New goat issues

[tastyacres]

Very sorry you lost her!

 

[Zoomie]

Yesterday morning I called the vet and they told me they could take her in on the afternoon, but when I came home to take her, she had unfortunately died. I'm going to be contacting that lady because she knew she was sick, but she told me it was nothing. Thanks to everyone who gave me advice. I'll be taking the other to the vet tomorrow to make sure she isn't sick too.

I'm so very sorry, that must have just been heart-breaking.

When you take the other kid to the vet, make certain that kid gets some CDT antitoxin as @cassie suggests.That will confer immediate immunity. Then, talk with the vet about getting her a permanent CDT shot. She will get the first one, then a booster. Then every year after that, she should get the shot. You can get CDT at places like Tractor Supply. She may also need to be wormed and treated for coccidia.

The person who sold you that kid does not sound like an ethical breeder to me. I am hoping that your remaining kid is not alone now? If she is, consider getting another kid ***from someone else***. Goats do not like being alone, they are herd animals. When they are alone they get nervous and jumpy and don't act happy. They know that the lone goat is the one that gets eaten by the lions or bears. Having another goat gives them someone to chew cud with, hang out and play with.

For the future: ask the breeder how they raise their kids - do they use a coccidia preventive? Do they worm regularly? Has the kid been innoculated with CDT? Take a look at where the kids are. Is it a clean pen, do the rest look good too, is there any of them with diarrhea? People raise goats all different ways, I'm not trying to say there is only one way. But I can say, as a breeder, my kids are bigger, stronger and healthier because I DO use a coccidia preventive to help them develop their own immunity, I DO give vaccinations and I DO worm regularly. I raise my young kids in a clean area and if one had diarrhea, the last thing I would do is sell it to someone!! Best of luck to you with the second kid.

 

[JSF 6494]

The other baby is alone, but just for now. I do have another goat, but she's around 8 or 9 and isn't the friendliest. I let them in to see each other when I'm out there but I have to keep a close eye on them because she's a lot bigger. The other baby does have a group of chickens with her to keep her company though and she loves them. When I go out in the morning, she's usually laying with a couple of them in the corner of the barn and it's the cutest thing. I am planning on finding another goat, from someone else for sure, to keep her company because I know I'll never be able to have the older goat with her. Also, I've been looking into breeding goats for milk and such, that's why I bought those two. I've had goats before, but just for fun so now I want to give breeding them a shot. I do have a few questions about it. What shots do they need and at what ages? Where would I get the shots they need? If I do get another goat to keep the one company and I breed one for milk, would I have to separate the one with the babies from the other or could I keep them all together? Would they fight over the babies? How do I make sure the kids are healthy? How old until they should be drinking water and eating hay? And any other advice would really help. Thanks again

 

[Zoomie]

@JSF 6494 You can find tons of info the web. Here is just one example: http://fiascofarm.com/goats/ I've already answered a couple of your questions (CDT, Tractor Supply) but I would suggest to spend some serious time studying the info at the link I just provided, and look up more if you can.

Goats can live together in a herd, even when one has kids. But, NO BUCKS please. LOL! Bucks will breed your does. It's not good for a goat to be constantly pregnant, not to mention the buck will breed the young doeling immediately as soon as she comes into heat, whether she is big enough to have kids or not. Bucks need to be kept separate and I take no risks with young buck kids but separate at two months, to prevent them possibly breeding their mothers. Bucks should be kept in a separate area. I have mine on the other side of the barn in a very secure pen. Let your does get to a proper weight depending on breed, before letting them have kids. They need to grow up and be mature!

Young kids start nibbling hay and so on almost at once. They are curious and not having hands, try things out with their mouths.

Proper management, proper worming etc. will help to keep your kids healthy. Again, read the link. There is a lot of info there. It is great to have dairy goats, I love mine, and I love that I never have to buy milk or cheese! Even now when I'm not milking, I have plenty in the freezer. Soon my does will freshen and I'll have milk and baby goats once again.

 

[JSF 6494]

Okay thanks! And I definitely wasn't planning on keeping any bucks with the others! I have been doing a lot of research on everything but I haven't really found any direct answers to my questions but that website is really helpful! Thanks again