FAQ: Supplies to have on hand for kidding
I get lots of questions on kidding so here's another FAQ section
- towels and blow dryer to dry newborns (the warmer they are the sooner they will want to nurse, the better)
- Iodine 7% to dip newborn's navel and small medicine cups (the most effective way to dip the navel after birth: tip the kid back with the navel in the medicine cup so it is completely dipped, wear gloves and towels because iodine does stain)
- SuperLube & elbow length surgical gloves (if a goat needs assistance kidding; though not always necessary, it's best to have this on hand)
SuperLube from Premiere1Supplies.com (the 8 oz size is plenty)
Pritchard teats and bottles (we use 16 oz water bottles from Wal-Mart)
Pritchard teats can be purchased from Premiere1Supplies.com
Even if dam raising, it's good to have a few bottles on hand in case nursing doesn't work or something happens to the mother
Also good to have on hand colostrum replacer
2 examples:
weak kid feeding syringe (we have had to use this very rarely, but again it's good to have on hand just in case). Directions and videos on how to use can be found on Premiere1Supplies and YouTube
Blackstrap Molasses mixed in warm water for the doe after kidding. This will give them a boost of energy after the hard work of giving birth
we use the Rhinehart Dehorner X30 and disbud bucklings within a few days of birth and doelings between days 5-10 depending on size
There are are different methods for disbudding depending on what iron is used.
Look for examples online or YouTube.
Goat disbudding box plans: www.betterhensandgardens.com
BOSE supplement if kid is weak at birth and needs selenium/Vitamin E
Post-kidding care for babies and mom:
Baycox or Toltrazuril 5% to prevent coccidiosis: https://horseprerace.com/toltrazuril-5-200ml/
Penicillin
Nutridrench
Electrolytes (if a kid has scours, discontinue feeding milk and switch to warm water/electrolytes)
Dewormer
(Ivomectin is a good option,
Safeguard is not recommended it is ineffective against most worms)
CDT vaccine and epinephrine for vaccinations
Things to watch out for after birth in dam:
- uterine infection
- milk fever
-ketosis
- failure to pass afterbirth
If the doe has trouble post-birth, supplies like oxytocin, calcium glocunate, propylene glycol and antibiotics (ie. biomycin)
can be sourced from your local veterinarian
Most kiddings have no problems and kids and dam thrive! However as always it's best to be prepared and be aware of these potential problems, so if they do occur, the earlier they are treated the more chance there is of recovery
Here's a couple more lists for ideas for kidding kits:
Most supplies like the above can be found at Jeffers.com, Premiere1Supplies.com, or ValleyVet.com or Tractor Supply local stores (Tractor Supply may not have everything listed above)