Identifying (and Solving) Goat Worm Issues On-Farm | Dewormer Chat & Options

Goats get a bad rap for being hard to take care of. And their sensitivity to stomach worms plays a HUGE role in their care, but it doesn't have to be difficult! Learning how to do fecal egg counts at home and loosely identify worm species really is a game changer in how well goats can be cared for. Targeted care is absolutely key.
#homesteading #dairygoats #goats #deworming #homestead #farmlife
(NONE of these are affiliate links:)
McMasters Fecal Egg Count Kit: www.vetslides.com/paracount-e...
Sugar Float Solution: Sheather's Solution Preparation: Add 454 gm (1 lb) of table sugar to 355 ml of very hot water. Stir until dissolved and allow to cool. This solution will grow mold if left out, so keep refrigerated.
Epsom Salt Float Solution (I'm trying this next): www.goatbiology.com/fecalsolu...
The Microscope I have: amscope.com/products/b100a-e?...
Parasite Booklet: vip.alifeofheritage.com/my-pa...
BioWorma (I haven't used this long enough yet to say what I think, there are reviews on here though): www.premier1supplies.com/p/li...
(These ARE affiliate links:)
Our Website and Farm Shop: sageandstonehomestead.com/
-Merch Store: my-store-d8fd96.creator-sprin...
-RUST-FREE ForJars Canning Lids: (Code SAGEANDSTONE10 for 10% off!): forjars.co/?sca_ref=3172771.u...
-Sow Right Heirloom Seeds: sowrightseeds.com/?ref=ecsxuDxh
Don't Forget to Use Code SageStone10 for 10% off!
-Check out The Hortisketch Garden Planner!: gardensavvy.com/hortisketch/
((Use Code SageStone5 for $5 off!))
Drop us a line:
Sage and Stone Homestead
PO Box 52
Herndon, KY 42236
[e-mail]

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I've heard varying opinions on what you're looking for in a repeat fecal on a goat to determine if your dewormer is working. Anywhere from an 80%-95% Reduction in the EPG (Eggs Per Gram) number. Pesky had 100% efficacy which makes me thrilled.

[@mattarnold8705]

I've got the same problem with my off-grid property. Thank you for the videos keep up the awesome work

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I believe goats are possible in these areas! Thanks so much for watching!❤️

[@nolliesteers3083]

Good morning Heather. That was so interesting to me. Thanks so m7ch. ❤❤❤

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Hi Nollie!! Thanks so much for watching! Your support has been awesome!💕

[@freeplayfrank7736]

Hi Heather. I have a goat teaching channel too. I'm in Canada, we have wet conditions and worm problems similar to what you deal with. I,ve never seen fecal testing done,I been wanting to start doing it, so thanks for showing me how. Canada doesn't have many goat products, we have to use horse or cattle products which is far from ideal. I love your La Mancha's they are so sweet. Take care.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you! I think research in general has been very minimal into what works well for goats. A lot of what we use is for horses.

[@cherylirvin3919]

I taught school for 25 years and I say you are a good teacher. We don’t have goats but I watched this anyway just to learn about it! Good lesson!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you so much!!💕

[@cindyboard7816]

Very interesting information!! Thanks for sharing! The new feed additive sounds like a very beneficial investment!! With you being able to run fecals from home you are going to be able to monitor the effectiveness from the start. I’m excited to see the results!! Stay safe, looks like more spring storms are going to fray our nerves again!😢

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I know, ON Christine's due date too. I am hoping she is going to pop a little earlier so we can beat that.

[@cindyboard7816]

@@SageandStoneHomestead 🙏🏻 That barometer and deliveries🤪

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

For real!! LOL

[@MarciandtheRomans]

Heather you are a wealth of information! Thank you for sharing this!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you so much and thanks for watching!!❤️

[@louisaholman3838]

Great video!!! This was exciting.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you!!

[@thehealinghomesteadkc]

This was so helpful! Thank you! I have a microscope and I have been so intimidated to do this bcuz I didn’t know how. Thank you for this video!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

You're so welcome!❤️

[@dirtroaddestiny]

I think environment plays a huge part for sure. I have friends who keep goats in really small areas and pens because they don’t have pasture and they have more worm issues. But all my fecals come back completely clear and I’ve had two breeders double check for me. I swear it has to do with them being on certain pasture because I’ve noticed the niacin in the chives play a role in their digestive health. I’ve been doing research on chives and found that most of my grass is chives. Had a vet tell me that as long as I don’t keep too many goats and keep rotating them around the property. I should stay close to worm free. Local farmers around me have told me our town smells like onions because most of our “grass” is actually a local native chive. I’ve eaten the chive in my eggs each morning for 4 days. and have lost weight and feel healthier. Interested to hear your thoughts. ❤

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Right! If you can't pasture rotate the density is about 5 goats per acre. We have 6 acres fenced by the barn so we can have 30 goats over there and not overwhelm the pasture with nitrogen as well as keep the worm load minimal, in theory. The wetness does not help but that's where the dog (ew) and bioworma come in. I also want to get ducks for the pond to eat slugs and snails.

