Post-Birth and Kidding Care for Goats

Caring for goats after birth is a delicate process involving colostrum feeding, temperature regulation, and ongoing handling to maintain human interaction. Here’s a guide based on lessons and experiences from goat farmers:

1. Importance of Colostrum

• First Feeding:
  • Newborns need colostrum as their first meal. It provides essential antibodies and nutrition.
  • Allow the kids to nurse naturally if the doe is calm and cooperative.
  • For faster, controlled feeding, milk the doe and bottle-feed the colostrum to the kids.
• Handling First Fresheners:
  • First-time moms may struggle to care for their kids. Some might ignore them, fail to clean them, or even be startled by their presence.
  • Be prepared to step in, clean the kid, and ensure they nurse or are bottle-fed.

---

2. Managing Doe Behavior

• Encouraging Bonding:
  • If the doe is overly focused on one kid, you may need to temporarily separate that kid to help her care for others.
  • Leaving kids with the mother for a day or two can help establish maternal behaviors.
• When to Separate Kids:
  • For bottle-feeding, removing kids within the first few hours or days is ideal to minimize separation distress.
  • Place the kids in an area where they can’t hear or see the doe to reduce calling and stress.

---

3. Handling Cold Kids

• Signs of a Cold Kid:
  • Weakness, refusal to eat, or lying still.
  • A cold kid cannot digest milk effectively, so warming them up is the first priority.
• Warming Techniques:
  • Use heating pads or wrap the kid in warm towels (fresh from the dryer).
  • If extremely cold, bathe the kid in warm water and dry thoroughly before placing it near heat.
  • Ensure the kid reaches a body temperature of 100°F before feeding.
• Feeding Warm Milk:
  • Milk should be around the doe’s body temperature (101-102°F) for easy digestion.

---

4. Ongoing Care for Kids

• Tending to the Umbilical Cord:
  • Spray the navel with iodine or tri-iodine to prevent infection.
• Supplementation:
  • Administer selenium paste with vitamin E to support development, especially in selenium-deficient areas.
• Monitoring Energy Levels:
  • Weak kids might need additional electrolytes or warmed colostrum to gain strength.

---

5. Socialization and Bonding

• Importance of Human Interaction:
  • Regular handling ensures that goats remain friendly and easy to manage.
  • Assign time daily to pet and interact with the kids, even if bottle-fed, to maintain their connection to humans.
• Bottle-Feeding vs. Dam Raising:
  • Bottle-Feeding:
    • Produces highly personable and easy-to-handle goats.
    • Requires consistent effort but builds strong human-goat bonds.
  • Dam Raising:
    • Less labor-intensive but risks goats becoming less friendly over time without regular human interaction.

---

6. Tools for Larger Herds

• Bucket Feeders (Lambar):
  • A practical solution for feeding multiple kids efficiently.
  • Available in various sizes to accommodate large herds.
• Free-Choice Feeding:
  • Encourages rapid growth but requires diligent interaction to prevent goats from becoming less social.

---

7. Long-Term Considerations

• Maintaining Socialization:
  • Goats can quickly become feral if left unhandled for extended periods.
  • Ensure regular human contact to prevent them from becoming skittish or independent.
• Managing Maternal Instincts:
  • Does can experience depression or stress from separation, but it’s typically more prevalent when removed from a herd than from kids.

---

Summary

Caring for goats post-birth requires patience, attention to their nutritional and emotional needs, and a commitment to maintaining their social bonds. By combining thoughtful management with practical tools, you can ensure a healthy start for kids and a smooth transition for does.

We highly recommend our How To Raise A Baby Goat Course