Bottle raising

Mountain View · #1 08/22/07, 12:59 PM

I am looking for opinions on how often and how much to feed bottle raised baby goats. Ours are about a week old now and I'm going to start bottle raising them at 2 weeks. I've never bottle raised a baby and I'm not sure how it should work. Any information or resources would be much appreciated.

**mygoat** · #2 08/22/07, 02:56 PM

Why are you bottle raising? Is it to milk the doe? if that's the case, you still need to be milking out their dam 2x per day right now not only to get her used to being milked, but also to ensure that she doesn't lower her milk production to only the needs of her kids.

You can pull the kids now, if you'd like, or wait till 2 weeks. I believe the earlier the easier it is for them to transition.

I feed my kids 3x per day, 10-16 oz (depends on breed/size, and if they're being bucket fed or not) until two weeks before weaning. The 2nd to last week is 2x per day, then the last week is 1x per day. If you can, keep up their feedings for as long as possible. They will need milk for at least 3 months, but the longer you milk feed them, the better they'll grow.

suzyhomemaker09 · #3 08/22/07, 03:20 PM

I'd think that at 2 weeks you would have trouble getting them to take a bottle...it is best IMO to pull them at birth and get them used to it.

Tamar · #4 08/22/07, 04:09 PM

Hi there,

I think mygoat asked a good question.

For us,
Our Nubian/Alpine had triplets four weeks ago. They are doing awesome, practicing cartwheels off my back while I milk out "Emah" their mom.

Emah came to us with one teat shriveled with lumps on it. We were told she had a very bad case of mastitis and that the teat would work again once the kids were born. That didn't happen, but because she became so engorged with milk and the kids were trying to nurse that side...she became frustrated (I guess) and wouldn't permit any drinking off of her at all. One of the kids still sneaks in a few swallows from the right side now and again, but when she latches on the wrong side..she needs to be quick to dart away from Emah's hoof.

What I did, was start them on four times a day. The doeling would only take 4-6 ounces per feed, while the bucklings both gulped down 12 ounces four times a day.
I slowly increased...then as their 3 week old birthday arrived, I switched to three feeds a day. They seem to be all happy with 20 ounces 3x per day for the bucklings, and the doeling seems to prefer 16..while today she did take 18 at her last feed.

I milk out Emah..she gives between 24-34 ounces each milking from her one teat. I am supplement the remainder with other fresh goat milk. Taking turns who gets from Mom and who gets the supplement each feed. ( I don't have to do that..I just got into the habit of doing it)
They are all nibbing extra now...they forage with their mom and love to also eat a tiny handful each of goat pellets. (forget the name right now)

Hope that helps some!
Blessings,
Tamar

Mountain View · #5 08/22/07, 07:42 PM

I'd like the babies to be people tame. I also would like to be keeping much of the milk from the mama goat. Mostly I have never bottle raised and would like to see what happens with trying it a different way. How long do you all bottle feed before weaning?

Mountain View · #6 08/22/07, 07:43 PM

I forgot to ask what temperature you heat the milk to when feeding mid-day.

HilltopDaisy · #7 08/22/07, 07:48 PM

Call me crazy but I don't think there are many things that are more fun than bottle feeding baby goats! I have Nigie's, and I start out with 3 bottles a day. They only take about 4 ounces at first, but quickly go up to 8 ounces. I go to 2 bottles a day when I see they are really nibbling grass or hay, I guess about 6 weeks?

Tamar, mine cartwheel off my back too, isn't is hysterical!

fcnubian · #8 08/22/07, 08:24 PM

It'll probably take the kids a bit to figure out the bottles. My pygmy buck I got was 2.5weeks old. It took him a few days before he realized that if he sucked, milk came out. Once he figured it out he sucked down a bottle in no time.
They are much easier to bottle feed if the are pulled immediately after birth that way they dont feel the teats and then have to change to the strange feeling bottle nipples.
Goodluck with the kids.

boren · #9 08/22/07, 08:35 PM

Mountain View,

I would pull the kids as soon as possible. I would also never ever buy a dairy goat that wasn't bottle fed from birth. Everyone one of our girls loves people and milks out easily. I've seen a bad milker that after 3 months of milking was so rough on the milk stand she was causing it to tumble over. Only use for that type a goat in a 22 through its head.

For the first couple of weeks I try to give them as much as they'll eat. This tends to top out around 32 to 40oz/day for my saanen's. I do 2 week at 3 times/day, then the next two months at twice a day. Bucks are weaned at 2 months, girls a little latter if I can. They longer you bottle feed the better honestly.

Temperature, comfortable on the wrist. This time of the year it's so warm if it's a little cold it won't matter. If it's too cold they'll drink it slowly and poof out.

mary,tx · #10 08/22/07, 09:50 PM

Kids that have started nursing will be VERY difficult to get onto a bottle. I wouldn't even attempt it after they had nursed for a couple of weeks.

**mygoat** · #11 08/22/07, 09:54 PM

If they're not too old, it usually isn't that hard to get them to switch over. I took two doelings off their dam this year at exactly a week old. I separated them at three and gave a bottle at 11 pm that night, expecting a fight... I just had to put the nipple in their mouths and they went at it! That's not the case with all, however, be prepared to 'starve' them and 'force' them for a few feedings. They won't be worse off for it, and yes they will be friendlier.