[Mays]

So, can we have a chat about the care of Kids/ worming, vaccinations etc.

I have two babies that i am bottle rearing. They are strong and well grown, i am going to wait till first shows before we attack their ears (  i hate the rules) so meanwhile just trying to keep them safe and out of mischieve!

[jaykay]

Well...

We vaccinate against clostridia (Heptavac, Bravoxin or whatever). Depends if mum was vaccinated - if so, at 8 and 12 weeks, if not 2 and 6 weeks. We use twice the sheep dose. They get an abcess at the injection site, it sorts itself out after ages.

'Ring' any males before a week old if not to be used for breeding.

With goats we worm with Panacur once they go outside and seem to be nibbling grass - every 3 week during the spring in case of Nematodirus (we have sheep too, source of worms). Can rotate wormers if necessary - keep in line with your sheep if needed.

Otherwise, much love, TLC, things to climb on and sultanas out of your pocket 

[Anke]

Similar routine here, vaccinate with Lambivac at 4 weeks, again at 8, but same dose a sheep. I don't worm the kids, just the nannies post kidding, before they go outside, and the paddock was grazed by cattle last autumn should be clean. Might do a poo count on them in a few weeks time, in case there is somehting.

Start doing their feet at about 6 to 8 weeks, and get them lead trained from when they go outside. No collars until they are much older though, only when on the lead.

Put in eartags just before first show. Register as soon as all kiddings are over, and reserve eartags (as I use the same as for my sheep).

Start to give some hard feed to kids from about 2 weeks on.

[ballingall]

Mays, if your kids have come from the same place as last year's ones did, their mum's will have been vaccinated. So you ought to vaccinate them at 8 and 12 weeks. They don't always get a lump at the vaccination site, but it can happen. I wouldn't worm them until they are about 4 months old at the earliest and then only if they have been out grazing regularly.

Start giving them a tiny drop of concentrates- more to get them used to it, and ad lib hay in their house. Make sure they have access to water in their pen from about the age of 2 months (they are mostly reliant on milk up til then, with water available when in the field).

Get them used to leads, or a collar and a lead in preparation for shows, and to practicing standing still! Let them integrate with your goatlings- in the field at least as goats like being part of the herd, and it encourages the kids to learn to graze properly at an early stage.

Remember Royal Highland Show entries close in April!


Beth

[Mays]

thanks Beth  yes from same herd, and all your advice is much appreciated. One minute I feel so confident I know exactly what I am doing, then the next minute I have an eek moment  I am just about ready to get my entries in for the Highalnd, but I still have a few decisions to make with the horses... i started one of them off in the side saddle recently so toying with the idea of taking him for the SS classes too.

thanks for the other replies too, i am on a steep learning curve, so I like to read what everyone does and why, that way hopefully I willl start to learn!

[Mays]

what age woudl you start letting them go into the paddock with my goatlings?