almost as hard on me!

[Faithful Heart]

It's been almost as hard on me to deny my little goat her milk as on her! I'm sure she did get the harder part, but I sure hated doing it. I didn't even mind going and giving her the bottles of electrolites every two hours, and would have given her more, more often, if it wasn't for this strict "program" I was told to follow. This morning she was allowed to get her first milk again, and I was ready to get out there at 6:30 to give it too her too! She'll only get 2 oz. every 2 hours at first, and work up from there. It's killing me! And every bit that went on her chin I thought .... careful, careful... get every drop baby. It's breaking my heart! But she's doing good - not weak or screaming her head off. Sorta like a fast for her I guess. Personally I've been through 3 day only water fasts, and 21 day only liquid fasts. So I know how she feels to a small degree I guess. My husband even hated it. He says.... do you have to do that? Couldn't you give her just a little? And last night when giving her the last feeding we both talked to her and let her know that in the morning she gets milk! We both felt so sorry for her.

But I'm mama, and shouldn't have to be so MEAN! I want SO badly to let her eat all she wants, but I know that would NOT be the right move. Poor thing looks a little thin, but I've seen WAY worse at the auction. Some of those goats would make her look fat!

I'll gladly serve her eagerly every two hours (and would do it hourly if that's what it called for), and I'm REALLY looking forward to her working up to her full daily ration.

Poor little girl. But atleast she'll have me waiting in the wings, and franticlly ready for every 2 hours to pass by.

[Idahoe]

That would make me crazy. I can't stand it if I think my animals are hungry. I hope you make it through the regimen and out the other side for your sake as well as hers!

Just rationing grain is bad enough. Figuring out how to feed grown goats and balance their intake is bad enough and I was constantly worried they were hungry. They acted starved. They were bought from an old guy who had too many goats, and a couple looked a little scruffy at first, but now all have sleek coats, have no ribs visible and look like contented football bellies in the evening. Still, they act starved to death, which caused me a lot of maternal stress until I read on here they always act that way. So now, I just tell myself they are acting like healthy goats, worry when they DON'T act starved.

[Sherrynboo]

Just curious, why do you have to ration her milk? Was she having a problem? I have never bottle fed one before so this is all new to me.

Sherry in GA