Kidding Kits

It is called a bulb syringe, sweety, and the list can get super long depending on how prepared someone wants to be for about any kind of emergency, so you want to really study what different things are used for and how rare or serious those things are. Some things that may happen are very rare so if someone only has one or two does they may not want to worry about those things needed for that problem.

What you want will also be effected by how likely you are to go to a vet for help. If someone is a long way away from a vet or has a lot of experience doing different things they will have a lot of things to work with that other people will not need if they know that they are more likely to just go to the vet with a problem.

So just start putting your kit together slowly based on what is needed at most births and what might make things easier for you to care for mom and baby. You have a good start on a list there.

The first thing I can think of you don't have you may need are scissors. Cheap ones are fine. You can use a dollar pair of kids school scissors. You may need them for your dental floss ( I have used regular thread, embroidery thread and a number of things to tie cords) and possibly the cords themselves. I like to make sure they are not left more than an inch or so long to keep moms from wanting to mess with them. I also purchased some little clamps made for the cords and then you don't have to tie them. They look just like the ones used on people babies, but tiny and I think they were 2 or 3 dollars for like 10 of them. Got them from Caprine Supply or maybe Jeffers.

Fiasco Farms has an extensive list on their site for kidding kits, it is listed as a birthing kit.

Most people keep a weak kid syringe and a nipple or a couple different types. I personally always make sure to at least have a human baby bottle. They make several great nipples for goats, lambs etc. but I see nothing wrong with using regular baby bottles. I have raised numerous kids puppies etc.with them.

You may want a colostrum substitute just case, since that is so very important and some type of milk replacer. (If nothing else a can of goat milk from the grocery store, that you will find with baby formula or with evaporated and condensed milk, usually in the baking section. (I keep a can of that goat milk at all times-great for pups, kits, squirrels, coons what can I say goat milk is best and I feed it to all orphaned animals.

I always want a small flashlight even if you have a barn with lights etc. sometimes you want to see right behind the doe or something and your direct light might not be angled for a good view. It is just much easier to have one you can actually point were you need it and I prefer one that is small enough and light weight enough that I can hold it in my mouth if I need to use both hands. Some people might even prefer a head light but I can never seem to get them to be right were I need them. Just like to use my mouth to hold it with.

Emergency phone numbers

Surgical scrub or at least antibacterial soap and a lubricant, if not ky jelly or similar at least vaseline.

As I said the list could go on forever. BUT My NUMBER ONE Birthing Item No Matter What KIND OF ANIMAL OR What Time of Year IS A HEATING PAD. Even in the dead of summer where I live in the south, sometimes they are needed. I have been using one this month (AUGUST) for some puppies.

ANY VET WILL TELL YOU THAT BODY HEAT IS IN THE TOP 3 of most IMPORTANT life saving things right up there with hydration. Almost every newborn of any species at my house has access to a heating pad on at least low if it is hot weather. They should never be put on one without room to get off (like in a box with the whole floor covered with heat NO NO they must have floor space to get away from the heat) and even very sick animals are drawn to the heat if they need it and will move away from it if they do not need it. Always read th box good before purchasing. MOST of them are made with an auto shut off after 2 hours and I lost a bunch of newborn puppies years ago because of that. If they are 3 or 4 ounce pups with no mom and ona heating pad that shuts off during the night you wake up to them dead. I had used them for years and all of a sudden I found out the hard way that NOW most of them have this feature. READ THE BOX.

Check out that fiasco farm site sweety. It is a wonderful resource.

Replies

Payton Larson August 27, 2012 at 9:26pm

Thanks Glenna and Margaret! I forgot the name of the bulb syringe when I was typing this up. We have a hairdryer in our house so if I need to use one I have one. ( I HATE blow drying my hair, I like the wind drying it, except in winter then I shower at nights) We also have a heating pad in our house and as far as I know it never shuts off, I have used it when my cat was close to dieing twice. I still have a long time to get all these things before Irena has kids. ( She will be bred in Nov or Dec)

Thanks guys!

