Triplet problem

[airotciv]

Not enough milk for three, the smallest won't bottle feed. She is getting weaker. Locked mom and the little one up in the barn, and bottle feed the other two, but mom will not nurse the smallest one. My neighbor has no clue what to do and I don't either. Help please. Thanks

[cfarmher]

Do you have a "save a kid syringe" if not you can try to make one out of a baby medicine syringe from the drug store, and and some tubing.
Even an clean eye dropper will work in a pinch

[topside1]

Milk some (not much) lets say 4 ounces milk out of the dam (mom) and mix it with store bought cows milk another 4 ounces and see how that goes. If you have another goats use their milk, does the neighbor have goats that are lactating? The little one probable won't drink because of the rubber nipples texture and taste. Coupled with the nasty taste of milk replacer or store bought milk, these simple changes are quite a shock to a new kid. I'm sure with a mixture of cow and goats milk the little one will catch on quickly providing you realize goats can be quite stubborn, especially to change.

Keep in mind I have no idea how old the kids are, what breed, any background on the dam and her milk producing abilities. So with little to work with this would be my quick fix advice. Tubing is a last resort!!! Anymore questions just ask.

[devdragon33]

I wouldn't tube a baby though if i didn't know what i was doing, try feeding the baby with a regular baby bottle, i only feed with a tube if the baby won't suck from a bottle, sometimes a child baby bottle has a smaller softer tip then the ones used for sheep and goats traditionally, if you feel she still isn't doing well you can tube her then, remember the esophogus is to the left of the goat and the windpipe is on the right,aim for the goats left side use the empty tube first then hook up the syringe, once the tube is down the left side you should be able to hear gurgle noises in the tube and the baby will still be breathing normally, our goats never take those black nipples used for goats and sheep bottles, a childs nipple can be inserted easier into the mouth of the kid and you can manipulate the jaw and stroke the throat to encourage swallowing.

[Sher]

Originally Posted by airotciv

Not enough milk for three, the smallest won't bottle feed. She is getting weaker. Locked mom and the little one up in the barn, and bottle feed the other two, but mom will not nurse the smallest one. My neighbor has no clue what to do and I don't either. Help please. Thanks

I don't know how old they are..but if they are new..does the doe have enough milk for two? If so..put the two that will suck on her. She may not think the little one is viable..therefore she will probably keep her milk for the two big ones.

I use human baby bottles and nipples. I try to have a couple three different kinds on hand..because some like the stiffer round ones..some like the softer wedged ones.

Worse case scenario..tie the doe and get pip squeak up there and let her nurse. Do this til you think she's acting stronger .. a couple of meals and then switch her to the bottle. I would definitely put the other two back on though. Good luck.

As an after thought..sometimes when you catch those little ones about half asleep and get the nipple in there..they kind suck without thinking or having the time to get rebellious.

[moonspinner]

Questions. How old are the trips, was mom feeding them all from birth, did this little one get colostrum? How long hasn't she nursed? Does she seem to be in good health? If the kid is still strong enough to nurse hold/secure the doe, lift up one leg so she can't move and put the kid to the teat. I've dealt with this on several occasions - mom refusing to nurse one of trips - and this method has worked for me. You have to act fast here.

[airotciv]

Thanks everyone, Jack got the baby to nurse from a bottle late last night, thanks to another neighbors, who had a momma goat that lost her baby, The neighbor, Mike milked the momma and put the milk in a baby bottle. She (baby) is now taking the bottle with no problem. Mike is milking and baby is eating. The babies are 4 days old today, Momma wouldn't nurse the Baby after the first day. Well we are just happy she is getting some food. Thanks again.