Java. the end.

[savingdogs]

Two on ONE day? Holy cow...I wish I were there to help. You do need a friend to come!

We used heat lamps.....are they bad? It seemed to help so much. We are not even having weather below 30 degrees. During labor when we added the heat lamp Ginger really relaxed. We gave Molly one when it got cold and dark and left them both with their heat lamps overnight. I was afraid she would not keep her baby warm enough without it because she did not seem to like him very much.

We had taken the heat lamp away from the stall where the kids were born Friday and they were obviously cold and not liking it. Maybe I am spoiling mine. We have lots of wetness and dampness though and I was wanting to dry things out in there as well as warm them up. In Washington, everything is always wet!

Good luck with the double delivery! We won't expect frequent updates if you are going to be that busy but try to let us know what happens....

Go goats!

 

[Javamama]

I just don't like animals getting used to heat in case we have a power outage, but I'll make an exception in this case. It's not supposed to be so cold right now

I'm just watching and waiting on contractions to start.

 

[ksalvagno]

I've got 2 heat lamps in all my kidding stalls. It is just too cold. I was very surprised when I could touch the metal and it didn't feel hot (barely warm). I guess it is cold enough out that the whole unit doesn't get hot. I was worried about fires since they were just the regular old heat lamps but I have them secured really well and made sure to be out of the mama goat's way and the water is at one end of the kidding stall and the lamps are at the other end so there is no way the 2 can meet.

I don't know if it is the same way with goats as it is with alpacas but it takes at least 24 hours for a cria to be able to regulate its temperature. Plus the fact that they are wet when they come out. So go ahead and put the heat lamp on. I want live kids not kidcicles.

 

[Javamama]

Same here Karen

 

[freemotion]

I also don't like them getting too used to heat...however, there is a reason there are no wild goats in the Northern US! We have to help them survive. And look at the wild temp fluctuations of the weather....it is "normal" for them to experience warmth for a few days or hours and then cold.

The other thing to consider if they are locked up in a stall is that they cannot get out into the sun the moment it comes up, which is what all my goats will do if they can. They know the warm spots and I'll find them all out there on the coldest days, as long as the sun is out. The heat lamp replaces this. So I feel ok giving them this crutch until their body mass is big enough to handle the cold better or until it warms up a bit at night.

I put my heat lamp in a corner of the stall. I nailed a scrap of siding diagonally across one corner so the lamp and the cord is behind it (years of horse ownership...horses will chew on exposed cords and electrocute themselves!). The goats, even very young kids, quickly learn to go to this spot to warm up, and will spend time away from it, too, playing and nursing.

I raise and lower the lamp according to the temp. I just put my hand about six inches above the bedding under the lamp to see how warm it is for the kids, then raise or lower it accordingly.

I'd love to make one of those warming barrels if I could find a couple of plastic drums! You can use a small wattage bulb in them because they hold the heat in. Pictures over on byh somewhere.

 

[Javamama]

I just discovered what role my helper is going to play - keep the cats occupied Every time I go out there they start climbing all over me. I might have to lock them in the car

Perdy has had a couple of contractions.

 

[glenolam]

I had to lock two of my goats in the chicken pen because they finagled themselves between the cattle panel and the wall and were trying to get into Fudgie's makeshift pen. I had to call Big G inside and tell him to get these f______ goats away from me before we have goat sausage for dinner.

Hormones and adrenaline...there's nothing better!

 

[lorihadams]

oooo oooo oooo more goat babies!!!

I'll be watching out for ya!

 

[sekinkead]

I am so excited to see your babies. I don't think I work too far from you if you need any extra help

I know you will keep us updated as you can, I hope all goes well.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Yay for more babies!!! I'm sure everything will be just fine! Just make sure to post pics!!