Just kidded need help! Update with Pics

[gatorridgechics]

I'm searching online places but I knew this would be the best source of info.

Back story...

Our 1+ yro pygmy Barbara just kidded 2 babies, like just now. DH and I have been talking the past few weeks because she was looking rounder and rounder. She lives with her spouse George and around mid October I thought he was giving off the impression that she was in season. I wasn't expecting babies until Feb/March. So she caught me off guard. Now I have two babies on the ground moving, crying, and trying to nurse, and mama who is eating. The problem is we got about 2 inches of ice last night, so it is cold. They have shelter, and dh is putting in a heat lamp now. But should I move them to the garage? What else should I be doing right now. I seriously thought I would be more calm about this.

 

[mnferalkitty]

This just happened to me in Nov.with 2 nigerian dwarg goats. I opened my goat shed door and there was a kid and the next day same thing happened with the other goat, I had no clue they were pg and was very unprepared. I made sure they were dry and I added extra bedding. I live in MN so it was cold. I kept checking on them every 2hrs through a window at night I used a flash light. I did not have a heat lamp.. I also made a extra insulated house to put in the goat building it is a LG plastic dog kennel wrapped in insulation then I duct taped grain bags the poly/plastic kind around that. I also increased the grain for the does.

 

[Stacykins]

Make sure the babies are dried off! Have they successfully nursed? Like latched on and had a good suck? They need that first colostrum ASAP! If they are warm, dry, and have food in their little tummies, they will be food, as long as their mother is tending to them! Also, dip their navels in something to disinfect them, to help prevent navel ill. Iodine is the preferred stuff, if you have any.

Just be careful with the heat lamp, it is a massive fire risk. You can also make sweaters for them. The sleeve of a sweatshirt can be cut off, and little leg holes added so the front legs can go through. Just make sure the back part allows for them to eliminate properly.

Congrats on the two babies! Obviously Mama goat didn't need any assistance!

Also, the buck she is being kept with can get her pregnant very soon after her kidding. A back-to-back kidding like that can really take its toll on a doe. Please separate him as soon as you can.

 

[mnferalkitty]

Above post made me remember that I also did the sweater for each goat baby I used my husbands old tube socks, I cut the toe off and made slits for front legs to fit threw

 

[gatorridgechics]

Make sure the babies are dried off! Have they successfully nursed? Like latched on and had a good suck? They need that first colostrum ASAP! If they are warm, dry, and have food in their little tummies, they will be food, as long as their mother is tending to them! Also, dip their navels in something to disinfect them, to help prevent navel ill. Iodine is the preferred stuff, if you have any.

Just be careful with the heat lamp, it is a massive fire risk. You can also make sweaters for them. The sleeve of a sweatshirt can be cut off, and little leg holes added so the front legs can go through. Just make sure the back part allows for them to eliminate properly.

Congrats on the two babies! Obviously Mama goat didn't need any assistance!

Also, the buck she is being kept with can get her pregnant very soon after her kidding. A back-to-back kidding like that can really take its toll on a doe. Please separate him as soon as you can.

After looking around I went out tended to their cords and dried them off. Mama is friendly but still really skittish. Under normal circumstances she will come to the fence allow one pat then run off. However, she let me, dh, and ds in with her and the babies. She let me touch her, check her teets, she even licked my hand and took food from me. If I didn't know her I would swear she wasn't even the same goat. Babies are dry and while mom was eating I put them under her and directed them toward dinner. Both got a good suck and I even saw them pee. It seemed like she was worn out and was having trouble with the afterbirth. Part of it was hanging, I wasn't sure what to do, but I could tell she was pushing, so I held it up and she just kinda took a few steps and it slid right out. We added extra hay for bedding and she and i made a nice little nest. DH did put up heat lamps and a tarp over the open door with enough room for them to go in and out. The heat lamps are high up and we have used them in that building before. Before we moved the goats in it was the building we had for our cow. He topped out at 1286lbs and there was enough room in it for him to turn around if that gives you an idea of the size. I just left them everyone seemed to be comfortable. In the morning we will move the buck out, but for right now he is keeping a watch over his family. He is a second time dad, we got him from a friend whom we called right away. He told us when he had his other kids they were in together and he did really well with them.
I just can't believe this. We were expecting March babies. Just yesterday we were talking about it and I was telling DH we needed to get a birthing bag and have a plan put together. Ha!

Thank you both for your help. I will put up some pics in a bit. BTW it is one boy and one girl, perfect!

 

[mnferalkitty]

Heres the thread when my goats had kids
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/720662/help-goat-had-kid-i-didnt-know-she-was-pregnant

 

[gatorridgechics]

The black and white one is the girl and the brown one is the boy. Everyone is doing very well!

 

[mnferalkitty]

The black and white one is the girl and the brown one is the boy. Everyone is doing very well!

AWWWW Cute!!!!!

 

[chickenlisa]

Totally adorable! We want to get Nigerian Dwarf goats someday- trade the ducks, muddy pools, and mess for a pair of cute goats. Just not set up for them yet...
Have fun!

 

[Daddas1Punkin]

AWE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTEEEEE!!!!