[@dirtroaddestiny]

@@SageandStoneHomestead our ducks are great. They do poop on the porch however 😂

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

That's why I hope to make them a place by the pond where they can live and not come up by the gardens or house LOL

[@merryanneadair4451]

Excellent information. I appreciate your updates on wormers as it is such a problem for all of us goat owners! Over the years I've watched the results of 'wormer resistance', it can be more than a little frustrating! Pesky's blue eyes are SO stunning!! Just beautiful!! 🙂 God bless!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Isn't she so pretty?!

[@ZeBunBear]

i recently found this channel and started to binge watch... hearing that you been doing goats for 3 years, and hearing how much knowledge you have on everything goat just amazes me , i been doing goats for 3 years myself , and i feel every little new thing that pops up for me i get really discouraged. i only raise 2 girls at the moment , both were bred in december. and both of them sadly lost their pregnancies this year. one, a month and a half early , both doelings.... and then the next one went into premature labor 2 and a half weeks too early . 1 baby born still, and 2 born very weak. and passed 30 hours after.. all 3 doelings. i never had to deal with this, and this was their 5th freshening (third with me ) and all babies in previous years where just fine. i went into a spiral of research, and checked their eyes, and they where so pale even though when i checked weeks earlier they where still bright pink . i normally do worm prevention with herbs and DE . and their eyes had always been fine up till now... so im on a mission to get eyes back to that pretty healthy pink at the moment. i even gave them ivermectin a few days ago and keeping an eye on them. i was going to send poop off to a lab via mail since the livestock vets around here have a bad rep. but now im thinking of just getting a microscope myself and doing this myself. im so thinking of starting my own little homestead videos. but dont even know where to start ! lol i love watching people do these videos , and all the homsteading lifestyle types i see..

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I am SO sorry about the loss of those precious babies! That is incredibly hard. Being able to do my own fecals at home has really helped me take better care of my girls. I'm no longer taking guesses on what they need and I can act much faster to any issues that come up. As far as KZbin, it is a learn as you go kind of thing and the best thing you can do is just start! Channel Makers here on youtube is really helpful ♥

[@mandyg888]

Your love for your goats is just so awesome! ❤

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you!❤️ They are easy to love ♡

[@Plant-Kat]

Ooh might have to give BioWorma a shot, thanks for another great info-packed video!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

You're so welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@sparkleflair]

Very interesting video, thanks!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching! ♥♥

[@sparkleflair]

@@SageandStoneHomestead I bought the habanado pepper seeds, started 6 of them and have a sprout this morning!!

[@rachel4483]

I've had good luck with Hoegger's herbal dewormer (used weekly in slurry, force fed like a wormer on the stand) preventing fluke from reproducing. Unfortunately it's high maintenance, weekly, each and every goat. You also need to start with a wormer and end with a wormer (I lost a goat to fluke and had to deal with a huge outbreak a few months after I stopped while I was pregnant and couldn't stand the smell when I expected them to be okay). And it also just seems to prevent reproduction of worms. It won't go out and kill them for you. AND you have to pair it with fecals, so it's kind of a pain in the butkin.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

That's why I've avoided herbals in the past. Because it's so high maintenance. But, if it came to that or having NO goats, I'd totally do it. I think we have some girls that have had chronic Fluke. I read that the ivermectin plus given 3 times 10 days apart each dose would eventually kill the Fluke in the gallbladder? I sure hope so. I think Christine has had chronic Fluke. The symptoms are what we have been dealing with with her. Low milk production and hard to settle a pregnancy. Constant anemia, she has the worst FAMACHA in the herd no matter what I do. I may try valbazen on her after she kids depending on what the ivermectin plus seems to do for her. Smores totally might have Fluke.

[@rachel4483]

@@SageandStoneHomestead Yeah, herbals are kind of the last resort kitchen sink response. But when push comes to shove... That's the general protocol to eradicate fluke with both Valbazen (oral)and Ivermectin Plus(injectable), btw. It has worked for me in the past.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Good, I'm glad to hear that. That's what I'm doing with Christine and Elpis both right now. Elpis keeps acting like she's struggling with something and no matter what I do I can't seem to get her right. So at this point I assuming Fluke since she grazes exactly where mom (Christine) does.

