbie goat q's.

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

Hey, we all started out green as grass and learned as we went along with help from those who had gone before.....hope your babies do well!!