Post Kidding: The First Couple Months

If the kidding has been successful, and the mama and kids are all doing well with nursing, after a few days I'll let them all join the herd under my watchful eye for a little bit, working over the next week or so to let them all have full access to one another.

At that point, I'll give each kid a probiotic boost with Fastrack if they didn't get some at birth.
I will also be paying close attention to my doe's udder to see if the kids are nursing on both sides evenly.  If not, I will start milking her out on one side or the other to keep them even.  I won't have to separate the kids from her during this time (other than when she's on the stanchion).  Last year my poor doe was definitely heavier on one side and I was just too inexperienced to figure it out.  Whatever milk I get during this time I will freeze and save for potential kidding problems with the other does.  And...I can always make soap with it all if all bares well.

After two weeks,  I will start separating the kids from the mama at night, so I can milk her in the morning before letting the kids back with her for the rest of the day.  That is how I like to milk, once a day, until the kids are weaned and sold.  It works out great for me in terms of time management.  I have no desire to bottle feed if I don't have to, and I haven't had problems (yet) with kids bonding to me with plenty of attention.  The one problem I did have last year was one kid chewing on the teat of my doe, so you better believe I'll be watching  like a hawk for any similar issues and will bottle feed before releasing them to mama to take the hunger edge off (if not removing a naughty kid altogether; those teats are valuable!).  Otherwise, I'm happy to keep the kids on mom.

About that time, I'll start the kids on our wormer schedule.  I've been using Molly's Herbal Wormer for years and so far am happy with the results.  I do think the key to using any herbal wormer is consistent, diligent use--we worm our animals (even our dogs) every single week with it.

Within that first week, the kids will all be disbudded, and I will begin to offer up our kids for pre-sale and take deposits.

At 3-4 weeks, we will wether the bucks unless someone intends to buy a buck (and has fully paid for him at that point).   Because our soils are horrible, I'll also give all of the kids a dose of selenium/vitamin E gel.  And of course, they will all stay on the weekly worming schedule as well.

All doelings and bucklings will be registered with KGBA and ready to go at eight weeks if their weight looks good.

Then the kids will hopefully all leave the property to go to happy and good homes after getting their tattoos done and hooves trimmed.  At that point we'll begin milking twice a day until (1) we dry them off for the winter and don't want to milk in the cold barn or (2) the does are two months from kidding again.

That is the "plan" (smile).

Preparing for Kids

 Some kids from 2011

There are a lot of pregnant females around our home and yard.  For one, I am overdue with baby number seven, and my four Kinder does are due to kid starting in two weeks.  Here is how I've been preparing for my goats to kid. This is only our second year of kidding, and so we are still learning.  I also know that everyone has *their* way of doing things, whether it's with goats or honeybees or whatnot; we're just trying to see what works for us in the environment we are in, and we're thankful for lessons and grace when we make mistakes.

About a month before, I gave my goats a tetanus shot.  They've never been vaccinated before but my confidence with tetanus has waned due to the pasture conditions we currently have (and are working to fix).  And because our soil condition is so poor, I supplement also with a bit of selenium and vitamin E (5ml, gel).  We raise our animals as organically as possible, but we also have to work around less-than-perfect conditions too.

I began feeding my does a cup of organic goat grain in addition to the alfalfa hay.  I'm not sure I won't lay off the alfalfa next time towards the end; I wonder if it's too much protein at this point.  The goats are just now getting access to wooded forage (finally!), and I always have free-choice minerals(MannaPro, and Diamond Yeast Culture) and baking soda on hand for them all. Once a week, year round, we worm all of our goats with an excellent herbal wormer (from Fias Co Farm).

I kept records of when breeding occurred, so I have a good idea of when kidding is due for each doe.  This helps me to be sure to stay home, so that I can be available to help if necessary and to encourage just with my voice and presence (which IS necessary in my mind).  I have a baby monitor that I will put into the barn so that I can hear if anything is going on, from the house.

I have phone numbers of goat friends ready, and a birth kit assembled.  I know I can't have everything for every imaginable need, but I do have some supplies on hand:

• towels for drying off the kids noses and helping to stimulate them
• molasses to add to drinking water for the mama for extra nutrients
• scissors, iodine, and a small cup for cutting and dipping the umbilical cord
• a working flashlight (if you have children around, you may understand that not all flashlights are working when you need them....if you can find them...)
• betadine, rubber gloves, and lubrication in case the birth process needs assistance.  In that same vein, I have penicillin ready to give to the mama if I do go need to assist.  I hope I never have to assist!
• garbage bags for the afterbirth; I don't want it hanging around attracting predators and really don't think my doe needs to eat it
• neck bands to keep track of kids
• a scale is fun to weigh the kids with
• B12, bovi sera (10 SQ), and nutri-drench in case my doe needs a pick-me-up at any time
• syringe tube or bottle (to supplement or to feed 2-4oz, every 2-4 hours if necessary), bovi sera (5cc), and selenium/vit E if the kids are weak or unable to nurse.   I might give the kids a pea-size amount of Fastrack to get their guts going, too.  I'll be watching them closely especially for the first few days to a couple of weeks.

Ahead of the birth-date, I'll have the stall for the kidding completely clean, and a little kid hut hideaway ready.  Also, although I am usually hands-on with all of my goats, I make it a point to regularly touch and handle the expectant mama's udder too, especially if they are first-timers.  

Next, I'll post our plans for the actual kidding and afterwards.  Unless, of course, I have a baby myself tomorrow (smile).