[@petitemenagerie3145]

When I got my doeling her famacha was white, even her tongue was white! Turned out her problem was sucking lice. When I laid my hand against her side, dozens would come up. I tried the diatamaeous (however you spell that) earth and it wasn't doing anything. I got a chemical in case I had to use it, but the applying directions were scary, so I was going to use that as a last resort. I then tried a natural flea spray on her and that worked. So yeah, in the winter/early spring always make sure they don't have the sucking lice. I've heard of even closed herds getting them!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I totally believe it!! We have seen them a couple times!

[@GWPHomestead]

I’m gonna check BioWorma out. Sounds awesome! I had never heard of it until just now. Thank your for sharing.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

You're so welcome!! My girls are getting used to the taste of it. Today was day 1 and they don't love it, but according to reviews they get used to it!

[@mandyg888]

Oh calamity 😂

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

She's a wreck lol

[@tnlrichmond2226]

I absolutely enjoy watching your videos! Glad I stumbled across your channel.. thank you for bringing all this info to us

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found us too!!♡

[@hickoryhillinthebigwoods-r759]

I don't think goats are hard to manage. I think we need to go into goats thinking like a goat! We hear all the time about goats jumping fences and we have never had that problem. Only escape was a crawl under the fence. We separated our bucklings and yesterday I found them jumping through the cattle panel above the chicken wire we put up. Then the little rascal parkoured up and over the connecting fence (because it was leaning). So when I finished milking his momma, I came to the gate and wondered why Juniper's baby wanted Jersey. Then it dawned on me it was her son, not her grand-daughter. Ugh! My husband and I fixed it and they haven't figured out how to get out again. Thanks for this video. I had purchased a McMaster slide kit years ago, but only this month did we finally retrofit our microscope by adding a camera. I just need a fecal float solution and then off to look at famachas.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

We haven't had a fence issue here either!!! I had ONE jump and it was a couple years ago. I took Pepper away from her herd to be bred and she was NOT having it! She tested the fence for 2 days before she figured it out while I was standing there watching her lol.

[@24bidy]

I'm learning all that stuff from you but all I got is a 7 chickens. I am going to get 4 meat rabbits this year.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Yay I'm excited you're getting into rabbits!

[@gmk110]

Great video Heather. Super informative and very well explained. I was wondering if you actually weight the amount of sample that you put in the solution, so that you can have more of a quantitative method by ensuring you have approximately the same concentration always (scientist here, sorry). It is probably unnecessary as you want to have an idea, but maybe it helps you get more of an accurate per gram number. Maybe I missed it in the video, but this was great!

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I did it the first few times and became comfortable with the approximation of just following the lines in the vial! Great question!! I have weighed the sample for loose stools and baby poops.

[@cheriemartin3767]

I too am new, LOL at trying to read the fecal count, I Feel we need a group to share our pictures and help each other confirm or denie what were seeing? what do you all think?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

It would help to have someone with some real experience in the group! I would bet there are Facebook groups for it but we don't have a FB

[@rachel4483]

There are also specific gravity solutions for fluke...but I haven't tried them. And fluke don't drop eggs constantly. And they cause damage before they are mature and reproducing. So...worm party?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

YEAH. Really though let's figure this out!!

[@mandyg888]

Ewwwww Mars! I don't get dogs... This puppy training... 💆🏻‍♀️. Gives me a new look at dogs lol I might just be a cat person now 😂idk...

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I am definitely more of a cat person for sure!! The dogs I enjoy and love for their utility and I appreciate them so much for the work they do. The cat is definitely more of a companion to me.

[@bearridgefarm]

My goats are on a “dry lot” lol. Mud lot. I don’t have the fencing that I would need to let my goats out to browse. When it’s not raining I take them on walks around the property. So I feed hay at $14/bale. How big are your bales?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

They are the standard square bales. 50 lbs I think? The past 2 winters we have fed a bale a day to everyone plus grain, and sometimes in winter I add in calf manna.

[@merryanneadair4451]

Oh OUCH!! $14 a bale! I thought the $11.50 I've been paying was bad! Beautiful hay but.... Prayers for a source of good quality less expensive hay for us both!! 🙏

[@cheriemartin3767]

previously I was getting ready to send poop out to be tested and before hand I saw your first video on testing your own. HA for the price of sending all the different samples I could buy my own scope and slides. I am curios where to purchase more float solutions?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

Check valley vet supply!!!

[@mamawlife7852]

How do I weigh my goats to give proper amount of wormer?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

We use a weight tape. I got it from caprine supply.

[@mamawlife7852]

I have 2 goats that i enherited from my daughter. I dont want to give any injections. What can I give orally for worms?

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

There are a few oral wormers like ivermectin horse paste, valbazen, and panacur horse paste to name a few. Morrantel is usually in a fee's Pellet form at the store too and works well here when needed.

[@GWPHomestead]

This video stinks

[@GWPHomestead]

But seriously, top notch as always.

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

I laughed harder than I should have at this comment lol