Goats ate chicken feed

[HuskerHens18]

I am having a horrible day!! My three Nigerian Dwarf goats (1 is pregnant!!) got into the chicken house and knocked over the feeder resulting in 50lbs of feed spilled on the floor. The goats had free range to it for about 20 minutes before I discovered it.

It was medicated chick starter grower.

I'm currently reading on several different websites, I just need as much advice and info as possible. The vet is closed today, but I'm trying his emergency line. What do I do??

I'm freaking out because somebody had something similar happen and it killed ALL her goats!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Are they vaccinated for over eaters? I believe it's recommended to give them some baking soda and some oil to move stuff through. I always used cooking oil, like a 1/4-1/2 cup in a syringe given by mouth. Baking soda we always have free choice, but if you see any bloating mixing it with water and giving it by mouth can help.

@cassie will hopefully add her good advice.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Activated charcoal helps for absorbing toxins. Always keep it on hand after the azalea poisoning and it helped her

 

[HuskerHens18]

Are they vaccinated for over eaters? I believe it's recommended to give them some baking soda and some oil to move stuff through. I always used cooking oil, like a 1/4-1/2 cup in a syringe given by mouth. Baking soda we always have free choice, but if you see any bloating mixing it with water and giving it by mouth can help.

@cassie will hopefully add her good advice.

Activated charcoal helps for absorbing toxins. Always keep it on hand after the azalea poisoning and it helped her

I just got off the phone, the vet told me to hold off anything until I for surely see any bloat. I have baking soda out and ready just in case. He said he'd only be concerned if they ate more than 10lbs and he doesn't think they did in that short of time.
I might go ahead and just give them some tonight just to be safe.

Thank you both, I'm so glad you guys know what to do. I've had goats for about 7-8 years, but they've always been in perfect health until this year, I've had a couple issues.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good that you have access to a good vet, many don't know goats. Hopefully everything goes okay. Goats are really good at making trouble, and making you crazy with worry.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Good that you have access to a good vet, many don't know goats. Hopefully everything goes okay. Goats are really good at making trouble, and making you crazy with worry.

Thankfully I purchased two goats from him directly so I know he's experienced with them like he is with chickens.
My dad always hated my goats, they chewed on his stuff lol.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Hoping everything goes well. Wow.. I’ve had goats for Only 4 yrs now and they’ve tried to get into everything but the plants gotem. Go figure. I’m glad you found a vet. So hard to find. Hope all goes well. Keep us posted!!

 

[cassie]

It is probably too late now, but this is for future reference. When the goats get into the grain, WITHOLD ALL WATER for maybe 12 hours and fill them up on dry hay. The excess grain ferments in the rumen and produces lactic acid. The acid kills the gut bacteria, and sometimes the goat. Without water, the deadly reaction cannot occur. The hay will help dilute it the excess grain. You probably have a different situation. Once they have tanked up on water, there is no point restricting it. Administration of anti acids will help a lot. Also, give them a shot of penicillin. Penicillin is effective against the clostridium perfingens bacteria that causes enterotoxemia. See if you can get some clostridium perfingens antitoxin from the feed store or somewhere and give it ASAP. I do not give oil to my goats for bloat. I use Gas X. It is fast, safe, and very effective. It is too easy to get oil in the lungs of a struggling goat and in that case while you may have cured the bloat, you will have killed the goat. At this point your best bet is some anti acids and some penicillin. Once when my goats got into the grain because some idiot left the gate open and I did not find them for some time the vet gave me a pink powder called I think Rumalax that you mix with water. It is an anti acid and a laxative. I made a stomach tube out of a piece of plastic tubing and a funnel, but you can use a turkey baster. I just now thought of this. Get some pepto bismol and use that. The rumalax I mentioned is essentially powdered pepto bismol, and the pepto bismol is a lot easier to get your hands on. Good luck. Unfortunately, I've been there, done that.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I am having a horrible day!! My three Nigerian Dwarf goats (1 is pregnant!!) got into the chicken house and knocked over the feeder resulting in 50lbs of feed spilled on the floor. The goats had free range to it for about 20 minutes before I discovered it.

It was medicated chick starter grower.

I'm currently reading on several different websites, I just need as much advice and info as possible. The vet is closed today, but I'm trying his emergency line. What do I do??

I'm freaking out because somebody had something similar happen and it killed ALL her goats!

no worries at all. check the label for amprolium.
Medicated chick starter with amprolium is a coccidiostat. Which means it is a thiamine inhibitor only.
It takes several days for it to deplete all thiamine in a goat.
I was educated this fact by my vet whom cares for my big herd.
IF you feel like it will give you peace of mind-

This is Thaimine Mononitrate. Take one 100 mg tablet, crush it up real good into powder. Add water and oral drench your goat(s).
You can always find me here if you need help. On find me at BackYardHerds.com
I care for Nigerians as well.

 

[cassie]

no worries at all. check the label for amprolium.
Medicated chick starter with amprolium is a coccidiostat. Which means it is a thiamine inhibitor only.
It takes several days for it to deplete all thiamine in a goat.
I was educated this fact by my vet whom cares for my big herd.
IF you feel like it will give you peace of mind-
View attachment 1409525
This is Thaimine Mononitrate. Take one 100 mg tablet, crush it up real good into powder. Add water and oral drench your goat(s).
You can always find me here if you need help. On find me at BackYardHerds.com
I care for Nigerians as well.

Just a comment. The medication in the chicken feed shouldn't cause any problems. The chicken feed itself, depending how much they ate of it, can make them very sick or even kill them. The real concern is how much of it they consumed.