Kidding Care
last updated 01/31/2025
PLEASE NOTE:
What works for us may not work for you. This is just one way out of a million options and opinions. Over our many years of goat farming, after many MANY trial and errors, we have found what works best for our farm. Please do your own research and see what works best for your location, your herd, and your goals. We're located in the rainy Pacific Northwest and farm to meet the needs of a wet environment. You need to judge what practices best fit your farm. The Internet is a great place to gather information. But it also requires an effort on your part to judge how good that information is.
Pre-natal Care for our Pregnant Does and Ewes
At 28 days till due date, we give our pregnant does a hoof trim, sanitary trim, and BoSe. At this time, you would also give your doe a CD&T shot. This allows the dam to pass the immunity of clostridia and tetanus to her kids. Vitamin E helps strengthen the uterus. At this time we also start the does on Alfallfa hay to ensure they're getting enough calcium in their diet.
At 21 days out, we drench vitamin E and Fir Meadows PreBirth Late Pregnancy Support herb (or Dr. Christopher's Birth Prep).
At 14 days out, we drench vitamin E, PreBirth herbs, Primrose Oil (help ripen her cervix) and calcium carbonate (helps prevent prolapse). Pregnant does are fed 1 cup grain at evening chores. We feed grain at night in hope to kid during daylight hours. Since starting this method in 2022, the majority of all of our kiddings have taken place during daylight hours.
At 7 days out, we drench in the morning PreBirth herbs, primrose oil, and calcium carbonate. At evening chores, we drench vitamin E, PreBirth herbs, primrose oil and calcium carbonate. Does are increased to 2 cups of grain fed at evening chores.
Days before a doe's due date, we start feeling ligaments morning and evening. If ligaments are gone, the doe is separated into a birthing stall where we can monitor her on cameras.
During and after the doe has kidded, she gets a bucket of hot molasses water to regain her energy, and fed a banana with her grain.
We give the doe an herbal wormer for 3 days straight using Fir Meadow's DwormA and GI Soother.
Vitamin E Oil Liquid - Amazon
Calcium Carbonate Powder - Amazon
Primrose Oil Capsules - Amazon
Dr. Christopher's Birth Prep Capsules - Amazon
Fir Meadow PreBirth Late Pregnancy Support 8 oz - Fir Meadow Website
BoSe - prescription from your vet
Fir Meadow DWA Wormer - Fir Meadow Website
Fir Meadow GI Soother - Fir Meadow Website
Kids
At 4 - 5 days old, if the kid is not polled (naturally hornless) we will disbud them.Because these are dairy goats, all our goats will be disbudded.
Since our primary goal is milk production, we separate kids at 4-5 days old from dam for 8-10 hours during the night. After we milk the dam out in the morning, we bottle feed the kids milk and then reunite dam with her kids for the day. After a week old, we will separate kids for 12 hours during the night.
At 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks old, kids get Toltrazuril 5% (Baycox) to help prevent coccidiosis. Kids are given 1ml per 5 pounds of body weight.
Baycox - Pets Megastore Australia
Kids get their first hoof trim at 8 weeks old. Nobody leaves here without a proper pedicure!
Kids are typically ready for their new homes at 8-10 weeks old! By now, they are eating solid foods and drinking water.
If a buck is going to be wethered, we band around 12 weeks old. This allows time for the urinary tract to develop as much as it can to help prevent Urinary Calculi.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not give kids CD&T and leave that decision up to the new owners if they'd prefer to vaccinate their kids.