Help please, getting babies to take bottle

[SherrieT]

I posted yesterday about bringing home three doelings from the auction. Two little Toggenberg-ish and one little LaMancha.

I was worried about the LaMancha, she is so small but she is easily taking 8oz each feeding in no time flat.

It is the other two I'm worried about. They fight the nipple and just won't suck. We can barely get 1-2 oz a time, so we try a couple of times an hour ( I didn't get up and try to feed them during the night, throught they would be hungry enough they would feed better). Didn't work. The largest, Belle, we only got about 3oz down her and the 2nd one, barely 2.

We even tried Richard holding them, playing with their tails (I had to swear not to tell his friends about that) while I tried to get some into them

Anyone have any ideas? When they get hungry enough will they be more receptive?

They slept all night and seem to have LOTS of energy

Sherrie

[CountryHaven]

Patience is a necessary virtue... one that I don't normally have, but vital when dealing with baby goats and bottles. HAHAA... really, they'll come around. Just sit down with them and take all the time it takes. You've never known stubborn until you've known a baby goat that does not want a bottle. Try a little corn syrup on the tip of the nipple... that can help a whole lot! It will STILL take time.

Have no fear, once they figure it out, they'll love their bottles... you may not have any hair left by that time, but they'll be just fine.

[Janis Sauncy]

It's been several years since I did the bottle baby thing, but I'm guessing that if they don't act hungry and they have plenty of energy, they might not be hungry.

One thing you can do (and maybe you're already doing it) is to cup one hand under their chin and guide the bottle into the side of their mouth. (If they were nursing off of Mama before going to the auction, it might just be getting used to the bottle nipple and/or taste of the replacer.)

After they do eat, feel their tummies. If they feel "round," then they've probably gotten enough.

My guess is if they're active and not lethargic or crying, they're probably fine.

I'm sure others are going to weigh in here with plenty of advice!

Janis

[Feral Nature]

good morning! transferring a kid from momma to a bottle is rough. I have fought kids like that too. Once they figure it out, all is fine. Watch for signs of dehydration, hollow bellies, decreased urination, dry mucous memberanes. But in most cases, they suddenly get it and latch on. Younger goats are easier.

I am still trying to find out about the eprinex. Goat forums are not that busy Sunday mornings

[SherrieT]

With the bigger two it seems to be a matter of sucking. I can get the nipple into their mouth and if I gently squeeze it, they will drink a bit. But they just won't suck to get the milk out, like the little one does.

From 6am to 10:30 am so far I've gotten about 6 oz down each while the little girl has had almost 20 oz already

We had them all three outside a few minutes before and they found a file of lumber (no nails) and had a blast playing "Queen of the Hill"

Sherrie

[CountryHaven]

It could still just be that they don't quite 'understand' that the bottle is made to suck on. I'd wonder if they had bo-se shots too but at the same time be afraid to give it to them in case they had and it was just a matter of not sucking. If they're doing well energy level wise and all other ways I'd just think it's a matter of they don't know what to do with this strange plastic thing shoved in their mouths.

[white eagle]

How old are these babies?

Have you gave them their CD/T shot?

I would give the babies instead of a 8oz bottle of milk I would slowly get them to a 16.9oz bottle instead of a 8oz bottle. I would also slowly put some hay, fresh water and very little grain in a bowl for them to start nippling on. When they are a week old they will want to start nippling on that type of stuff mine did.
I feed my kids a 16.9oz bottle 2 times a day but of course mine are already eatting hay, drinking fresh water and other stuff that is why I only give mine 2 bottles a day.

Oh you said you had trouble giving them a bottle. Try putting them between your legs and cuff yourhand over top of their head to make it a little dark and they may take the bottle better. Just give them time they will learn where the nipple is

GL with the new babies.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

They won't starve, know that first and foremost. Don't cave and give it to them in a bowl, or tube. If hungry enough and the nipple in their mouth has their body temp milk in it they will eventually suck. It's one of the trials you are going to have of many because of how you chose to buy your goats Still in love with them? Cuteness dissapates pretty quickly when there goal in life is to make you insane! Just keep trying every couple of hours, but once they do take the bottle, do not offer another one for at least 4 hours...no water, no hay, no grain, only you and the nipple in their mouth.

Since you have no idea how old any of these are and a lamancha even of the same age would be smaller than a Togg/Nubian cross...slowly start offering the LaMancha more and more milk, up to about 16 ounces, then as she takes that for several days you can move to 20 ounces. Vicki

[LFmenagerie]

Hello. I'm new and have been reading threads for just a few weeks. The only experience that I had in trying to bottle feed a previously doe fed kid went like this...
On the second try, after waiting several hours in between, one person (standing) held the goat until it was calm. Another person covered its eyes carefully, and the third person (me) put the bottle in its mouth. I know this seems rediculous. When the kid moved its head to wiggle from having its eyes covered I was able to slip the dripping nipple into its mouth. It sucked once but when the hand over its eyes was removed it let go, seemingly horrified. So we did it again and had it suck for a bit befor we let it see where it was coming from. I'm sure there are easier ways but that worked for me.

[LFmenagerie]

Also- I agree with Vicki...nothing offered but the milk.

[SherrieT]

2 Down 1 to go !!! Belle took 16 oz an hour or so ago. Baby (the smallest) also does great. Now just getting Bonnie used to it.

Sherrie