We get asked frequently about supplies for kidding. Here's what is in my "kidding bag" and then some other items I have on hand in the house in case I need them.
I use a bag like to this Husky one from Home Depot:
All the little things go in the side pockets. And towels and puppy pads go into the big pocket. I deliver into puppy pads to get the worst of the gunk off and then dry off with towels.
Contents:
Bulb suction for airway clearing (your first task when the kid comes out….hey you can even do it when just their head is out!)
Lube (J-Jelly…not powder) in case you need to go in
Hand sanitizer (also in case you need to “go in”)
Thermometer (for checking kid temperature)
Scissors (for trimming umbilical)
Alcohol wipes (to clean scissors before trimming)
Floss or hemostat clamps (I’ve had the occasional cord that wouldn’t stop bleeding in a timely fashion)
Iodine 7% (stronger than betadine) for dipping umbilicals. I actually have the spray now, but before I put little dixie cups in the bag and trimmed them down to dip.
Dixie cups to milk colostrum into if needed
Syringes (to drip feed a weaker kid colostrum if necessary)
Small baby bottle with premie nipple and tiny X cut through holes (I bottle feed my kids, and if I can get them to take a bottle right away it’ll make the mom-to-bottle conversion in 2 weeks SO much easier. But you don’t need to do this step if you are dam-raising. Just make sure they get on within an hour.)
Vitamin E/Selenium gel. Give this to does 30 days out. And give a dab to weak kids.
Trash bag (This is to collect all the gross puppy pads)
Things not in bag to have on hand
Molasses: Not in my bag. But I give mom’s about 1 cup of molasses in warm water post-kidding
Calcium gel: Not in my bag, but I have it on hand for milk fever.
Probios paste: I give after kidding.
Ivermectin: Worm within 24 hrs of kidding.
I always have them deliver in deep straw over top a layer of watered pine pellets (for absorbancy underneath). I switch over to shavings by about a week (or sooner if everyone is looking fabulous and it isn’t too cold). Because I really hate cleaning straw, and it’s SO non-absorbent.
Links to buy things:
Bulb suction - These blue ones work SO MUCH better than the weirdo plastic-y ones that you can get at Walmart or come with baby kits.
7% iodine - for dipping or spraying umbilicals
Selenium-Vitamin E gel - I like to get the smaller 30 ml tube for my kidding bag because the tip fits in baby mouths better. But I use the big tube for my whole herd (you won’t need that though, since you’ve only got 2!)
Calcium Gel - for milk fever. They hate the taste, but if you need it that doesn't really matter.
All the little things go in the side pockets. And towels and puppy pads go into the big pocket. I deliver into puppy pads to get the worst of the gunk off and then dry off with towels.
Contents:
Bulb suction for airway clearing (your first task when the kid comes out….hey you can even do it when just their head is out!)
Lube (J-Jelly…not powder) in case you need to go in
Hand sanitizer (also in case you need to “go in”)
Thermometer (for checking kid temperature)
Scissors (for trimming umbilical)
Alcohol wipes (to clean scissors before trimming)
Floss or hemostat clamps (I’ve had the occasional cord that wouldn’t stop bleeding in a timely fashion)
Iodine 7% (stronger than betadine) for dipping umbilicals. I actually have the spray now, but before I put little dixie cups in the bag and trimmed them down to dip.
Dixie cups to milk colostrum into if needed
Syringes (to drip feed a weaker kid colostrum if necessary)
Small baby bottle with premie nipple and tiny X cut through holes (I bottle feed my kids, and if I can get them to take a bottle right away it’ll make the mom-to-bottle conversion in 2 weeks SO much easier. But you don’t need to do this step if you are dam-raising. Just make sure they get on within an hour.)
Vitamin E/Selenium gel. Give this to does 30 days out. And give a dab to weak kids.
Trash bag (This is to collect all the gross puppy pads)
Things not in bag to have on hand
Molasses: Not in my bag. But I give mom’s about 1 cup of molasses in warm water post-kidding
Calcium gel: Not in my bag, but I have it on hand for milk fever.
Probios paste: I give after kidding.
Ivermectin: Worm within 24 hrs of kidding.
I always have them deliver in deep straw over top a layer of watered pine pellets (for absorbancy underneath). I switch over to shavings by about a week (or sooner if everyone is looking fabulous and it isn’t too cold). Because I really hate cleaning straw, and it’s SO non-absorbent.
Links to buy things:
Bulb suction - These blue ones work SO MUCH better than the weirdo plastic-y ones that you can get at Walmart or come with baby kits.
7% iodine - for dipping or spraying umbilicals
Selenium-Vitamin E gel - I like to get the smaller 30 ml tube for my kidding bag because the tip fits in baby mouths better. But I use the big tube for my whole herd (you won’t need that though, since you’ve only got 2!)
Calcium Gel - for milk fever. They hate the taste, but if you need it that doesn't really matter.