Ready or Not....... Shouldvknwnbetter- Fall

[Hens and Roos]

She's probably making more milk than the two of them are drinking now. By milking her, you are conditioning her to produce more instead of her production dropping to meet the demand of the two kids.

okay that makes sense, we just don't want do anything to negatively effect Maggie's health

 

[Hens and Roos]

Question about coats- Melanie has a much different coat compared to the others. Her coat is very thick and soft- seems like a double coat.

 

[Hens and Roos]

We noticed that the 2 bucklings(5 days old now) that are with Maggie have raspy breathing- not very loud but reminds me of my DS(10) when he has a cold.

Took their temperatures- 101.5(kid #5) and 102.4(kid #2). Both are up and around nursing frequently from Maggie- checking out her feed and hay.

Our day temps are high 70's low 80's and at night high 50's/low 60's.

We gave kid #5 Pen G last night- is that what we should be doing?

We can bring the vet out if needed too.

Also #5 has 1 eye with matter(greenish color) and we cleaned it off.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I don't know what your relationship is like with your vet but I would at least talk to mine for guidance
Lord knows I spend enough money with mine that in this case he would give some advice
Your temps aren't hot but you have a big swing which can have an effect
Such tiny babies a cold can go to pneumonia quick
Pneumonia is killer # 1 for young animals
I'm don't mean to scare you but I would be very vigilant about raspy breathing on such a young goat at this time of year
Do you have any scour halt?
I'm not going to make any suggestions regarding the pen g
I've never givin an injected antibiotic to such a young kid
But scour check is spectromyicin for treating E. coli in pigs
It is an antibiotic that my vet said can help stave off respitory issues in babies

Edit
Spectinomyicin

 

[Hens and Roos]

Thanks @OneFineAcre, I will probably call our vet tomorrow morning and see what he thinks- he has been good in the past about giving over the phone advice and we can have him come out if needed....we'd rather error on the side of caution and pay a vet bill then lose another kid.

I have heard of sour halt and can get some if that is what is needed.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Pen g or LA 200 may be the way to go
I've just never had to give an injected antibiotic to a kid so I don't have any advice
Scour check is an antibiotic given orally made for babies and it can't hurt
I keep it on hand so if I had any indication of cold I would give it
But you should talk to your vet at minimum
Such tiny babies
I was so happy for you when she had 6 but I would take 2 every time

 

[Hens and Roos]

It has been a learning experience for sure, with the kids being so tiny it has been a challenge to keep them feed/comfortable without over feeding. I think 2-3 kids are what I would take every time but not much can be done on how many!

DH just got home and said if it would help keep them at a more stable temp- we can move them into our shop as we are dropping into the 50's tonight.

 

[babsbag]

Pen G is usually not the antibiotic of choice for respiratory. I have never used Scour halt for that either, but good information. I have given injectable antibiotics to kids (not as little as yours since I don't have NDs) and I always use Duramycin or LA 200. Definitely talk to your vet and like OFA siad, watch the kids carefully.

There is going to come a time in the not to far off future that all of the over the counter antibiotics are a thing of the past so get that relationship with your vet now.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I think they should have some kind of antibiotic
Just don't know what for a kid that weighs 2 lbs
I just know you need to be vigilante

 

[OneFineAcre]

@Hens and Roos
We've had about 50 plus kids since we started doing this
I think we have been very successful percentage wise
But I want to save them all just like you do
You seem very diligent
Stay on top of it and do the best you can