Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted here. Been busy, but missing the site and all you wonderful people. :)
I had a FF doe kid during the night. It was a long night, since she gave birth on the coldest night we've had in a while. Not sure how cold it was, but the predicted low was -16F.
Any way, after she gave birth to the twins, she started to shiver. She also didn't want hardly any water or food. It really scared me, so I sort of threw the medicine chest at her, I guess. I gave her a calcium drench, then after about a half hour, I gave her another as well as some B12 paste. In all, with dealing with her and trying to get those kids dry and warm in such cold, I was in the barn for about 3 hours. I finally had to leave her still shivering slightly, and without the afterbirth completely expelled, though she had expelled a large section that broke off, and had about 10 inches hanging out when I left. I was really nervous about leaving her that way, and it's the first time I've ever left a doe without all the placenta being expelled, but I was so cold and tired, I just had to rest a while, and I felt I'd done all I could with the knowledge and tools available to me. I went back out to the barn after 2.5 hours of getting warm and napping, and all was well. No shivering, no afterbirth hanging out, and no cold babies. Doe had some blood around her mouth, so I'm assuming the afterbirth all came out and she ate it. Sure hope so!
After I told my husband about the night, he reminded me that women shiver after giving birth, and asked me if maybe it was normal. So, to make a short question really long (lol, I'm tired), What do you all think? Hypocalcemia, or after birth adrenaline? Do does sometimes shiver after giving birth and still are fine? I don't remember it happening before...
Oh, and the happy news, the two doelings :) are doing well, 3# 6 oz and 2# 12 oz around 6 hours after birth.
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I have really felt for you this year, because I think you had our normal weather. Here, it's been much worse than usual too.
Thanks for the tip about the hair dryer. I'm glad it's not unusual for them to be afraid, and it normally works out fine. And you're right, things are so much less "hot" when you're working in a barn that's maybe 10 degrees. Even the heating pad on hi hardly seemed to be working.
Okay, I'm off to post a new question. ;)
In our first 11 years out here, we had two kiddings that were in below-zero temperatures. And this year -- I have no idea how many we had! We've had 20-something days that were below zero. It's been unbelievable. I feel for you. I am so glad that it is finally warming up here. It's in the 20s here today, which is wonderful compared to what we have had for the last three months. We've even had a few days in the 40s and 50s, so most of the snow is melted now. As much as I hate the muddy mess, I'm glad winter is mostly behind us.
Most of my does freak out when I first turn on the blow dryer, but they usually calm down fairly quickly and start to ignore it. In all those below-zero temperatures, the babies were trying to suck on the front of it where the hot air was coming out! It scared me at first because I thought they'd burn themselves, but of course it doesn't get that hot when it's below zero!
Thanks a lot, Deborah. I just really can't tell you enough how much the things you say stick with me when I need them. I did get them dry, but it took a long time. Had them on a heating pad, and used a hair dryer, but the doe hated the hair dryer, and really cried for her kids while that was going on. I had to stop and let her have some reassurance that all was well a few times, and give her a chance to bond with them. Then after a minute, they'd be shivering again and I could tell they were still damp, so I'd go again with the hair dryer. Long night.
Thanks for the sweatshirt tip! I'll have to file that one away, and be ready with one next time this happens.
Happens here every time a doe kids when the temperature is below zero, so it's a "normal" response to an abnormal situation, I suppose. The does do seem to really want something sweet like NutriDrench of molasses. Since most calcium drenches have a high percentage of sugar, she probably liked that. I do also cover the doe with a dry towel to help them stay warm until the shivering stops. One time I cut the arms off one of my sweatshirts and put it on the doe. Hope you got the toes, tail, and ears all dry on those babies. Frostbite is your worst enemy in those temps.