Braxis
Chillin' with the herd
Okay so I posted this thread last night before our ND doe went into labor on her own and she had an easy delivery of three very large babies: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25830
All three babies got colostrum. The smallest of the three had some diarrhea, I gave electrolytes and she perked up. Gave all three of them electrolytes about 45 minutes ago and noticed the other two were straining to have bowel movements. Their mom, who had previously been very attentive, decided she wanted to sleep with the other goats, nowhere near the babies. I washed the babies bums with a warm washcloth to stimulate them to poop and one of them did, the other two just fell asleep and I am uncertain how often they will poop during sleeping time.
I bribed mom back into the pen with them and barricaded her in (she has broken out of there three times despite my best efforts) really well and she nursed and stimulated the baby that was awake.
I know I am probably overreacting here - lack of sleep, a little worried about these kids since we lost one kid earlier this year due to a herniated bowel into the umbilical and it was really tough. Really worried about losing anymore.
My two questions are: 1) Is the fact that momma goat won't sleep near the babies normal? Should I be worried about her health? She passed two huge placentas (I mentioned all the babies were large) and is not bleeding, no foul smelling discharge. I gave her penicillin earlier because I did have to go inside to position one of the babies. Have given her electrolytes and tons of food today - she seems VERY hungry. She had molasses/corn syrup water before and after her labor and have been keeping her sugar/carb intake up as reasonably as I can. She also has access to good forage and has been eating a lot of that too.
2) How often should these babies be having bowel movements, especially if they are sleeping? Do I need to do a little lubed q-tip insertion into their rectums or can I let mom handle that? Enemas?
Thank you in advance for your advice, as you can see I am a little
after a long night and long day.
All three babies got colostrum. The smallest of the three had some diarrhea, I gave electrolytes and she perked up. Gave all three of them electrolytes about 45 minutes ago and noticed the other two were straining to have bowel movements. Their mom, who had previously been very attentive, decided she wanted to sleep with the other goats, nowhere near the babies. I washed the babies bums with a warm washcloth to stimulate them to poop and one of them did, the other two just fell asleep and I am uncertain how often they will poop during sleeping time.
I bribed mom back into the pen with them and barricaded her in (she has broken out of there three times despite my best efforts) really well and she nursed and stimulated the baby that was awake.
I know I am probably overreacting here - lack of sleep, a little worried about these kids since we lost one kid earlier this year due to a herniated bowel into the umbilical and it was really tough. Really worried about losing anymore.
My two questions are: 1) Is the fact that momma goat won't sleep near the babies normal? Should I be worried about her health? She passed two huge placentas (I mentioned all the babies were large) and is not bleeding, no foul smelling discharge. I gave her penicillin earlier because I did have to go inside to position one of the babies. Have given her electrolytes and tons of food today - she seems VERY hungry. She had molasses/corn syrup water before and after her labor and have been keeping her sugar/carb intake up as reasonably as I can. She also has access to good forage and has been eating a lot of that too.
2) How often should these babies be having bowel movements, especially if they are sleeping? Do I need to do a little lubed q-tip insertion into their rectums or can I let mom handle that? Enemas?
Thank you in advance for your advice, as you can see I am a little
after a long night and long day.
<3
