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Barnyard Buddies:  can ya help me???  |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 09 2010 : 9:22:11 PM
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I am trying to find good pictures that will show me step by step how to use pulling strings, how to help a goat if she needs it, etc. But I just can't find anything. I would like to put a book together and put it in my barn so if she does go into labor and I need to help her I can just grab the book and see what to do there. Any help would be appreciated!!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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MaryLD
True Blue Farmgirl
861 Posts
Mary
New Braunfels
TX
USA
861 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2010 : 11:30:10 AM
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Hi Channah,
I had goats for 5 yrs- I only had to pull a baby once. It was in my 2nd year of kidding season. I had studied to know normal birth presentaions for the kids- either breech with 2 hooves by the breech ( less common) or head down with 2 hooves under the chin. I has also had a homebirth 8 months prior to the goat pulling, and I am now a midwife, but then, I had simply gone to classes and read for birth preparation. I was 23 yrs old.
I could tell something was wrong because mom was in labor but started running around the pen. I went to see, and a leg was coming out of her. There was also meconium, the first BM of the unborn kid. I had never even heard of meconium at a goat birth. I went into the pen, caught the doe, put my hand in, and grabbed the second hoof. I pulled it out and hel it outside the goat's body with the other hoof. Then I reached in for the head. I could feel the eyes up high and with the head tilted back. I knew from the pictures I had studied that the head should have been down more, with the chin tucked. So I flexed the head down to what I thought was the best position, and the baby shot out! Later came a stillborn that had been dead for some time. It came out hours later.
You will probably be fine if you just read up about it. I did not have anyone to help me except that my son's dad had come home and he took the baby on his way to pick up his other kids from school. So I was baby- less, which was a help. I had read the book " Raising Milk Goats the Modern Way."
~ Mary LD
PS That was 17 yrs ago- my baby graduates in June!
Haflingers- You can't have just one!
( I'm just one short of a drill team!) |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Feb 11 2010 : 3:23:48 PM
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Thank you Mary so much!!! That really helped! I have been reading and studying so much that its alot to take in. I thought like Teresa said that if I had some picture of what to do I can just quickly look at them and now what to do. Thank you so much!!!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
Edited by - maggie14 on Feb 11 2010 3:25:48 PM |
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Laur
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Laurie
Boonville
MO
32 Posts |
Posted - Feb 12 2010 : 7:14:12 PM
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| Hi Channah, thanks for the welcome today! I think with a little studying you will do fine. I rarely have to help the does. Helping manage over 75 does last year I only had to assist with one big breech birth, and gave a little calcium/energy solution to a doe with multiples that seemed to lose momentum. I try to have my birthing supplies ready. If you have to reach in make sure your nails are short and your hands are clean, I use a little lubricant sometimes, vegetable oil will work in a pinch. I haven't used a string for 40 years and that was on a sheep. I think the most common problems are head turned to the side, breech if it is a single kid or the first one of multiples, or metabolic with dilation. The most troubles I've seen are with pygmy type shorter bodied does, does that are either way too thin or way too fat. I have found newspapers work great to dry kids off, the amniotic fluids and sac come off great and help save towel cleaning!!! I use newspaper when I do need to pull once I get the feet out. How many goats do you have and what kind? |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 10:01:11 AM
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Hi Laurie, you are very welcome!! Thank you so much for your help!! I have 3 goats. 2 does and 1 buck. There names are Joey, Sadie, and Esther. There are all a nubian mix. What kind do you have?
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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Laur
Farmgirl in Training
32 Posts
Laurie
Boonville
MO
32 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 3:06:27 PM
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Hi Channah, I just came in from the last round of chores, slushy. slippery. and oh, so, muddy in spots and the forecast calls for maybe more snow!! We have Nubian, Saanen, and Lamanchas goats at present. The dairy where I work has a mixture of breeds.
You were asking about kidding. Go to www.fiascofarm.com ,click goat info, then scroll down and look for birth and kidding, there are several good pictures of kidding! Lots of good info on this site. Good, clear pictures so you'll have a very good idea what is coming down the pike.:) I love all newborns, but think Nubians can be especially cute with those long, ears! Do you milk your goats??? I have a goat named Sadie too, she's a lovely, sweet Saanen.
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Feb 13 2010 : 3:46:49 PM
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That is so neat Laurie!! Yes I do milk my goats! They are a Nubian, Saanen, and Toggenburg mix. Very very good milkers!! Thank you for the website!
Hugs,
Channah
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
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Barnyard Buddies: can ya help me??? |
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can ya help me???
