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GOAT BIRTH, page 2
As you can see, the water sack broke, and the baby is moving through the vaginal birth canal. There are times that you may have to assist, and emergency situations arise. I have
called my vet when goats were delivering if I had a problem or a question. I have an excellent small ruminant vet and I am spoiled by her. She has coached me through difficult
births and we have had great successes. We have a great rapport and she knows when I call her and tell her that I need her here, she makes every effort (within reason) to get
here as soon as possible. She lives 45 minutes away, so sometimes we wait and sometimes we can't.
I have untangled kids, repositioned feet, noses, pushed heads back in without feet, pulled a leg forward that needed pulled forward and other reasons. I recommend finding a
GOOD vet that you trust, and also a good friend and/or neighbor with experience in birthing to use as a back up. Please, if a goat requires veterinary care, call your vet. Don't just
rely on your neighbor or friend. Make good decisions. I have heard too many stories of a stubborn old farmer who won't call the vet and lost the goat and kids. Be prepared and
have a good vet before kidding season starts!
called my vet when goats were delivering if I had a problem or a question. I have an excellent small ruminant vet and I am spoiled by her. She has coached me through difficult
births and we have had great successes. We have a great rapport and she knows when I call her and tell her that I need her here, she makes every effort (within reason) to get
here as soon as possible. She lives 45 minutes away, so sometimes we wait and sometimes we can't.
I have untangled kids, repositioned feet, noses, pushed heads back in without feet, pulled a leg forward that needed pulled forward and other reasons. I recommend finding a
GOOD vet that you trust, and also a good friend and/or neighbor with experience in birthing to use as a back up. Please, if a goat requires veterinary care, call your vet. Don't just
rely on your neighbor or friend. Make good decisions. I have heard too many stories of a stubborn old farmer who won't call the vet and lost the goat and kids. Be prepared and
have a good vet before kidding season starts!
See the nose???
I get SO excited when I see the nose. I know
that once the head is out, we will have a baby
instantly.
There is relief when I see the feet, facing
down and a nose right where it should be.
Don't pull here, sometimes another baby is
right behind it and the mother may reposition
a few times to get the baby further along. I
have seen babies go right back in when they
stand up and get repositioned. They are
listening to their body, so just watch and be
there for them.
I get SO excited when I see the nose. I know
that once the head is out, we will have a baby
instantly.
There is relief when I see the feet, facing
down and a nose right where it should be.
Don't pull here, sometimes another baby is
right behind it and the mother may reposition
a few times to get the baby further along. I
have seen babies go right back in when they
stand up and get repositioned. They are
listening to their body, so just watch and be
there for them.
The head is next and sometimes the mom may struggle a bit. We have a large herd of Saanens and
some of those boy's heads are huge. They may need a little help getting them out. This is where I use
lubrication (K-y jelly is one) and put some on my fingers. I very gently go around the edges, massaging
her opening to relax and stretch, so the baby can come out.
The baby to the right is definitely a buck kid--see his horn buds already?
It seems that if there is one doe and one buck, the buck kid comes out first with a big head. Once he
comes, the next one will be right behind, sometimes right behind in an instant!
some of those boy's heads are huge. They may need a little help getting them out. This is where I use
lubrication (K-y jelly is one) and put some on my fingers. I very gently go around the edges, massaging
her opening to relax and stretch, so the baby can come out.
The baby to the right is definitely a buck kid--see his horn buds already?
It seems that if there is one doe and one buck, the buck kid comes out first with a big head. Once he
comes, the next one will be right behind, sometimes right behind in an instant!
The mother will immediately want to clean her baby off. I use clean, dry towels to help clean the
baby. I will lay the baby on a towel, and then take another and make sure to clean the mucous
out of his mouth. Sometimes if the baby doesn't breathe, you may need to hold him by his hind
legs upside down and get him to breathe. Use your discretion here. I have done this many
times to help them dislodge that mucous. They are trying to gasp, and sometimes just need a
hand.
Don't steal your doe's glory here. She worked hard, let her lick her young one. It may take away
the pain (for a moment) of the next one coming!
baby. I will lay the baby on a towel, and then take another and make sure to clean the mucous
out of his mouth. Sometimes if the baby doesn't breathe, you may need to hold him by his hind
legs upside down and get him to breathe. Use your discretion here. I have done this many
times to help them dislodge that mucous. They are trying to gasp, and sometimes just need a
hand.
Don't steal your doe's glory here. She worked hard, let her lick her young one. It may take away
the pain (for a moment) of the next one coming!
You have probably already decided if you are going to bottle feed the babies, or
have the mother raise them. We do both here at the farm.
We bottle feed our Saanen kids. We have the moms clean the babies and we
take them down to the house, or the kid nursery to treat the umbilical cord, and
the bottom of their hooves with iodine. We give them their mother's colostrum
and get them dried off, warm and comfortable.
I milk the mother for her colostrum. Right after the baby or babies are born, she
may want to eat and I will milk her, and the act of milking helps the placenta to
be delivered. Never pull on the placenta. When she delivers it, collect it. They
will want to eat it, but it isn't necessary for them to eat it.
For our Boer herd, the mothers raise their babies. There are some reasons
that they might not. If the mother had an extremely difficult time and the last
thing that she needs or can handle, is feeding her young. If she has no interest
in her babies at all. Multiple kids. Sometimes if they have 3 or more, I may take
one or all of them. If I have some Boer wethers that were ordered and they
wanted the kids bottle fed.
There are other reasons too. I look at each at a case by case basis.
have the mother raise them. We do both here at the farm.
We bottle feed our Saanen kids. We have the moms clean the babies and we
take them down to the house, or the kid nursery to treat the umbilical cord, and
the bottom of their hooves with iodine. We give them their mother's colostrum
and get them dried off, warm and comfortable.
I milk the mother for her colostrum. Right after the baby or babies are born, she
may want to eat and I will milk her, and the act of milking helps the placenta to
be delivered. Never pull on the placenta. When she delivers it, collect it. They
will want to eat it, but it isn't necessary for them to eat it.
For our Boer herd, the mothers raise their babies. There are some reasons
that they might not. If the mother had an extremely difficult time and the last
thing that she needs or can handle, is feeding her young. If she has no interest
in her babies at all. Multiple kids. Sometimes if they have 3 or more, I may take
one or all of them. If I have some Boer wethers that were ordered and they
wanted the kids bottle fed.
There are other reasons too. I look at each at a case by case basis.
It is important after your doe delivers to have some rest, and the best hay that you have, fresh warm water and lots of praise. She deserves it!
FOR ADDITIONAL PHOTOS, CLICK ON GOAT BIRTH PAGE 3 ----->
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