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One of my goats just gave birth now.

Sometimes, first-time goat mothers don’t immediately care for their newborns. I recently had a doe that refused to clean her kid after birth. I had to step in, clean the baby myself, and even try holding the mother so the kid could nurse. Unfortunately, she still resisted.

Thankfully, after some time, she began to accept her role and allowed the kid to feed naturally.

 Important Tip: Newborn kids must drink colostrum within the first 2–4 hours of life. Without it, they can easily die because they cannot regulate their body temperature and they miss out on vital antibodies needed for survival.

If a mother refuses to nurse, farmers should intervene quickly by helping the kid suckle or by bottle-feeding colostrum.

What to Do if a Goat Refuses Her Kid
1. Clean the Kid: Wipe off mucus and fluids if the mother refuses to lick it.

2. Encourage Nursing: Gently hold the mother still so the kid can find the teat.

3. Milk the Doe: If she still refuses, hand-milk some colostrum.

4. Bottle or Tube Feed: Use a bottle or stomach tube to feed the kid colostrum within the first 2–4 hours.

5. Monitor Bonding: Keep an eye on the mother and kid. Many first-timers eventually accept their kids after a few hours.

6. Stay Prepared: Always have frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer available in case of rejection.

Thanks for sharing this critical advice. The point about colostrum within the first few hours is so vital. Just learning that.

Fantastic information. Tube feeding can be intimidating for new farmers, but it's an absolutely essential skill to learn for situations like this.

Congratulations on the new kid! Your tip about having frozen colostrum on hand is a pro move. Preparation is everything in these situations.

Bravo! You handled that perfectly. Cleaning the kid yourself is the first and most important step to stimulate it and get it breathing right. The same thing with human babies.

Thank you for sharing your experience and these crucial tips. It's this kind of practical knowledge that makes forums like this so valuable

Congrats bro. It's so true about first-time moms. They often just don't know what to do! Patience and intervention are key, just like you did.

You are a great goat midwife! Seriously, your quick thinking made all the difference. Not everyone would know to act that fast.

Great step-by-step guide. That first 4-hour window is absolutely critical. Stressful, but so rewarding when you get that kid to nurse. The colostrum timeline cannot be overstated.

This is why I love the farming community—sharing real-world experiences like this helps us all become better animal caretakers. Thank you!

Congrats on the successful birth! How is the little one doing now?

(09-15-2025, 11:31 PM)Derik Wrote: [ -> ]Congrats on the successful birth! How is the little one doing now?

Thanks. They're fine