Orphaned baby, what to do???

Hi Sweet Goats, We found her by the side of the road. We were several miles out a dirt road with no homes or other goats anywhere near. Her mother was dead, she was standing there alone. I feel like a thief taking her, but the only other option was to leave her there to die.

I'm quickly falling in love with her. Now I'm scared someone will come knocking on the door to claim her.

Here's a pic of her this AM with her little bottle.

She's really cute. You did the right thing taking her in. It's strange how the goats wound up in the middle of nowhere without their herd. As small as she is, it wouldn't surprise me if the doe died due to a retained kid. Usually, when Boers have a single kid, they are 8 - 12 pounds at birth. I hope your little one continues to do well. Keep us posted.

Bless your heart, you did the right thing taking her in. I doubt anyone will come looking for her as they did not go looking for Mom to begin with. She is a doll. Sounds like you are doing really good work with her. I took in my friends little one last night. Mom had quads and decided she did ot like the biggest doe nor the smallest. The biggest weighs about 4-5 lbs and the smallest looks like the size of a chihuahua, maybe weighs about 2 lbs. She is so tiny and thin, but she made it through the night and is doing really well this am. I love the babies, they are so sweet and like to snuggle. Good luck with your darling and keep us posted!

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Trish

Seriously, I am COMPLETELY dressed!

Just keep moving...just keep moving!

she is so cute .I would start upping the milk intake, until she take 8oz's, at a time. If you are giving store bought milk, [hich is fine], add a drop of goat drench into each bottle, and a half a teaspoon of plain yogurt, for her gut. she will do great. mine take about 4 8oz bottles by the end of one week. spaced out throug hthe day. with the last one being around 9 at night. then wehn she wants more, then give her more, but threee times a day ,until she is older, 2and a half to 3 months, then go to two 20oz or so twice a day. I have 3 right now, that take 20 oz, i nthe morning and 20oz a night. they are about 4 weeks old and growing like weeds. they are also eating hay, and grain. make sure to give shots right of way. she will be a great little goat. for sure. I would also start the preventive for cocci, I give a half cc in the morning bottle and half a cc, and the night bottle. then when broke, give a on cc shot. sure helps down the road, and saves lots of problems later. you can worm her too, at 6 weeks with some panicur. good luck.

Work her up to about 20 oz. for each bottle. Ours take about 20 oz. by one week old. (This just seemed a little confusing, like you were saying wait until she's 3 months old to give her 20 oz. at a time. I know you didn't mean it, but it kind of sounded like that.)

Okay, I'm a little late posting here but someone once mentioned cutting the finger off a latex glove and putting it on a soda bottle. Just in case for the future.

spinner, you do realize she is going to need a friend, right? They are not happy by themselves.

I am so glad the baby is doing well. You have truly accomplished something that it has taken me two years to get decent at. Baby goats with issues often do not have a happy ending.

She is precious and you won't believe how attached you will get. Before I forget....someone above mentioned to give goat drench...by all means give it to her. It will help make her stronger because it is full of vitamins and minerals. I have used it with preemies and it works.

If you want a better recipe I can get you the one that we used with our bottle baby. You did the right thing by taking her, besides the person who owned the mom forfeited the right to the baby when they didn't go looking for her, at least in my opinion. Good Luck with her. Bye.

Here it is. 1gal whole milk. 1can evaporated milk, 1 cup buttermilk. (not the lowfat kind). Pour off 4 cups of whole milk. Add butter milk, evaporated milk (the whole can). Add back as much whole milk as will fit, shake, pour in bottle and serve warm. Good Luck. Bye.

Thanks for all the praise. I feel 10 feet tall right now... LOL

She's doing much better each day. She now has the human baby bottle and was taking about 3 or 4 oz per feeding every 2 or 3 hours. This morning she took a full 8 oz bottle and an additional 4 oz soon after. She's started eating like crazy so I'm sure she will do great. I swear she seems to be growing right before my eyes! She now runs and jumps, and plays with my grandchildren (ages 10 and 12 and they totally love her!) She is going up and down steps too. For now her favorite spot is my sofa. She keeps jumping up on it and we keep putting her back down. She's like a cute puppy running around the house. I'm fixing up a bed for her on the enclosed porch before she takes over the house completely... LOL

What is goat drench? Is it necessary that she have it? I live in a very remote location and it will be at least 100 miles (round trip) to get to town to buy the stuff. They might not even sell it locally so I might have to go 200 miles round trip to buy it.

I've looked for the buttermilk and the only thing they have locally is the non-fat type. Is it something I really need to go get? For now I'm giving her store bought cows milk. I should be able to find the plain yogart locally so will get some in a day or two.

I have a pair of Saanan's out in the pasture so when she gets big enough she'll probably go out with them.

YAAAAY! Sounds like she is doing great if she is playing. My babies (I currently have 11) love to climb up on a wooden box my husband built and jump off. It's about a foot high. It's more fun to watch them play than it is to watch TV.

Goat Nutri-Drench is what I use for weak newborns, shipping stress and other special situations when the goat needs glucose, vitamins and minerals. I give about 4 cc to my babies when they are born.

It is really handy to have around. Can't remember where we got it but the 800 number on the bottle is 1-800-658-4016. They might ship you some.

Spinner, you might want to look into getting a Jeffers catalog. They have one for livestock, horses and dogs. They are also online so you can get any supplies you will need.

Goat drench is good for a boost but you really should be giving Probiotics along with the cow's milk so the good bacteria gets going in her intestines.

She will also need to be dehorned soon if you don't want horns (look at past posts to see discussions on whether to do or not)

Remember, they are herd animals so they are not happy alone. Hey, what's another goat

Non-fat buttermilk is fine. Glad to hear that she is doing better. CONGRATS! bye.

You are doing great. I understand about living remote and not being able to get things. i have the very same problem sometimes. You do what you need to do. Don't worry yourself sick over that little goat, you seem to be doing a good job with her. Boers are a particularly hardy breed. Watch for any changes in her of course, change in poop, rattle in chest, change in activity, things you can pick up on pretty well as you know her quite good by now. Aside from all the good advice to have gotten, the main thing is to keep doing what you are doing and keep her growing and playing.

I sent you a PM.

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Diane Rhodes
Feral Nature Farm
LaManchas, MiniManchas and Boers

I order goat care products from Hoeggers and Caprine supply. You can order either by phone or on line. Your goat should do fine without the Nutra Drench for now. It is a good thing to have on hand for both her and the Saanens. A really good thing to have is Probios. I live in rural Montana and I keep various medicines on hand such as Valbazen and Ivomec for worming, Biomycin, procaine pennicillin, Nuflor, Banamine, B complex, thiamin and Probios. This way, I have stuff on hand so if I have a sick goat, I usually don't have to travel 60 miles round trip to treat it.