New does - sick or just adjusting?

[freechicken]

We brought home our first does on Saturday. They are both supposedly pregnant though the previous owner couldn't guarantee it and thought likely they will kid in April. Neither of them seem to be all that interested in the alfalfa hay or goat feed we have out for them. And they don't seem to be drinking at all. Today, the younger doe, who has been very curious and active, has spent most of the day laying down in a corner of the barn, not even greeting me when I enter the barn. She will get up if I come into their stall, but even then she just stands there shivering and doesn't approach me. (She has been shivering since they arrived on Saturday when we are close by so I just attributed it to nerves). Stool is normal. I looked at her gums but it was really hard to separate her lips and once I did I wasn't sure what was normal. They are darkish in color that fades to pink near her teeth. Couldn't get a good look at her eyes or get a temp on her without my hubby here to help hold.

Any thoughts?

 

[freechicken]

Update: She isn't shivering any more and is outside for the first time all day. Just got her temperature and it is 101.5 compared to the other doe's temp at 103.2. Still not eating.

 

[Roll farms]

Neither temp worries me, but they need to eat / drink.

Are you offering the same feed / hay they are used to?
How far away did they come....was the water hard or soft where they were.

I've moved a lot of goats and never had one that wouldn't eat after a few hours.

 

[freechicken]

I believe they were on alfalfa hay but I am not sure about the grain. We haven't been able to reach the previous owners to verify the feed and my husband forgot to get a supply from them when he picked the girls up. It's about a 90 minute drive from their old home to ours. What can we do to get them eating? And drinking?

 

[ksalvagno]

You can try putting some molasses in their water.

You really do need to find out which goat feed the previous owners were using. Hopefully it is in your area too.

 

[20kidsonhill]

It does not sound normal to me. I am worried they were already not doing well when you got them. Seems like any goat would love to eat alfalfa hay. Goat grain can really vary between brands and I have seem goats turn away a different brand with out slowlly introducing it into the feed they are used to. but they should atleast be chowing down on the hay and drinking water.

Is the hay being fed to other animals on your farm? Goats are really picky about any moldy smell or fermented smell. Just wondering how you feel about the alflafa hay, if you just got it for these two goats or if you have been using it with other goats?

coccidiosis can bloom/multiply quickly in a stressed out goat.

you may need to have a vet out if htey continue not to eat.
or bring in fecal samples and consult a vet.

 

[freechicken]

Got a response from the previous owner. They were giving alfalfa hay and Chaffhaye. Apparently they were not feeding grain except as treats. They recommended that we put ACV in the water since the water may taste different than what they are used to. I added the ACV this morning. These are our first goats and our only animals eating hay. This hay we have we bought is a "certified" alfalfa hay from CAL ranch. Doesn't seem dusty or moldy or anything. I was able to coax one doe to nibble a bit of the hay from my hand this morning but she quickly lost interest. They do like animal crackers! It has been extra chilly here the last two days, especially early in the day. Could they just be cold? Could they be eating snow for water?

 

[freechicken]

Previous owner is suggesting that they are just nervous and we should add a molasses/water mixture to rolled barley to get them eating. Thoughts? They were shivering in the barn, even though it is draft free and they have easily a foot and half of straw bedding, so I just coaxed them out to the sunshine. It is 21 degrees right now and feels warmer in the sun. Do you think the shivering is because they are cold or because they are off their feed? I was so excited about these goats but now I am feeling really lost and aware of what a newbie I am.

 

[julieq]

We just did a small herd buy out, including pregnant does (one delivered two days after we got her home) and they wolfed down the alfalfa hay as soon as they got here and all set out to establish the herd pecking order with the rest of the flock. We don't grain anyone, except for the milk does on the stand. They weren't opposed to drinking water right away either after about a four hour trip home.

The listlessness and shivering makes me a little nervous on your behalf. Do you have a good goat vet locally who could take a look at them for you? I'd also suggest some B injectable vitamins, which we give orally if ours need them.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

I'm thinking maybe a stress pneumonia type thing. I would be putting them on Pen, giving vit B and dosing them with a nutridrench type supplement.