Is He Eating To Much?

CookingPam777 · #1 03/14/08, 08:08 PM

I have a 3 week old buckling. And he is eating 16 oz. of milk plus 10 oz. of water and still wants more. I refuse to give him more as he feels very full like if he had anymore he'd burst. So my question is is this to much water for such a little guy? In between feedings he will also down another 10 oz. bottle of water. So in total every 6 hours he is cosuming 36 oz. of fluid. Times that by four thats 144 oz. a day! And he screams not just cries breaks in the house and won't leave you alone if he does not get his water. Ideas?

Wendy · #2 03/14/08, 11:10 PM

I have never given my kids water in a bottle. Give him his milk bottle & leave a shallow pan of water out for him. At 3 weeks he should be starting to eat hay & grain. Crying won't hurt him, but over feeding can.

BlueHeronFarm · #3 03/15/08, 07:15 AM

Ditto on the water.

I would have him on 64 ounces of milk a day - max. That's a gallon and that's all a kid would be able to get from mama...actually probably more...if he's a twin or trip. If he's hungry beyond that he'll learn to eat hay or nibble a little grain..

It's more likely that he is screaming for attention than water.

Rockytopsis · #4 03/15/08, 07:37 AM

JMO but if he is getting 16oz of milk at one setting plus 10oz of water, that is too much liquid at one setting. They would not get that much milk from their moms at any one time.

Goats are liars, they will tell you they are hungry when they are not.

At 3 weeks, 8oz every 4 hours is enough.

I only gave mine water when I was weaning them off the bottle.

Again JMO

Nancy

CookingPam777 · #5 03/15/08, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlueHeronFarm

Ditto on the water.

I would have him on 64 ounces of milk a day - max. That's a gallon and that's all a kid would be able to get from mama...actually probably more...if he's a twin or trip. If he's hungry beyond that he'll learn to eat hay or nibble a little grain..

It's more likely that he is screaming for attention than water.

I spend a lot of time with my goats and when I go in the house the cry a while and settle down but if he wants water a half hour later he'll still be screaming and breaking in the house.

CookingPam777 · #6 03/15/08, 10:15 AM

I give my little one a ounce of water so when it comes to weaning her it's not such a shock. And she will aquire a taste for it. She never acts hungry for it.

LomahAcres · #7 03/15/08, 10:24 AM

Drop the water, he doesn't need it, he needs milk. 16 oz of milk a day is not enough. His daily milk intake should be a minimum of 48 oz, up to 64 oz, in 3 - 4 feedings a day. If you want to give him water in a bottle wait until he is ready to be weaned.

mpete · #8 03/15/08, 11:06 AM

could he be wanting more because he's not getting the intake of milk he needs?

Wendy · #9 03/15/08, 11:34 AM

Quote:

His daily milk intake should be a minimum of 48 oz, up to 64 oz, in 3 - 4 feedings a day. If you want to give him water in a bottle wait until he is ready to be weaned.

Mine get two 16 oz. bottles of milk a day & do fine. They don't "need" 48-64 oz. I find mine start eating hay & grain quicker when they aren't getting so much milk. I also only bottle feed twice a day. Not saying your way is wrong, but it's not necessary to feed them more than twice a day at 3 weeks of age.

LomahAcres · #10 03/15/08, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy

Mine get two 16 oz. bottles of milk a day & do fine. They don't "need" 48-64 oz. I find mine start eating hay & grain quicker when they aren't getting so much milk. I also only bottle feed twice a day. Not saying your way is wrong, but it's not necessary to feed them more than twice a day at 3 weeks of age.

True, true, everyone does it differently.

I like my kids to grow *fast* and *big*, and I find this is what works for me.

CookingPam777 · #11 03/17/08, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LomahAcres

Drop the water, he doesn't need it, he needs milk. 16 oz of milk a day is not enough. His daily milk intake should be a minimum of 48 oz, up to 64 oz, in 3 - 4 feedings a day. If you want to give him water in a bottle wait until he is ready to be weaned.

He is getting 16 oz. 4 times a day not a day. Then I would be seriously trying to cram milk down him hehehe!

CookingPam777 · #12 03/17/08, 10:00 AM

He in total everyday consumes 64 oz of milk. Plus he wants to down a ton of water 10 oz. every feeding and another 10 oz. in between.

CookingPam777 · #13 03/17/08, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpete

could he be wanting more because he's not getting the intake of milk he needs?

He is getting 64 oz. of milk a day.