Why does he do this?

[dunroven]

We just got some new Jersey bottle calves. Most are a week old, but I suspect this one of being maybe 2 days old. Reason being, he is not eating well. The others are chugging, but this guy, not so much.

He took 1 pint of electrolytes when we got him home. Today he drank 1 pint of MR at each feeding.

Now, the problem I see with him is that he is rolling his tongue out of his mouth on each side and won't clamp down on the nipple to suck. What's your opinion of what is wrong and what can I do.

He is not scouring, good firm poops, but not sure why this is happening. My first thought is he is just an inexperienced drinker, so I want some opinions.

Thanks!

[BlackWillowFarm]

My limited experience with Jersey calves is that it takes them a few days to learn to suck from a bottle. The first few days I have to straddle them, put the bottle in their mouth and basically force them to drink by holding their chins up to keep them from pulling away. It's messy and a lot of the milk is dribbled out while they squirm to get away from being held and having a bottle forced into their mouths. If they get good and hungry it helps them figure it out faster. After a few days, they won't leave you alone when you come with the bottle. After about a month, when I see them drinking water from a bucket, I switch from bottle feeding to bucket feeding. I usually have to let them suck my fingers and lead their head down into the bucket. Some get the idea immediately, others need a few days of help before they get it.

[mozarkian]

Sometimes, if they have had a hard birth, their tongues are swollen a little and it takes awhile for the swelling to go down.

[freeb]

Yes i agree, they have to be taught to drink from a bottle. Did you give them colostrum powder when you got them? I give mine that as i have no idea if they got it or not and i want to give them a running chance of staying alive.

[topside1]

His stomach is upset and he has very little appetite...Topside