I thought my kidding days were well and truly over. But it seems not. I got to the farm this afternoon, to find one of the goats lodging with us while her owner moves, about to kid. I was a bit confused, as she was supposedly due mid June, but as she had run out with the billy, I assumed that he had caught her straight away.
Got her in the stable, and she kidded find. Just a single. It seemed a bit small, for a GG, but as I had never seen a GG kid, I didn't really know. Cleaned the kids nose and mouth, rubbed it down with straw as mum did not seem to make a start. Put it in front of her and she started to wash it. It was then I noticed that the kid was still lay flat out, and worse its eyes were tightly closed. Also its little hooves were very soft It had plenty of fur, and was not skinny, it was well covered.. I have had a lot of goat kids over the years, and have never had one with its eyes shut.
I think I am right in thinking this kid was premature. It was breathing, but I think its lungs may have been undeveloped. It did bleat a few times, but only made a half hearted effort to come upright. The mother licked and licked it, trying to make it stand. It did not seem to have a sucking reflex. I milked the mother and tried to get some milk into it. It was warm enough with all the washing it had.
I felt awful telling the owner that there was nothing I could do for the poor little fella. To be honest, I was surprised when he lasted 4 hours. The mother seemed fine when I left her late tonight. I will at least be able to milk her......