Had a surprise this AM in the barn. Wish it would have turned out better. Noticed one of our does Annie, have 12 of them, in labor. The head of the kid was still in the bag but hanging out. It was certainly dead. At that point Annie just seemed to look at me as if to say" you're here now, so I don't need to do the work". After a few more minutes I realized that something was not right. Washed and gloved up and slid my hand in only to find 6 pairs of legs all tangled up together and one little mouth started to suck on my finger. Panic... no time to to call for help..... !!!! Untangled what I thought went to each kid and poor Annie delivered two kids at one time. OUCH !!! The dead doe, of course, and a BIG buck. Guess he was just in a hurry to get born and was pushing the others out of the way. A few more minutes went by and you get this feeling over the years that there is still one more left. So I went in and there she was. Wiggled her around and Annie pushed and out she came. A tiny little doe. You always feel responsible when you lose a baby goat during birth. Maybe I shouldn't have had that second cup of coffee, you all know what I mean. But they both seem to be fine and beginnning to nurse with a few drinks from the bottle first and now on Momma goat. Have had a few sets of triplets in years gone by but never lost any like this. Guess that's the animal world. It always amazed me how animals just seem to take birth easier than us humans. So.... I sure hope all you "goat people" don't have to go in and check things out like this. Tomorrow I will ask the vet if I need to give her anything vaginally to make sure she isn't infected with my actions. On the homestead you never know what you mights run up against. I suggest you read all you can because you never know what will happen in the barn after that second cup of coffee !!! Happy Spring !!!

-- Helena , (windyacs/@ptdprolog.net), April 30, 2000

Answers

Helena,I'm sure sorry to hear about the kid dying.Seems like the biggest strongest kids are always bucks!! When kidding season draws near, I trim my nails as close as possible, andif there is a doe that looks like she will kid in a day or two, I scrub my right hand really well before I go down to the barn just in case someone needs help, and try not to touch anything with that hand until I know that nobody is kidding. Sometimes there just isn't time to run back to the house and scrub up. I would far rather check a doe and find that everything is fine, than to overlook a bad presentation and let the doe get worn out. My first doe to kid this year, labored all night.When I finally went in and checked her, she had a huge kid that was lying on his back,presenting upside down!!! Had to turn him right side up,and even then, he was so big that poor Delilah(the dam) and I had to pull for all we were worth to get him out. He weighed 13 -14 lbs if the weigh tapes are accurate. He was our very first kid from an AI breeding, so I am doubly glad we got him out alive.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), April 30, 2000.

Helena,

I know how you feel. We lost one of a set of triplet lambs. We got to the barn about a 1/2 hour after. It was still in the bag and it never took a breath, but you still feel like "if I just checked sooner" and so on. The mother had put so much into making those babies it took her acouple days to get milk production going smooth so she could never have handled all 3. The 8 we ended up with are all strong and healthy! So we are happy!

-- Novina West (lamb@stellarnet.com), May 01, 2000.

HI Helena, Your story this morning was identical to mine except it was my very first time having kids and I didn't even have my kit done yet for the birthing. When I went down in the morning the baby was sticking out like you discribed. Your experience has brought me alot of peace. I didn't know what I could have done differently, I blamed myself for being sooooo....green. I told her over and over how sorry I was for my ignorance. I think she forgives me. The second one out was a big buck, then a tiny doe. Triplets. How would she have nursed them all, she is skinny as a rail as it is. They are 3 months old now, I have wethered the buck. They are so cute, they eat everything in sight. My plants and all, we are in the process of secureing a eating area that doesn't include my hard work. Have fun and thank you for posting an experience so like mind. Karole

-- Karole Schoepf (Biz3boymom@aol.com), May 03, 2000.

I wanted to thank you for these postings, because I thought to buy OB shoulder-high gloves at the supply store. I'll keep them in the barn for just this thing! The pack of a dozen ? was two bucks. Thanks again --

-- Rachel (rldk@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

I don't wear gloves with my own girls. I do when delivering at barns I don't know the folks or their stock. I just can't feel things as well! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), May 05, 2000.

Helena, I have a daughter out in Silver City, New Mexico. She delivers babies (human babies, not animals). A couple weeks ago, she called and said that she had just finished a really hard shift in which she had lost a little girl that did not live through the birth. She's pretty shaken when this happens. She said, "you have to just cry it out and continue on". Hope this helps just a little. Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), May 06, 2000.

Helena, You should give yourself a pat on the back. You need to realize you saved two kids and your adult doe by your quick action. It is very sad to lose a baby goat, but, that is part of farm life. Whenever I have to go in and untangle kids(what an adventure that is)I always give the doe a series of antibiotics. I don't wear gloves for two reasons#1 I can't feel their legs and bodies as well #2 I am allergic to latex. So congrats on the two healthy kids and much sympathy for the one that did not make it. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), May 07, 2000.