I was getting up to take some pictures for this post when there was a knock at the window. Moira called in, "Do you have that birth kit ready? Looks like Lily is in labor!" So I got up and did not take any pictures :-) Instead I got myself outside to see 'where' in the labor she might be. Around 10:30 this morning Lily had triplets! Two girls and a boy. I am glad we where there. Lily didn't have any problems with the birth process, but one of the little girls did have difficulty getting up to nurse. She was growing weak, and needed some energy booster and a helping hand to hold her up to the udder. But I am happy to report, a handful of hours later she is up, nursing and playful. Phew!
I wrote the other day that I would share what I have in my goat birth kit. Please, please, note that we are still very much novices at this whole goat thing. As a matter of fact I had to go to my online goat source,
Fias Co. Farm, to get some info on weak kids. This birth kit is bare bones, but so far has worked out just fine.
This is it. I have wipes, for wiping things up ;-). In the blue baggie are a handful of gloves. Next is a bottle of Goat and Sheep Nutri-Drench, with a small syringe. This is the first time we've had to use this. It came in handy for the weak triplet. The next grouping of items, Antiseptic, dixie cups, dental floss and scissors, are for tying off, cutting and cleaning the umbilical cords. The large yellow and green tube is a dewormer (Safegaurd). Female goats need to be dewormed right after the birth since it takes a lot out of them and the worms can get a 'leg up' and over take her. Last in the picture is the homeopathic remedy, Pulsatilla. Pulsatilla is known for helping a stalled labor, or to help weak contractions. I've used this a few times with our goat births, and it really works wonders. Not pictured are some towels and washcloths. I had them in a plastic bag. I put all of these items in the blue tote, the same tote I use for our milking supplies in.
This was Aubrey trying to help me out :-) I was laying things out on the table, and he was picking them up and examining them.
See. Silly boy.
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5 comments:
I'm kind of wondering why animals need any help with birthing like the umblical cord and such. What would they do in the wild? They must have some instinct for that. Of course, not to say that you aren't saving more kids by helping out (especially for that weak one) but just wondering what the natural process would be. Curious.
Yes, I really think the same thing. However, there are things like tetanus that they could get from the ground into an umbilical cord that hasn't been dried up yet. But out in the wild it just shrivels up and drops off. I think, just like with humans, that the majority of births are totally fine and normal. But there are small interventions or helps that can help a struggling mama goat that she wouldn't have had in the wild. I stay hands off until I see there is a problem. For example, today at the triplets birth, my girls kept asking me to help the mama as it was taking many, many pushes to get out one of the kids. But, it was feet first, as it should be, and I just let things be. After many more pushes and the mama falling on her side (imagine a goat looking dead on the ground), and the baby was still not coming out, we helped her out a bit by pulling on one of the hooves as she pushed. This was the third baby, and by this time the mama was exhausted. But I am quite certain in the wild she would have been fine. But we also know that an animal that is really exhausted or run down may have problems taking care of her babies. So it's a trade off...I really, really do not want to be having to bottle feed any baby goats multiple times a day! I think I have other things I could be doing :-)
Hope all that jibberish makes sense! Ha, ha.
Blessings,
Kerri
Kerri, it surely must be spring, with both of our posts on the same subject! :-) You've included a few things I didn't, so it's good to have more than one mind, isn't it? Nutri-Drench, yes - I have it in my first aid box but not in my kidding kit.
Thank you for your visit to my blog, I've enjoyed visiting yours as well.
Kathi
http://oak-hill-homestead.blogspot.com
Kerri--blessings to you and thank you SO much for linking up over at Welcoming Wednesdays! While I have not had goats, I have many readers who do, and with it being birthing season, I wanted to let you know I am featuring your post tomorrow on our Linky Party! Thank you for bopping on over and sharing with us, and I hope to see you posting and sharing again very soon!
Blessings
~Heather
www.thewelcominghouse.blogspot.com
Oh, wow! Thank you Heather! I love all that you share on your blog and always look forward to what your posts. I have a few fun things going on over here that I plan on sharing tomorrow, if only I can get the moment to get the post up :-)
Blessings to you,
Kerri
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