Goat Mothers

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I have a pregnant Toggenburg goat. She is our first goat to own and we need to know some signs of labor and what we can do during birth. Even though she is due near the end of April, she still is quite active. Please send some suggestions.

-- Goat Caretaker (mame_schaub34@hotmail.com), April 21, 2003

Answers

They start pawing the ground like they are raking the ground,where they are expecting to give birth. They do this hours before they give birth.

Make sure the kids are coming out feet and head first . I usually stick around to make sure the kids don't need assistance coming out .

Putting down fresh clean bedding ( straw ) for the new kids , having some iodine ready to dip the navel ( imbilical cord ) once it breaks from the mother. Some old towels to dry the kids off.

Give the doe water after the birth and some grain and hay if it's hungry .

Try to help get the kids to drink from the mother ( doe ) as soon as they are mostly dried off . Or if your bottle feeding the kids , milk out some colestrum to feed them with the bottle . Do this within the first hour if possible. The sooner the kids get the colestrum , the better off they are I believe.

Others might have something to add that I've over looked .

Here's a link to a Dairy goat forum that is highly active and everyone is real helpful , you'll like this forum .. http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/viewforum.php?f=9

For goat emergencies this place can answer some questains through e- mailing volunteers that help out .

http://www.goatworld.com/

-- Steve (unreal@H.com), April 23, 2003.


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