[ScotsGirl]

My little doeling died in the night. She wasn't very lively from birth but did seem to feed. Always half lying down and cried when picked up. I only have lambs to compare to and as this is my first kid I don't know what I should be seeing regards vigor and alertness.


What do I do about mum who is crying? I have taken milk out to relieve udder for now but how long should I do this for? Would she adopt a kid if others have multiples?

[ZaktheLad]

  OMG I am so very sorry.  I can only offer sympathy as know nothing at all about goats, but I really feel for you and especially for the distraught mum.   

[Anke]

Oh no, that's unexpected?
 
Don't think you did anything wrong, sudden death at this young age would probably point to some kind of heart problem? And she was quite a  bit overdue. You could ask the vet to open her up to see if that was the case, or anything else internally not being as it should be. If that#s the case you wouldn't want to repeat the mating with that specific sire.
 
RE her milk: I have no idea how easíly she would accept another kid to suckle, but you could try to suppplementary feed (by bottle or tube) another kid (triplet) and once her milk comes out at the end of that kid she may accept it. In the early stages it would probably need two of you to hold the nanny(one person) and latch on a kid (second person, until kid is confident, when only one person needed to hold the nanny). Tying the nanny up might help as well. BUT I have never had to do this. The nanny may try to sit down.
If she lets you milk her I would continue to milk and probably bottle feed any kids that need it.
 
I am so sorry, losing a kid this suddenly is just devastating.

[ScotsGirl]

How long will the milk keep in fridge? Can I combine a days worth of milk in one bottle then is it better to freeze as other kids not due for a few days?

[Daisys Mum]

Oh that is so sad I know just how you feel 

[Anke]

How long will the milk keep in fridge? Can I combine a days worth of milk in one bottle then is it better to freeze as other kids not due for a few days?

If you haven't got any other kids due for a few days I would freeze the milk. You can keep that in reserve and if/when the need arises for a spare kid you can first use fresh milk from her and keep the current stuff in reserve. Also very good to keep for any lambs that need topping, especially if you only have a little milk and plan to foster the lamb onto another ewe in a few days.
 
Healthy goat kids can be slow to start with, but within a day or two they will play and investigate their pen. Sometimes not as much if they are a single though, as no playmate.
 
I honestly think there wasn't much you could have done, she was feeding and externally alll looked fine. She probably had an internal fault. Still heartbreaking I know.

[Dogwalker]

So sorry to hear about this.
 
If it's still colostrum  freeze it in small bottles in case needed for other kids or lambs.
 
Sounds like some internal problem especially if she cried when you picked her up.

[goosepimple]

So sorry for you and mum Scotsgirl, devastated.

[Mammyshaz]

Oh no! So sorry to read this. 

[Lesley Silvester]

So sorry, Scotsgirl, but I agree you don't need to blame yourself.  It  happens.   

[Brucklay]

Oh that's just terrible -so sorry to read this. Not so sure on the crying on picking up thing, I find my more outgoing kids rarely cry when picked up but where mum is a bit over protective they sometimes scream the house down.


Good luck with your next kidding.

[fifixx]

Poor you - just nature I think probably correcting a mistake.  So hard to lose a kid, it seems such a waste of a little life.

[sokel]

I am so sorry  Cant even imagine how your feeling

[plumseverywhere]

SO sorry Scotsgirl - nature seems so cruel sometimes, poor you and poor Mum. xx

[ScotsGirl]

I milked her yesterday and one side this morning but couldn't get milk out the side used by the kid. I'm not brilliant at milking as new to it and couldn't get much out today so wonder if that was part of the problem and she maybe didn't get enough.


I will just have to be a bit more careful with the others. Mum seems fine and gives me a good groom while I try to get milk. Nature is cruel