The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Penninehillbilly on January 01, 2014, 12:19:19 pm
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Hi
Is it safe to worm in kid goats?
I have 2 who are 2 month gone, I didn't worm in before putting them in kid as I kept meaning to send off for fecal testing, time rolled by too quick! One is never seems to put much weight on compared to her sister Nutmeg, though obviously in kid. Last test a year ago she was below threshold, less than Nutmeg, but always looks 'bony'.
Or am I better waiting now till she kids?
I would be using a sheep wormer, probably Rycoben or Combinex.
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You don't need to worm in kid goats, as the pregnancy keeps the worms at bay. It's better to worm them within a week of kidding, and then 3 weeks after that, which should really hit everything they might have been carrying.
Beth
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Unless she's got runny droppings and a "staring" rough coat she won't have worms. Also this time of ear when goats are inside on hay not much chance of picking up worms...
I did a worm count post-kidding last spring and all were well below, so haven't wormed (my goats only, sheep do get done regularly) for 18 months or so...
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She's looks fine apart from looking thin along her back and her hip bones, but she's always looked thin compared with her half sister.
Just wondering, different breeders, Cinn's would have fed high concentrates and Nutmegs would have been more roughage, I wonder if that's anything to do with it, Nutmeg utilises roughage better?
Anyway, thanks for advice, I had been tempted to worm her then remembered the general idea seemed they would be OK till kidding, so couldn't decide.