Well, our first, first freshener had her babies today...triplet does...and has very little colostrom. I have gotten a little out and have treated it as well as given some replacer following Mr Belanger's books recipe. My questions are, do I milk her now every time I go to feed the kids? I don't know how much of the colostrom they will need to get the benefits of the antibodies, and it would be nice to be able to have the food ready for the next feeding. And also, since I had to assist, what should I do for my girl? I only had to help a little (fingers in, but not up to the thumb.) I hope this isn't too late and all you knowledgeable goat people aren't already in bed! I hope to put pictures on the Goat Shed, but it's down, and I am tired anyway! Thanks all! Cara

-- Cara Dailey (daileyd@agalis.net), March 20, 2002

Answers

Yes milk her has often as you can, try to get at least 1 ounce per pound in the kid before 12 hours. 24 hours tops. Anybody around you can get some from? Massage the udder good after you think you have it all, perhaps she will let down more. The colostrum mixes, eggs, oil etc. are fine for nutrition and for cleaning out the meconium but are not a replacement for colostrum. If you are not able to get enough colostrum into the kid, start half and half the bottles of what you can get with just whole grocery store milk so the kids get enough nutition, or other goat milk if you have it? Then boost the kids immunity with ID-1 or Immune G. From now on have colostrum frozen in the deep freeze, purchased from another breeder or from your own goats. If your bloodline isn't a big producer of colostrum than it will stay that way with all your first fresheners, unless you breed for more milk. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 21, 2002.

Well, this morning she gave about a cup and a half (no scales) and I got about 2 oz of real colostom down each of them last night. They are sooo tiny I'm hoping that'll be enough for the first 12 hours. Have this morning's on the stove treating. I'm pretty sure I was being an over anxious first time goat mom and if I had just waited and kept milking she would've given plenty for the little things. Thanks for getting back to me so quickly, Vicki.

-- Cara Dailey (darrin@capriccino.com), March 21, 2002.

Here's the update on my girls....Mama is off her feed so I'm trying to get her to eat and drink. The babies are eating all we'll give them, all cleaned out and are trying to play and act like big goats. They seem to be really healthy for such tiny little girls. We arranged to go have some help disbudding them next week, since we haven't done that before. Just can't believe she had three in there!

-- Cara Dailey (daileyd@agalis.net), March 22, 2002.

What is MaMa's temperature? No other symptoms but not eating? Are you still milking her or are the kids nursing. Is she chewing her cud like normal? Did you worm her after she kidded? What color are her gums? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 22, 2002.

Let's see...as of 3 this afternoon her temp was 102.1. Heat treating the colostrom, which looks like it's changing over. And I did get some frozen for the next doe. Ummm..cud is a hard one, I couldn't spend too much extra time in the barn as 2 of my 4 human kids have the stomach flu, so I didn't sit and watch her like I usually would. Will worm in the morning (have to go to town to get that.) Didn't check out her gums but eyelids are pink inside. She has very little vaginal discharge, and her vulva is almost back in shape already...is this normal? Milk production has been good...increasing each day. I am headed to the real feed store first thing tomorrow, so anything else? Probios? Vitamin B complex? Thanks so much Vicki. Cara

-- Cara Dailey (daileyd@agalis.net), March 22, 2002.