Baby goat care/Sickness
Care:
- Provide grass hay or alfalfa/grass mix and clean water at all times.
- Milk: warm or room temperature, microwave or stove-top is fine.
1-4 wks old: 8 oz. for 3 times a day.
4-8 wks old: 12 oz. twice a day; if you want. 8 oz. 3 times a day is also fine.
8-12 wks old: start reducing milk amounts by no more than 1 oz a day make sure they are on schedule for CD&T
-offer small handfuls of goat feed – I use Purina goat chow
General health:
- Goat minerals are a good idea – I use Manna Pro Goat Minerals
-for wethers, make sure grain and minerals have Calcium and Phosphorus balanced 2:1
- for does, calcium phosphorus 1:1 if eating alfalfa hay
- no sudden diet changes – introduce fresh greens slowly, don’t feed a lot of crackers
- too much grain, chicken feed, etc. can make a very sick goat
- goats will eat plastic, blankets, baling twine, etc. that will block their stomach
- shelter is necessary to protect against heat and rain, but it shouldn’t be too enclosed.
- Have a fecal done with a vet before deworming to see what kind of dewormer to use.
Sickness:
- Temperature over 104 (101-104 is normal range)
- Refusing to eat or take bottle
- abnormally not interested in their hay
- Diarrhea/soft stool – could be a sign of coccidia (treat with Baycox, Deccox, or Corid)
if you use Corid, you need to give thiamine.
could be a sign of enterotoxemia (treat with CD&T antitoxin)
or: too much grain (bloat) – treat with baking soda mixed with water
- lethargic, head down, tail down, depressed, standing in the corner
- snotty nose, cough, discharge from eyes – could be respiratory sickness – antibiotics or a foxtail in their eye
- straining to pee (especially males) – urinary calculi blockage – need to get to vet immediately!
- Circling, falling backwards, acting blind, anything neurologic needs immediate attention.
* If your baby goat acts sick, you should call a vet sooner than later. They can go quickly from certain sicknesses.
You can also call me if you’re not sure: 208-993-0703.
Behavior:
- Don’t let babies suck/bite your fingers or butt your hands. (I gently pinch ears or use water.)
- Use a spray bottle with water in the face if they act aggressive or try to butt you or rush the gate.
- Don’t lift babies over fences, as it may teach them to jump.
- Halters are much more effective for teaching goats to lead than collars.
- Goats are very smart and can learn their names and all kinds of tricks.
- how to make your own mineral feeder: http://www.swampyacresfarm.com/MineralFeeder.html Written by Christina Noall at noallsark.weebly.com
- Provide grass hay or alfalfa/grass mix and clean water at all times.
- Milk: warm or room temperature, microwave or stove-top is fine.
1-4 wks old: 8 oz. for 3 times a day.
4-8 wks old: 12 oz. twice a day; if you want. 8 oz. 3 times a day is also fine.
8-12 wks old: start reducing milk amounts by no more than 1 oz a day make sure they are on schedule for CD&T
-offer small handfuls of goat feed – I use Purina goat chow
General health:
- Goat minerals are a good idea – I use Manna Pro Goat Minerals
-for wethers, make sure grain and minerals have Calcium and Phosphorus balanced 2:1
- for does, calcium phosphorus 1:1 if eating alfalfa hay
- no sudden diet changes – introduce fresh greens slowly, don’t feed a lot of crackers
- too much grain, chicken feed, etc. can make a very sick goat
- goats will eat plastic, blankets, baling twine, etc. that will block their stomach
- shelter is necessary to protect against heat and rain, but it shouldn’t be too enclosed.
- Have a fecal done with a vet before deworming to see what kind of dewormer to use.
Sickness:
- Temperature over 104 (101-104 is normal range)
- Refusing to eat or take bottle
- abnormally not interested in their hay
- Diarrhea/soft stool – could be a sign of coccidia (treat with Baycox, Deccox, or Corid)
if you use Corid, you need to give thiamine.
could be a sign of enterotoxemia (treat with CD&T antitoxin)
or: too much grain (bloat) – treat with baking soda mixed with water
- lethargic, head down, tail down, depressed, standing in the corner
- snotty nose, cough, discharge from eyes – could be respiratory sickness – antibiotics or a foxtail in their eye
- straining to pee (especially males) – urinary calculi blockage – need to get to vet immediately!
- Circling, falling backwards, acting blind, anything neurologic needs immediate attention.
* If your baby goat acts sick, you should call a vet sooner than later. They can go quickly from certain sicknesses.
You can also call me if you’re not sure: 208-993-0703.
Behavior:
- Don’t let babies suck/bite your fingers or butt your hands. (I gently pinch ears or use water.)
- Use a spray bottle with water in the face if they act aggressive or try to butt you or rush the gate.
- Don’t lift babies over fences, as it may teach them to jump.
- Halters are much more effective for teaching goats to lead than collars.
- Goats are very smart and can learn their names and all kinds of tricks.
- how to make your own mineral feeder: http://www.swampyacresfarm.com/MineralFeeder.html Written by Christina Noall at noallsark.weebly.com