Kidding season is the most highly-anticipated time of year for us. We love being with our does when they have their babies, and seeing new life enter the world. There’s nothing like it. An easy, textbook-perfect birth fills our hearts with joy.
But…. things don’t always go by the book… And you have to be prepared to help the doe or kid (or both) just in case things go south. Even if everything goes exactly the way it should, you’ll still need a few things like towels and Betadine. Having the right supplies on hand before the due date will bring peace of mind and could be the difference between saving a life or losing one.
If money is tight, and you know when your doe is due, you might want to pick up these items one or two at a time in the weeks leading up to the due date. These are not expensive items, in general, and definitely less expensive than the loss of a kid (or multiple kids) and/or the doe.
Here’s my must-have list of kidding supplies:
- Clean towels As kidding approaches, I go to my local thrift store and buy an armload of used towels. I wash them up and have cheap, soft, snuggly towels to clean newborns with. The price is low enough that I often throw them away after use if they have a whole lot of birth goo on them, but the towels are nice enough to be washed and then used as bedding in case I have a bottle baby in the house. You can also use paper towels but we find we use so many of them that it’s cheaper to just buy the thrift store towels.
- Iodine Newborn kids need to have their umbilical cords dipped in iodine to prevent infection and “naval ill.”
- Surgical gloves If you need to reach into the doe to reposition a kid, you’ll want gloves. Reminder – have your fingernails short and smooth, just in case.
- Lube Use KY Jelly or something similar on your gloves if you have to reach into the doe.
- Bulb syringe It’s nice to have a “snot sucker” handy to help clear nasal passages. Use one made for a human baby.
- Dental Floss Umbilical cords usually break off (or the moms break them off) with three or four inches hanging, but sometimes the cord is too short or it is too long and you need to cut it to that three-ish inch length. Tie the cord off about an inch from the body with the dental floss and dip it in the Betadine.
- Scissors If you need to trim the umbilical cord, use sterilized scissors for that job.
- Tums Tums are a good calcium source for the doe as she labors.
- Flashlights or headlamps WITH GOOD BATTERIES Labor often happens in the middle of the night, and you’ll want to be able to see what you’re doing. Having the best flashlight in the world doesn’t help you if you don’t have fresh batteries in it, so check them.
- Rectal thermometer Having a temperature on a newborn or mom is critically important in fast treatment should something go awry. Your veterinarian is going to want you to tell him or her what the goat’s temperature is, so have that information readily available. Treatment can depend on knowing the body temperature. If you buy a digital thermometer CHECK ITS BATTERIES BEFORE YOU NEED TO USE IT. Don’t be caught off guard. If you don’t think you’ll keep up with the battery checks, buy an old-school thermometer and learn how to use it in calm circumstances before you need it.
- Molasses or Karo Syrup The doe will appreciate a big drink of warm molasses water after she delivers. It gives her energy and is comforting to her.
- Hair Dryer or Heating Pad If the kid is cold you can use the hair dryer set on low to warm the baby. You can also use towels warmed up in the clothes dryer. Hot water bottles can help, too.
- Phone number for your livestock veterinarian Do not wait until you have an emergency to find the nearest livestock veterinarian. The same vet who sees your cat might not be able to treat your goat, so do your research. And do your research before you need it.
- Phone number for an experienced goat-owning friend If you need some non-emergency advice, having someone to call can be very comforting. And besides, no one understands (and appreciates!) getting a “My goat just had babies!” announcement like someone who’s been there before.