Kidding

Helpful Kidding Resources

I try to be at every birth when possible and watch quietly, but I think that more harm is done when you are in your doe’s space while she’s doing her thing. Distracting her and being too involved in her labor I believe can cause other issues, but of course this can also depend on the doe.

It is important to educate yourself and be ready for what may come during kidding, because there are times when we can help a struggling doe or save a baby. I just don’t think that intervention is needed quite as often as we sometimes tend to imagine.

*disclaimer: non-affiliate links shared

“KIDDING POSITIONS AND HOW TO ASSIST WITH THEM” by Weed ‘Em and Reap (WolfTree Ranch) INCLUDES FREE PRINTABLE OF BIRTH POSITIONS like the one pictured below

“KIDDING SIMULATOR” YouTube video, very helpful

2023 MANAGEMENT FOR LAMBING AND KIDDING YouTube webinar by Sara Dzimianski

Kid puller *handmade in USA

Kid puller *valley vet supply

POSSIBLE KIDDING POSITIONS Mythos Farm very helpful photos of birth positions. (one shown below)

Photo from Mythos Farm website

Kidding Supply List

  • Nitrile gloves valley vet supply
  • Kid Puller Valley vet supply
  • OB Lubricant valley vet supply
  • Antiseptic valley vet supply
  • Towels (old/thrift store bath towels, to dry kids off if necessary when very cold(but let the mother lick her baby for necessary bonding if you’re dam raising)
  • trash bags or wheel barrow(toss soiled bedding and leftover placenta out and provide clean, fresh, dry straw or wood shavings to mother and newborn kids)
  • Sulphur-free Molasses (give the doe warm water with a splash of molasses stirred in to help her recover from birth and rehydrate to help her milk to come in)
  • Veterinary contact info (hope for the best, but be prepared to call a professional if needed)Listen to this Goat Gab Podcast about Forging a Good Relationship with your Veterinarian)
  • Arm sleeve gloves valley vet supply
  • Stainless steel pail valley vet supply to use for cleanup after delivery
  • Puppy feeding tube valley vet rarely needed, but good to have on hand.
  • Chlorexodine (blue topical disinfecting solution) Add a splash to warm water for washing off a doe after a messy delivery. For sale at Chewy . Com.
  • Nutridrench for goats valley vet
  • Vitamin B complex oral gel valley vet to help boost energy and rumen function after delivery.
  • Probios valley vet
     (to help the doe maintain healthy rumination during recovery)
  • Selenium & vitamin E oral gel to treat kids with weak legs or bent knees. Alternatively, with a vet’s prescription you may give Bose injections to treat and prevent selenium deficiencies in kids and pregnant does.

Encourage Healthy kidding

Selenium deficiency is very common in goats. Selenium supplements are usually necessary for best health in addition to a free choice mineral program, especially for pregnant and nursing does to prevent weak joints and weak legs on kids at birth. The selenium and vitamin e oral gel (read the label to confirm)can be given monthly, and I highly recommend this for pregnant does. Bose shots are another option as well, though I don’t know the frequency recommended. Bose may only be available through a veterinarian, whereas the gel supplement can be readily purchased at feed stores.

Copper is also very important and my goats seem to need boluses up to twice a year, depending on the size of bolus and the condition of the goat. Copper is believed to help reduce parasites as well, according to this article on wormx.info. Some goats seem to need more copper than others. How to give a bolus I recommend Copasure brand, as the Ultracruz didn’t seem as effective.

Feeding pregnant does high quality hay during gestation and then in the final weeks leading up to birth incorporating condensed nutrient feeds(grain, alfalfa pellets)to help ensure your doe doesn’t lose body condition due to not being able to fit in enough nutrients while the babies are getting larger and taking up most of the space.

Vaccinating pregnant does for CD&T 30 days prior to kidding can give the kids immunity to common deadly diseases. Kids drinking their mother’s milk are believed to have immunity for a month or more, then should be given boosters. If your doe was not vaccinated, you can give kids the CD&T vaccine earlier. I suggest asking a vet for recommendations on how young to give the CD&T to kids from non vaccinated mothers.

I’m not suggesting that you must give a CDT or any other vaccine or supplement to your goats to be a good goat raiser. Whatever you decide is best for your herd should be based on knowledge and your personal preferences for raising your goats. I don’t believe there’s “one way” to do things when it comes to raising goats. Circumstances, goats and their owners are all unique and one method won’t necessarily work for everyone. I don’t judge anyone for not supplementing, not vaccinating or anything else if that’s what you believe is best for your goats.

Of course we know that dirty pens, poor management, poor nutrition and unsanitary living spaces are a recipe for disaster. Goat’s basics needs must be met first and foremost, and a stress-free, clean environment with good quality feed and clean water goes a long way for goat health.

COLOSTRUM

Baby goats must have colostrum ideally within an hour or less of birth, and certainly in the first 6 hours. It’s essential for lifelong health and vigor. A kid that doesn’t get sufficient colostrum or gets it too late will be weaker and often go downhill inspite of being fed all the good milk or colostrum in the world because they didn’t get the vital nutrients and antibodies in colostrum that they can only absorb for a short window of time after delivery. The Giving Goat Blog explains colostrum in more detail. Also, Caring for Goat kids: from Birth to Weaning

I recomend reading Fiasco Farms in depth article on Kid Care and Information .

Here’s an article by The Giving Goat blog on Avoiding Losses: Saving Goat Kids During Kidding