by Jamie Satterwaite | Feb 19, 2022 | Goats, Printables
Free Goat Kidding Tracker Printable!
With the 2022 goat kidding season in full swing, I needed something that was quick and easy to write down information as each goat kid. I already have a goat health printable book that is available for free for download. It has a ton of pages to keep track of each goat’s health and wellness, but I needed something that was easy to keep tucked away in my kidding kit.
This kidding tracker printable is just that… A quick glance sheet to help keep you a little more organized during the crazy kidding season! It has just the basics, the dam’s name, sex of the goat, tattoo assignment, and a place to write down the colors/marking of each kid.
Goat Kidding Tracker Printable!Want to be the first to see our first kids on the farm? Check out our YouTube channel!
by Jamie Satterwaite | Mar 15, 2021 | Goats
Coccidia Prevention For Baby Goats
One of the biggest risks a young goat can face is coccidia. It can hit fast and is spread through feces, so it can spread fast! One thing to note, all goats, and most livestock carry Coccidia in their intestines. Most older animals can keep the parasite load down to a manageable amount without getting sick. Younger goats though can get an overload of the parasite. This can cause very stinky, runny brown/green scoures. It can cause young goats to become very dehydrated and die. Some goat owners choose to only treat when symptoms occur, but I have found a good prevention for baby goats to be the best option.
I am NOT A VETERNARIAN. The information in this article is just that, information. Please seek medical advice or attention from your veterinarian in the case of a sick or down goat.
There are many different types of treatments and preventative for coccidia available over the counter. Some can be found at your local feed store, while some may have to be ordered online. There are also treatments that I will mention that will require a prescription from a veterinarian as well.
Albon
Albon is one of those medications that are great for treating Coccidia, my veterinarian prescribed it for my dogs when they were puppies, but it does require a prescription to get. It is given Orally and needs to be given for 5 days, for both treatment and preventative.
Corid
Corid can be found at pretty much every feed store. It comes in both a liquid form and a powdered form. It is my least favorite option. If you can avoid it, I recommend that you do because it can be very hard on a goat, especially a sick one. If this is your only option, be sure to follow up the 5-day treatment with a Thiamine or Vitamin B injection.
SulfaMed
SlufaMed can be harder to find in stores but can be easily ordered online. It is given orally for 5 days for both a preventative and treatment.
Baycox
Baycox is the medication that I prefer to use on all of my baby goats for Coccidia treatments and prevention. It is more expensive than most of the other options, but it only requires 1 dose. It kills both stages of the Coccidia parasite so you do not have to follow up for any additional doses. I give my goats one dose per month as a preventative.
I order Zuricox, which is a generic version of Baycox and is a little bit cheaper.
Want to learn more about Coccidia Prevention for Baby Goats? Check out the video below where I explain what I use and why.
Want to keep track of your herd’s health? Check out our Free Herd Health Printables!
Coccidia Prevention For Baby Goats Chart
by Jamie Satterwaite | Feb 27, 2021 | Goats
What to Know Before You Get a Bottle Baby Goat
Bottle Baby Goats are adorable and it can be very tempting to get one. They are small, they jump around, and are overall just fun to have around. But, if you have never had a bottle baby goat, they can be a little overwhelming. While they are cute, a lot of things can go wrong with having them, from the mess to their health, and everything in between. So, here are a few of my top things to know before you get a bottle baby goat!
BEFORE you Bring Them Home
A lot of breeders sell their new kids as bottle babies for a number of reasons. Maybe they breed for milk production and have no need for the kids after they are born. Or, they could have had a large litter and the mom can not handle multiples. Whatever the reason they are selling them for, ALWAYS ask to see the kid nurse from the bottle first. When a kid starts off nursing from mom, it could be tough to get them to take a bottle, so always be sure to verify that they can take a bottle and are willing to take one. If you have never had a bottle baby goat, be sure to check out my Bottle Feeding Goats Basic post.
If they are registered, or able to be registered, make sure that they have had their identification tattooed or their ear tags placed. Also, be sure to look over all of the registration paperwork to ensure all the important information is filled out correctly.
You will also want to verify if they have had any vaccinations, like CD&T, and annotate the date they were given in case you have to give them a booster.
They Are Time Consuming and Can Be Expensive
Depending on the age you get your bottle baby, they can require at least 5 feedings a day. As they get older, the feeding frequency will decrease, but the amount they eat will, of course, increase. If you have a doe in milk, it may not cost you anything but time to milk her. But, if you do not have goat milk on hand, store-bought milk can get pricey. For 3 bottle babies that are a week old, I can go through a gallon of milk in 24 hours easily. Our Bottle Feeding Goats Basic post has a free feeding schedule printable if you need that.
