Footloose Farms

Our new buckling.

Well, the last time we went to Idaho (2 weekends ago), we picked up a buckling that I had purchased through from a well known breeder.  When he got out of his crate to get into ours (we'd met half way), he was bloated and began scouring very badly.  The owner said it was due to the daughter giving him way too much milk that morning.  Since his tail was clean and his crate was totally clean, I felt she was telling the truth.  Well, we've dealt with scours every since...

We have two adult does, three of this years doelings, an adult buck, a wether (this years) and this new buckling.  Our goal is only to produce the milk that we need for ourselves and mabe raise a couple calves and pigs every year.  Plus, have as closed a herd as we can (hence the two bucks). 

After battling the poor buck's diarrhea for 4 days, I finally did a fecal on him.  Sure enough, he was loaded with coccidia and worms.  I was told by some goat friends on the internet to treat the coccidia first, then deal with the worms.  I administered (as recommended) 2 cc's Vit. B Complex (for the thiamine), 1 cc C&D Antitoxin, and .8 cc SulphaDiMethoxin per day.  After one week, we'd progressed from water shooting diarrhea to splatty cow patty like.  Plus, I'd read up on herbs to treat the stomach and came up with this recipe (note- this is my own recipe and I'm still using it for the first time....  So if you choose to try it, I have no idea how it will work for you). :

For 2 quarts water (enough to mix the Re-Sorb electolites), mix;

1 small handfull (apx. 1/4 cup loosely piled fresh or 1/8 cup dried) dill leaves.

1 small handful (apx 1/4 cup fresh) peppermint

1/8 Cup dried basil or cinnamon basil

1 heaping tsp powdered ginger

1 heaping tsp powdered cinnamon

1/2 - 1 tsp ground cloves

1/4 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder

I'd also love to add some slippery elm but don't have any next time....

Bring water to near boil and turn off heat and let seep for 20 minutes.  Drain through a cheese cloth or like and cool.  Put tea in 1/2 gallon or 1 gallon jar and add Re-Sorb, mix well.  Place in fridge. 

Now, I'm feeding a 3 month old buckling (I've taken totally off of milk) one 20 oz bottle of this mix morning and night and at noon, he gets 10 oz. 

He has access to fresh, clean water at all times, along with a good quality loose mineral lix, sodiumbicarbonate, and good quality hay.

So, after one week, I'm feeling like I'm fighting a never ending battle until I can get rid of his worms.  So I called my vet and we talked everything over.  This is what he recommended and I'm doing now:

Keep Vit. B and C&D Antitoxin same dosage (by the way, only give the Antitoxin until you've reached 10ml.

But, we upped the DiMethox to 2.75 cc's for 5 days max.  I'll do a fecal today (day 3 after upping dosage) and see where we sit. And I gave him 3 ml (or cc's) Safeguard wormer. 

I'm also giving his DiMethox in the AM and I'm giving him (started with) 30cc's, now I'm up to 60cc's yogurt at PM, just before we go to bed.  I'll keep it at 60cc's until he's good again.

I noticed yesterday evening that his stool still had the soft cow patty look but there were little soft pebbles in it (yea!!!!).  Last night, he actually pooped a semi normal (still soft and in one clump, but there were many pebbles to the clump).  Today he's had both the cow patty with and without pebbles. 

Here's a picture of our new buckling after we got him home:

He has a lot of spots in his pedigree, plus lots of milk.  If we can get him through this, he should be a really nice buck for us.

Untitled Comment

{ 06:51 , Friday, September 19, 2008 } { Posted by Simplelife }

I have been offline for awhile and have just recently came back. Your little buck is So cute!!!! Have a good day!