Can't Catch Won't Eat Buckling HELP!

He looks in good health. I would guess, from his size, build, and the growth of the horns, that he's at least three months old, so don't worry about fighting him to get the bottle in his mouth! Probably Saanen, at least part (white is dominant, so he could be half or less and still be white).

Are you sure that you want horned goats?

Are you planning to use him for breeding? If not, now is the time to get him castrated.

To find out how much he weighs, you can get a goat weigh tape (don't cost much) or find one of the on-line charts that take measurements made with a regular measuring tape and convert to weight. Fiasco Farm might have one -- I'm sure I have a link on my home computer, but I'm at work right now.

He probably needs to be wormed and vaccinated -- check with your vet to see what to use in your area. Or with another goat breeder in your area. Cocci treatment would also be a good idea.

And DON'T, for pete's sake, go chasing him! It sounds like he was dam-raised, which means he's wild, and chasing will just make him wilder! Coax him to you if you really want to make a pet of him. When you do catch him, if he's in a safe pen with nothing to get hung up on, put a stout collar and a long lead rope on him. That way you can gently pull him to you when you want to work with him -- give him a treat each time you do this, and I think he'll tame down pretty quickly.

He looks like a nice little fellow -- even if you are just going to put him in the freezer later, it wasn't a bad price for him. If you are going to keep him as a buck, making a pet of him isn't really the best idea, though. You need to be able to handle him, but don't want him coming up in stinky rut looking for petting!

And it sounds like the fish-filleters in your family need to find someplace else to work, LOL!

Kathleen

If you can't get any milk down him, then he'll still survive. I wean my wethers and bucks around 4 weeks and they don't seem to suffer for it.

I would keep on working to get him hand-tame though. A hand-tame goat is more than just a nice thing to have around .... it also makes your life easier.

He seems very small to me. My 3 month doeling I think was in back on the other side of the fence in the pic if not I'll get it posted there is a size difference. He is going to be my breeding buck with my Saanens. I already have 2 people line up for doelings. I put him in the small pen so no more chasing is needed.

Forgot to tell you to, once you get his mouth clamped down around the nipple, rub his NOSE and/or rub up above his tail.

Watch mama. They have to duck to get under her and bump her belly with their nose. And she will touch their butts with her nose. It stimulates them to nurse. -I prefer to touch above the tail/on the far back or rub the nose-

...*stunned look on my face*...

a sling


*giggling*

Well! You get to do what you want! *VBG*

I wanna SEE that when his horns are 5" long and he weighs 65+lbs...

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http://s256.photobucket.com/albums/h...DSC02488-1.jpg

My doeling 3 month stands taller.

Gail we all know that you secretly talk to, sing to and baby all your livestock!
Some to me are livestock and I have no problem kicking them in the rear when they do not listen but others well they are just goat babies to me and I spoil them.

Pam do not chase him since he will see you and run. Plus in the heat and sun you can cause him to get heatstroke. Sit down and make yourself interesting. Animal crackers are the one thing none of my goats can resist. Toss a few toward him and see if he likes them as wel and keep making him come closer to you.
Having been soaked by milk more than a few times, I can say he will get the hang of it. I use regular baby bottles and nipples with a big X cut into them and they seem to like those best. I did have one very stubborn girl and she drank it from a bowl and wanted nothing to do with a bottle ever.
He could be a stunned 3 month old, your pictures are small and it is hard to tell. I have a Nubian wether and he is on the small side because he had a bad start in life. But he is catching up now and doing well.
Good Luck with your little boy.

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I don't know how to make them bigger I tried.

Oh and I am not chasing him anymore. Wouldn't his teeth be bigger? He has such baby teeth. He is shorter than knee height.

A 1 month old wouldn't have horns that big. I wouldn't try to get him on a bottle. Just feed him good and treat him for cocci and worm him, give him minerals. If the lady didn't do that and weaned him early that may be why he is small.

I think he'll be fine if you do those things.

I also think you should keep him in a small pen. I like my bucks to have horns (unlike does). If you are going to keep him as a buck you need to get a collar on him and spend lots of time dragging him around and keep doing it until he is grown. He needs to learn NOW that YOU are in control. Pull him around by his horns every chance you get.

Good job catching him Cookingpam! Now you can work with the little bugger
He's a cute little guy.Congratulations!

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DARN YOU, Thaiblue12!!!! You aren't supposed to TELL!!!!



NOW everyone KNOWS!!!!

*sniff*

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Well we are making progress. This morning he came up to me and was licking and scraping his teeth on me before he totally avoided me. He seemed to have a fascination with my sweater. So I guess I will wear it more often. I noticed one odd thing he does this stretching thing all the time. I have seen a goat stretch but not over and over and over again. He's pooping fine so no constpation. My other buckling gets SO jealous if he comes up to me. Or is even near me. He won't let Prince eat his grain so I have to pop him. I love my buckling (not prince I mean I love him to just not the one being spoke of)to death but I am thinking he is going to land on the dinner table if he doesn't stop this jealousy because I plan on more bucks. So he can't be getting jealous and beating them up all the time. It's just not fair to them. Or I might sell him. I have someone lined up for breeding their doe when she comes in heat maybe they would just take him.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN STRETCHING?

*alarmed*

is he/have you seen him pee?

They do a kind of odd stretch to pee and get this dreamy/far off look on their faces when they pee.

PLEASE tell me you've seen him pee.

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Here ya go:



Under your pictures in your album, just click on the link that starts with [IMG , this will automatically copy it, then just paste it here. It will be normal sized.

Yea, with his horns he is older than a month, probably more like 2 months. He is probably coccidia stunted. Treat him for coccidia and yes, I would continue to bottle feed, especially to make up for his size. He will grow better with milk than anything else. Also give some alfalfa.

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He has peed. He in both ways is fine. He just stretches alot. Thanks for the help southerngurl I agree with the milk thing but have to get the right nipple he loves sucking my fingers. So the baby bottle nipple is probably not best.

Would it hurt to keep him on milk for 2 months to help his size?

It wouldn't hurt at all. I was thinking he was already weaned, but if he is taking a bottle still-keep him on it.

Well he's weaned but he shouldn't be. I am getting him back on. I have been working with him and this morning he came up and by himself ate 6 ounces. He threw a little fit today but out of the blue settled down and ate 6 ounces. So he ate a total of 12 ounces better than before thats for sure. Gailann is going to love this hehehe after he ate each time I would say GOOD BOY! and sing to him and rock him night night. He would fall asleep and loved my soft singing. Something I have found is he is super potty trained. I got him a crate to sleep in and he pottys only in that. Today he was on my lap and just really badly wanted up so I let him and he instantly peed. I was so thankful he knew better than to pee or poop on me! I have another like this she will throw a fit and you know to put her down because she has to go potty then she climbs right back in your lap! I love potty trained goats!

He can be stubborn when it comes to the bottle but I am to I refuse to let them go till they eat something. I had to do this with my doeling. It works.