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The answer to, “When can I start milking my doe?” is not as simple as listing the specific age of the kids. In this episode, we are discussing the complexities of sharing milk with baby goats and offering practical advice for goat owners who want to balance kid health with milk production.

Deborah draws on her experience as both a homesteader and a former Board Certified Lactation Consultant to share important tips on when to start milking, how to manage multiple kids, and how to ensure healthy growth for your goat kids.

Whether you’re dealing with a single kid or a set of quintuplets, understanding how milk production works and monitoring your kids’ growth is essential to avoid common problems like low milk supply and slow weight gain.

Key Takeaways

• Milk does with a single kid from day one to maintain a strong milk supply.
• Colostrum is vital in the first 24 hours—kids need 20% of their body weight in colostrum within this time to develop a healthy immune system.
• Weigh kids daily for the first two weeks to ensure they are gaining at least 4 ounces per day.
• Dam-raised kids can be just as friendly as bottle-fed kids with enough human interaction.

Related Resources

• Goats 365 Community: goats365.com
• Podcast episodes:
  • Colostrum for Baby Goats
  • Basics of Bottle Feeding Goat Kids

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/sharing-milk-with-baby-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

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No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

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Happy anniversary to us! FTLOG is five years old! As we enter our sixth year, you can continue to count on us to help you cut through the clutter of conflicting information out there so that you can be confident that your goats will be living their best lives!

You can expect to hear from more goat experts like veterinary professors and published scientists who are on the leading edge of goat research. You’ll also hear from goat owners who have turned their love of goats into a successful business. And this year, you’ll hear more stories about goats and the people who love them.

I’m Deborah Niemann, your host and former clueless city slicker who just wanted a couple of goats so I could make goat cheese. Before I knew what had happened, two goats turned into 20, and a simple desire to make cheese turned into a career in helping people raise their goats.

Learn more on our website, fortheloveofgoats.com

Thanks for listening!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.

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In this deeply personal and emotional episode, host Deborah Niemann shares the heartbreaking story of her goat, Coco, who experienced a uterine rupture and hemorrhage during a challenging kidding in 2013.

Deborah takes listeners on a journey through Coco's life, from her birth to her tragic passing after giving birth to quintuplets. This episode not only honors Coco’s memory but also provides valuable insights into the risks of uterine tears and hemorrhages in goats, how to recognize the signs, and what steps can be taken to prevent or address such emergencies.

Key Takeaways

• Uterine ruptures can occur during difficult births, especially when there is excessive pressure or improper handling during interventions.
• Goats are horizontal animals, so internal bleeding may not be visible externally. Instead, blood collects in the abdomen.
• Warning signs include mental absence, lethargy, pale eyelids (indicating anemia), and disinterest in kids or milking.

Lessons Learned from Coco’s Experience

1. Recognizing Symptoms:
   • If a goat seems mentally absent or unresponsive after kidding, check for anemia by examining their eyelids. Pale eyelids can indicate severe blood loss.
2. Importance of Veterinary Relationships:
   • Having an established relationship with a vet ensures quicker access to help during emergencies.
   • University veterinary hospitals can provide 24-hour care and specialized expertise if local vets are unavailable.
3. Risks of Certain Tools and Procedures:
   • Tools like kid pullers (wire nooses) can be effective but carry risks of causing uterine tears if not used carefully.
   • Procedures like fetotomies (cutting up a fetus for removal) are especially risky in small goats like Nigerians due to limited space in their uterus.
4. Postpartum Care:
   • Small uterine tears can heal naturally but may lead to infections.
   • Severe tears often require surgical intervention or result in fatal hemorrhaging.
5. Preventative Measures:
   • Avoid breeding smaller does with larger bucks to reduce the risk of oversized kids causing birthing complications.
   • Always ensure hands are clean, nails are trimmed short, and gloves are worn when assisting with kidding to minimize risks of tears or infections.

Resources Mentioned

1. Deborah’s book: Goats Giving Birth
2. Previous podcast episodes:
   • Blood Transfusion in Goats
   • Anemia in Goats

See full show notes here >> https://thriftyhomesteader.com/uterine-rupture-and-hemorrhage-in-goats/

To see the most recent episodes, visit ForTheLoveOfGoats.com

Want to support the content you love?

Head over to -- https://thrifty-homesteader.ck.page/products/love-goats-tip-jar

Thanks for listening!

No one ever said raising goats was easy, but it doesn't have to cost a fortune or drive you crazy! You just need the right information. Click here to learn more about our Goats 365 membership.