skinny doe

[lettermom]

We brought her home about 5 days ago and she just had triplets a few days before that. She has been eating alfalfa hay, and offered 2 and 1/4 cups grain with pellets ect. from Kent feed twice a day during milking but doesn't always finish it all. She will nibble grass but not much at all. She looks really skinny to me Our other doe is 2yo and this one is 1 but the other doesn't look near as thin. I don't think there should be that much difference between the 2?

Her inner eyelids aren't pale looking or anything and she came from a reputable breeder so I don't *think* she has any worms. Her milk production has gone up a little and we raised the grain ration (she started out at 2 cups) a little over the past few days. What else can i do for her?

[mpete]

I would go ahead and worm her, you never know if the last deworming was successful without doing a fecal, also, if it wasn't followed up by a second deworming. With a milking doe it is harder to keep weight on than a none milking doe. She may be a little stressed with the move. Congrats on the new addition.

[lettermom]

Thank you! What should I use to worm her? Is the milk safe to use if they have worms or after worming?

[mygoat]

Feed her at least 1 lb grain per 3 lbs milk produced. You'll need a scale, which you can get in the fishing department of Meijers for about 3.00 to weigh both her milk output and grain. After she finishes her grain, allow her to free feed on alfalfa pellets until you finish milking.

Add shredded beet pulp or change gradually to a sweet feed.

Keep in mind that a good dairy doe will be skinnier than a non lactating or a poor producing doe. 'Skinny' is not bad at all in the dairy world, and is a sign of a good producer.

[lettermom]

here is a pic of her
to give you an idea what she looks like since i really have no idea what is average for a doe in milk. this view makes her front seem a little thinner though i think, so maybe the angle...


I'll try to get a new picture today, this is from a couple days ago.