They are Trouble Makers
Depending on the time of year, and how old your bottle baby goat is, they may have to spend some time inside. If so, I would recommend getting something like a large dog kennel or pack and play for them to sleep in. While it is cute to watch them run and jump around, it is not necessarily safe, or clean. Our little Valkyrie was only 7 days old and could already jump onto the kitchen chairs and onto the table. Pair that with the fact that they have no control over bowel movements, and it is a recipe for yuck!
Because they are so young, they love to explore and chew on things. Be sure to hide away any electrical chords that they could chew on and any house plants that could cause them to get sick. Essentially you will want to baby proof your home like you are bringing home a human baby.
If they are older and the weather is warm, they can stay outdoors. But again, you will want to baby-proof the area they will be staying in. Baby goats, especially Nigerian Dwarfs are small, and they can squeeze out of the smallest holes. So be sure to walk the area and patch any places they could escape through.
Want more tips and tricks to raising goats? Check out our Youtube Channel!
by Jamie Satterwaite | Feb 17, 2021 | Goats, Printables
Out of all of the animals I have raised, goats have to be my favorite. I have raised Nigerian Dwarf goats for 12 years, and in my opinion, are the best. As I rebuild my herd from moving, I am wanting to make sure I do it right. I have been very picky about the goats that I get, and I have become very diligent on keep track of everything. If you have ever raised goats, you will know they can be susceptible to a lot of parasites and diseases. If you are new to goats, do worry, it does get easier figuring everything out. In order to keep track of everything I made a few free goat health printables, and of course, I am sharing them with you!
There are three printables in this file, each one designed to help you keep track of medications, kidding, and all basic information about each of your goats.
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by Jamie Satterwaite | Feb 8, 2021 | Goats
I have been lucky enough that for the past 20 years I have lived in the south, where winters are pretty mild. I know not everyone has that luxury, I grew up in Michigan so I do know what winter cold feels like. When my first winter hit that we had goats, 2 of them were pregnant (I had no clue!). And, of course, they decided to give birth in the middle of a rare snowstorm when we lived in North Carolina. I was panicked and had no clue what I was doing. Thankfully I have learned and only breed my goats when I know they will kid in warmer months.
We live in Arkansas where the winters are generally mild. This week it’s supposed to get a cold front and drop to just 3 degrees Fahrenheit! Which is crazy! So there are a few things that we need to do around the farm to get the goats ready for winter!
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by Jamie Satterwaite | Jan 22, 2021 | Goats
Raising baby goats is probably one of my favorite things about living on our farm. They are adorable, and I could sit and watch them hop and jump around all day. If you are new to goats though, you may find that a lot of breeders sell their goat kids as bottle babies. Or, if you are lucky enough to have a doe kid on your farm, sometimes things do not go as planned. The mother may reject or the kid, or become unable to nurse them. If this happens you may find yourself with a bottle baby unexpectedly.
If you have never raised bottle baby goats though, it can seem a little overwhelming. There are so many things I wish I knew before I got my first bottle babies though. Even though I have raised many of them, I still find myself learning new things. So, here are a few of the basic things to know before you get bottle baby goats.
What to Feed
When it comes to feeding bottle baby goats, fresh goat milk will always be the best choice. But, you may find yourself without access to goat milk. If this becomes the situation the best thing to feed your bottle baby is plain old whole milk from the grocery store. There are tons of formula recipes online for baby goats, but if you were to ask an experienced goat owner, they will tell you whole milk is perfectly fine.
They do sell powdered milk replacer at most farm supply stores, but in my opinion, I would stay away. I have heard horror stories of those replacers causing all kinds of different issues, plus they are expensive. Just stick with goat milk or whole cow’s milk.
How to Feed
If you keep a surplus of goat milk in the fridge or are supplementing with whole cow’s milk, there is one important thing you need to do. HEAT THE MILK! Never give cold milk to a bottle baby, you are just asking for a lot of issues if you do. You also never want to heat the milk up in the microwave, it kills all the good stuff in the milk that those bottle babies need.
When you heat up your milk, it is always best to heat it up on the stove. I like to keep a rack on the bottle of the pot to prevent the milk from scorching on the bottom. When you heat it up, the ideal temperature for a goat bottle is around 103 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choosing a bottle it is really a matter of preference. When I got the 3 bottle babies we have right now, they were already on a regular bottle baby. I do prefer a goat and sheep bottle though, it is just less messy and I find that the kids waste less when using them.
When to Feed
When it comes to how often and when to feed bottle baby goats varies. Larger breeds of goats may need more milk or feedings more often, but the chart below is a good point of reference.
When feeding your bottle babies, underfeeding is always better than overfeeding. We also prefer to bottle feed our goats for 4-5 months since it helps them grow better and they tend to be more healthy when bottle-fed for longer periods.
These are just the basics for feeding your new bottle baby goat, there is still sooo much more to know before you get your baby. Be sure to check back soon for more bottle baby goat info! Check out our YouTube Channel for more goat care info! Also, be sure to check out the DIY section to learn how to make your own goat milk soap!
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