The Hardest Season Yet: Fighting to Save My Goat Herd from a Silent Killer

This spring started like any other—greener pastures, fresh clover, fat bellies, and the sweet sound of happy bleats echoing through the farm. But beneath the surface, something was brewing. Something deadly.

In March, I noticed the usual early signs of parasites: a little weight loss, some rough coats, pale eyelids. Nothing dramatic at first. I started treatment early, thinking I was ahead of it. I rotated pastures, cleaned water buckets religiously, started a deworming protocol based on fecals, and added herbal support to keep things balanced.

But this year has been different. Stronger worms, weaker goats, hotter days, and more rain than usual—it created the perfect storm. And despite everything I’ve done… I’ve now lost three goats, and I’ve got several more still fighting.

It’s devastating.

Goats I’ve raised from babies. Goats who trusted me to keep them safe. Goats who should still be here.

I’ve cried more this month than I have in years.

What I’ve Been Doing to Save My Herd

This is what parasite management looks like right now on my farm:

• FAMACHA checks every few days, sometimes daily for the weak ones

• Body scoring and behavior monitoring non-stop—because sometimes you don’t get a second chance

• Rotational deworming based on fecal testing, using Ivermectin, Cydectin, and Valbazen depending on the results and health of the goat

• Iron and B-complex injections to help rebuild after blood loss

• Red Cell and fortified herbal blends to support the anemic ones

• Probiotics, electrolytes, and rumen buffers to keep guts going during treatment

• Shade to combat heat stress in already weak animals

• Electrolyte fluids in emergencies to fight dehydration and organ shock and learning the hard way how that doesn't work.

• Quarantine pens to minimize spread and reduce stress

• Feeding high-protein alfalfa, black oil sunflower seeds, and pumpkin to boost natural resilience

• Staying up all night, just to sit beside the ones I know might not make it till morning

I’m documenting everything. Every dose. Every eyelid score. Every moment a goat lays down and doesn’t get up. Because I refuse to go through this again. Not like this.

What I’ve Learned (So Far)

• Early treatment doesn’t mean easy treatment

• Every goat responds differently—even if they live in the same pasture, eat the same feed, and get the same care

• Some years, nature just hits harder

• Sometimes the "right thing" isn’t enough

• And worst of all: Goats can look fine until they’re not which isn't news to me but may help someone else.

This has been the hardest season of my goat-keeping journey. But I’m not giving up. I owe that to the ones I’ve lost—and the ones still here, fighting.

If you're going through something similar, please know: you're not alone. These tiny, strong-willed animals steal our hearts and break them just as fast. But we keep going, because they need us. And because we need them, too.

I’ll keep sharing what works, what doesn’t, and how we make it through.

Because sometimes surviving the season is the victory.

— Bri, The Goat Queen