Shiloh Acres - RAIN!!!!!!! and maple syrup! ;)

[glenolam]

Wow! Sounds like you have been busy!

Congrats on the little doeling! I'm sure she'll get it in time and before you know it she'll be a pro!

 

[savingdogs]

It is good to see a post from you!

My garden is about the same and we are having the same weather situation. What is one to do when you have March weather in May?
I'm trying bubblingbrooks idea of using hot beds for the stuff I'm planting outside soon that needs the warmth. I just don't trust Ol Mr. Sun these days to put in a regular appearance.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I had thought to try BBrooks idea too, but drought here for 2 years has left zero surplus hay.

Getting worried about the doeling. She doesn't suck on my finger, she chews it. I think she is maybe doing the same with the teat. She won't stay latched and the tip is white when she pulls off.

I've had her suck briefly maybe 7-8 times. She has pooped twice (once before nursing). It was black and half-sticky half-pellets. Very small amount.

I got desperate and tried a bottle. She refuses. She wants to nurse standing and gets under moms hind end and tries sucking everywhere, not usually the teat.

Was there ever a kid who wouldn't suck? I wonder how long she can go on so little???

 

[freemotion]

From your description, she is very selenium deficient. I am dealing with this now. Check my kidding thread, I posted the regimen today. You need to get some b vitamins into her asap and get the BoSe from the vet tomorrow. The B's will help her suck reflex rather quickly. She needs some colostrum before tomorrow, though. I also found that getting the kid nice and toasty warm helps the suck reflex, too. And if you tickle her bum while placing the teat in her mouth, that will often do it. This may take two sets of hands. One to guide her to the teat and one to tickle her backside. Just rub her tail area....above and below, like the mom will do when cleaning her backside. Gently so you don't knock her away from the teat, support her since she is so weak and it probably takes all she has just to stand, nevermind nurse.

She might also take a bottle while laying in your lap. If you are using a human baby bottle, be sure to cut an x in the nipple for her. If using a lamb nipple, make sure it is a very soft one and the opening is big enough. The milk should almost drip out of it. Tickle her bum for the bottle, too.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Thanks Free!!!

Going to read your thread now. My nipple is the red one with yellow base that fits on coke bottles ... Soft and milk almost drips. So far she's gotten a tiny bit if colostrum but not much.

I have human liquid Bs, nothing for goats. Vets and feed store are closed, but I think I'll leave a message with vet if I can. I hope the nearer one has it but she won't give anything without office visit. I have a further goat vet that will. Gonna call my boss since it will be tomorrow am before I can do anything. Thanks again so much!

 

[freemotion]

Give her some of the human B's, that will do quite nicely for now. She may have a better sucking reflex soon after. Just a fraction of the adult people dose will do, like a tenth. You can't overdose the B's, they get pee'd out.

 

[ksalvagno]

You can always tube feed her the colostrum if you have a feeding tube. Also could try using a syringe but be careful so it doesn't go down into her lungs.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Thanks.

I'm SO glad for yall's answers.

Gave the baby .3 cc liquid multi-b. It is a really good one. Adult dose is 1cc, so that was more than a tenth but .1cc can get stuck in the syringe and I thought she might spit a bit out. She took it VERY easily. If I'd read your posts before giving it to her I would have dosed the doe too, but I wanted the vitamins in asap. I'll check on her soon.

Thankfully I have the red cell. The BoSe at $30ish is gonna hurt ... I keep $100 stashed for EMERGENCIES -- not touched it in well over a year, but I had to break into it yesterday. I think I have enough left fir BoSe and the feed I'm running out of -- then I better get paid, LOL. But I'm sure it will all work out. I have enough for meds and feed.

I don't have a feeding tube. I'm really hoping the B vits will help. I hear the baby maaaa-ing. Gonna go check. (She's almost just outside -- my "stall" is an enclosed trailer in front. At least I can hear/see and know she's safe!

Oh ... And maybe cuz she mostly lay down today, but there was WAY too much interest in her from a couple of low-flying vultures. I didn't think they would hurt her, but a friend said they would attack newborn calves before they can stand and damage their eyes, so I spent the rest of the day in a lawn chair watching the baby under a tree. The geese were not happy about the vultures either. Every time they came back the gander acted like he would go after them and the geese called the babies onto the porch (where I expected goat babies to be ... But I had NO IDEA she got bred when she did and I didnt think I'd have kids for several months at least! Glad I could figure out yesterday she was so ready!!! I wasn't sure since this was my very first kidding!

 

[Shiloh Acres]

She's still lying in the same spot. I did check her temp (borrowed a laser temp gun, very accurate). On her head it is over 79, which is the same thing my dog's head reads (it's surface temp only) so I think she's staying warm.

I do have about 12 oz of colostrum in the fridge. Mama milks like a dream, not experienced yet and I have no milking stand, but her udder is huge compare to last year's does, her teats are manageable, good stream. A friend looked at her udder and said it was perfect.

I took a chance on mama ... Her mother was a hugely productive doe but it was an accidental mating. My doe is a Nubian, Alpine, Oberhalsi mix. I'm SO glad it looks like she will totally eclipse the does I lost in terms of capacity and ease of milking. And I'm just so glad to have a milking doe this year at all. Now, just gotta get that beautiful little doeling sorted out.

I never touched a newborn goatlings before. I'm in love, LOL.

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Do you have a tiny syringe? You can dribble milk down her throat with that.