We have been locking our doe in a kidding stall at night where she can see her pasture mates in a stall area next to her. During the day, we let her out. There is alot of snow still (Michigan), so she doesn't wander far from the goat barn. Anyhow, what's next when the kid comes? Do we need to plan for doing anything with the umbilical cord, the mother for passing addl kids of afterbirth, or what to expect? This is our first time. I'll check the kidding corral, just trying to gather info. Thanks, moday
Hi, This year was my first "on my own" goat kidding season. Previously my sister-in-law and I shared a herd, but this year we've expanded and moved our herd to our own place....so in my nervous state of pre-kidding jitters I found these sites that were helpful. Most were gathered by simply "googling" goat kidding or something similar. http://goat-link.com/content/view/36/95/1/1/ http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/artic ... ids06.html http://www.goats4h.com/Pigman.html http://fiascofarm.com/goats/duedate.htm http://fiascofarm.com/goats/kidding.htm Hope some of it helps
Once the kid arrives, what I do is to clear it's nose and mouth to avoid aspiration of birth fluids, with cold weather I also thoroughly dry them to avoid chilling. Mom usually helps while the kid is in my towel...I then use a baby food jar with iodine to drop the cord into, I invert the kid with the jar snug against the belly and then let mom continue with her bonding, normally if there are multiples, they arrive within 20 minutes, sometimes within 5 minutes , the afterbirth is normally passed within 12 hours, with my girls it is usually within 2 hours. I also will express the plugs from the moms teats to make it easier for babies to nurse...which they will need help finding the source of their first meal within an hour of birth...the nursing of the kids will also help the mom's uterus to contract, expelling the afterbirth. Great site links Bella :thumbup: Thank you
