After Kidding: The First 24-48 Hours After

By Deb Haines

Keep an eye on the kid(s) for the first 24-48 hours to make sure they are eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping as they should.

First meconium poop will be thick, black, and very, very sticky. Most kids will transition from the black sticky poop, to thick, yellow/mustardy sticky poop that lasts for several days to weeks

Unless you see an obvious issue the first 24 hours, let mom and kids bond, but do complete a thorough physical exam in the first few days of life to check for cleft palate or any other birth defects that may be present.

Monitoring Mama Goat
Watch for passing of the placenta, can be quickly or up to 24-48 hours after kidding. After the passing of placenta watch for the character and length of lochia (vaginal discharge) in the dam is good: Typically lasts 2-4 weeks after birth Amounts vary per doe and may appear to come and go, should not have an odor, nor appear to be fresh blood in large amounts. Monitor mom to make sure that she eats, drinks, pees, and poops as normal, too. If she had an issue with pregnancy toxemia/ketosis prior to delivery, she is still at an increased risk for the first couple of weeks after delivery

Make sure that each side of the mammary gland is actually producing milk, and that milk will come out. Monitor for signs of mastitis, and signs that the kids are only nursing one side and not the other

Within the first few days after delivery, make sure to check lower inner eyelid color for signs of anemia, and consider running a fecal, especially if she has loose stools

Remember that hormones can cause loose stools, as can eating placentas, so loose stools right after delivery do not always mean that internal parasites are the cause.

The first few days especially, the newborn kid(s) and their dam should be kept separated from the main herd, in a small enclosure with appropriate housing:

To allow appropriate bonding between them.
To allow the kids to gain strength and mobility.
To allow the kids to begin to thermoregulate=maintain their own body temperature at a more consistent level), with appropriate and safe heating or cooling measures available in their enclosure.

Depending upon how everyone is doing, after the first few days, mom and kids can be introduced to other moms and their kids. Introduction to dry does and wethers should wait until the kids are older Introduction to bucks should wait until they are even older.