Payton
Margaret Langley August 27, 2012 at 2:49am

It is called a bulb syringe, sweety, and the list can get super long depending on how prepared someone wants to be for about any kind of emergency, so you want to really study what different things are used for and how rare or serious those things are. Some things that may happen are very rare so if someone only has one or two does they may not want to worry about those things needed for that problem.

What you want will also be effected by how likely you are to go to a vet for help. If someone is a long way away from a vet or has a lot of experience doing different things they will have a lot of things to work with that other people will not need if they know that they are more likely to just go to the vet with a problem.

So just start putting your kit together slowly based on what is needed at most births and what might make things easier for you to care for mom and baby. You have a good start on a list there.

The first thing I can think of you don't have you may need are scissors. Cheap ones are fine. You can use a dollar pair of kids school scissors. You may need them for your dental floss ( I have used regular thread, embroidery thread and a number of things to tie cords) and possibly the cords themselves. I like to make sure they are not left more than an inch or so long to keep moms from wanting to mess with them. I also purchased some little clamps made for the cords and then you don't have to tie them. They look just like the ones used on people babies, but tiny and I think they were 2 or 3 dollars for like 10 of them. Got them from Caprine Supply or maybe Jeffers.

Fiasco Farms has an extensive list on their site for kidding kits, it is listed as a birthing kit.

Most people keep a weak kid syringe and a nipple or a couple different types. I personally always make sure to at least have a human baby bottle. They make several great nipples for goats, lambs etc. but I see nothing wrong with using regular baby bottles. I have raised numerous kids puppies etc.with them.

You may want a colostrum substitute just case, since that is so very important and some type of milk replacer. (If nothing else a can of goat milk from the grocery store, that you will find with baby formula or with evaporated and condensed milk, usually in the baking section. (I keep a can of that goat milk at all times-great for pups, kits, squirrels, coons what can I say goat milk is best and I feed it to all orphaned animals.

I always want a small flashlight even if you have a barn with lights etc. sometimes you want to see right behind the doe or something and your direct light might not be angled for a good view. It is just much easier to have one you can actually point were you need it and I prefer one that is small enough and light weight enough that I can hold it in my mouth if I need to use both hands. Some people might even prefer a head light but I can never seem to get them to be right were I need them. Just like to use my mouth to hold it with.

Emergency phone numbers

Surgical scrub or at least antibacterial soap and a lubricant, if not ky jelly or similar at least vaseline.

As I said the list could go on forever. BUT My NUMBER ONE Birthing Item No Matter What KIND OF ANIMAL OR What Time of Year IS A HEATING PAD. Even in the dead of summer where I live in the south, sometimes they are needed. I have been using one this month (AUGUST) for some puppies.

ANY VET WILL TELL YOU THAT BODY HEAT IS IN THE TOP 3 of most IMPORTANT life saving things right up there with hydration. Almost every newborn of any species at my house has access to a heating pad on at least low if it is hot weather. They should never be put on one without room to get off (like in a box with the whole floor covered with heat NO NO they must have floor space to get away from the heat) and even very sick animals are drawn to the heat if they need it and will move away from it if they do not need it. Always read th box good before purchasing. MOST of them are made with an auto shut off after 2 hours and I lost a bunch of newborn puppies years ago because of that. If they are 3 or 4 ounce pups with no mom and ona heating pad that shuts off during the night you wake up to them dead. I had used them for years and all of a sudden I found out the hard way that NOW most of them have this feature. READ THE BOX.

Check out that fiasco farm site sweety. It is a wonderful resource.
Glenna Rose August 27, 2012 at 1:05am

I had a hair dryer in my "kit" as well. If you have to use it (in the case of multiple births and mom getting behind), you would want it only on warm and low, never hot or high. It seems logical that this time of year that towels would be enough as it is not cold though keep in mind that I am a true beginner at this. I don't remember what else I had that you didn't mention here. I made mine from the list I saw here (or in a book).

The good part is I had to use nothing because mom did such a excellent job. My part was to just stay out of the way and enjoy the miracle unfolding in front of me.

This reply was deleted.