The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on February 12, 2014, 01:15:05 pm
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Kidding is almost over, 3 sets of twins and 2 sets of triplets with one to kid. Sadly we came out an hour ago and one had died.
Wondering if we could have prevented this? He fed initially but screamed a lot and I didn't know if hungry or in pain. He was born lunchtime Monday so must have been eating to survive this far surely? Should I have expressed and bottle fed him initially as he was noisy or is this just a goaty thing? Mum has loads of milk as we have taken a jug flu off to feed a lamb.
I have found the odd one flat out which is how we found this one and I lost one last year which kept lying flat. Is this a sign of illness or just that they are tired after birth?
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Difficult to think of what could be the cause - maybe something internally wasn't working as it should, if he shouted he was probably in pain? Probably not much you can do, but I always try and bottle-feed some colostrum to the kids in the first hour after birth, taking it off mum in the pen straight into a bottle and immediately after into the kid.
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Was he peeing and pooing ok ? very important to make sure that milk plug comes away . You can spend a fortune on post mortems and still be none the wiser, these thing are meant to be. sorry for your loss.
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So sorry. :hug:
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when we had one who wouldnt feed, she was dead within 18 hrs. she didnt scream though.
not much advise but :hug: :hug: :hug:
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she was probably not getting enough milk, same with sheep, sad loss but triplets are always difficult to ensure they are all getting enough milk. Often the biggest ones empty the udder sothe littlest one just gets less and less
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I'm paranoid now and dread going out in the morning. He was a twin and mum had loads of milk, very thick. His sister has a disgusting bottom! They seem more vulnerable than lambs. I am now taking a bit if milk for a lamb who had a traumatic birth and not feeding well from mums he has definitely perked up since getting the goat milk.
We have 11 kids now and only one left to kid in next day or so. Just the sheep to finish then I can get a decent nights sleep!!
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:hug: :hug:
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if she has a sloppy bottom then that is a sign of something dodgy - there was a thread on this a while ago.
http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=29929.msg299978#msg299978 (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=29929.msg299978#msg299978)
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Sometimes it is but in this Case it is because she is a greedy guts! I have cleaned her up and it has settled down now I have removed some milk and the milk has also thinned out. It was like condensed milk for two days.
I will be keeping a close eye though.
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:bouquet:
awwww what a shame. I'm fine with dead lambs but must admit I'm dreading losing any kids this year, got 4 possibly 5 to kid, and they are just so darn cute. No losses last year so fingers crossed :fc:
life just sucks sometimes x
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Yes very sad. My last girl produced triplets last night, 2 boys and a girl. All seem well so :fc: They survive the weather. Got 9 boys so lots of meat later in the year, if I can bring myself to slaughter them. Just too cute.