Bad Mom not feeding buckling

tmfinley · #1 05/07/08, 09:31 PM

Holly just had a buckling about an hour ago. He is huge. He is about the same size as the week old buck here. It took him quite a while to stand up.

Holly is not being the greatest mom. It took her a long time to start licking him, he was almost dry by the time she started. She will not let him near her teats. I finally had to have my husband hold her while we let him gets a few sucks down. Now he is looking for something to eat and when he comes up to her she knocks him down.

How long should I give them to work this out? Should I go out there once in awhile and just make Holly let him eat? How often and for how long should he eat?

It is such a shame, her udder is HUGE. My husband keeps saying we are gonna get a lot of milk from this one. Her teats and udder are also nice and soft. Her udder is easily twice the size of the doe that had twins last week. Why won't she be a good mommy?

I also forgot to add that Holly will not drink. First I offered water with red Gatorade and she licked it, but did not really drink. So then I tried regular water. Maybe she doesn't like red Gatorade. Nope, she won't drink regular water either.

My other doe drank about 2 gallons after she freshened. Should I be worried?

Thanks,
Tiffany

tmfinley · #2 05/07/08, 11:12 PM

Okay, I milked her out and now she is kind of letting the buckling nurse.

She is still not drinking anything though. I tried regular water, water with gatorade, sugar water. I don't have any molasses or would try it. Any other ideas. I'm really getting worried.

BTW, her temp is 103, which is almost normal for her.

Backfourty,MI. · #3 05/08/08, 06:25 AM

I would try mixing up the electrolyte water it's 1 liter water(I use warm), 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 2 tbsp of either honey or white sugar(I use honey). She will hopefully drink it right down & look for more. Also could try some apple cider vinegar water, all my goats love that.
I have 1 girl that always seems to have easy deliveries & has been an excellent momma this year so far but she starts out the 1st couple days not wanting to eat or drink much. I do all the normal stuff since I also worry alot & she comes around. I think it's just harder on some than others, maybe she just doesn't feel good yet.
I'd hold her & let the baby drink afew times & see if she doesn't let him nurse more often & easier.
Congratulations, by the way. Where are the pictures?

Rockytopsis · #4 05/08/08, 06:38 AM

Sometimes I think some does just need time to be alone to bond with their kids. If the kid was that large she just might need more recoupe time. It is good that he is starting to drink from her. As to the doe not drinking water, we had a doe like that. She did not appear to drink for a few days and I was worried about her but she is doing great now, lots of milk, kids are growin so I know that she is drinking ( kids are 1 week old).

And I agree with Backfourty, where are the pictures. LOL

tmfinley · #5 05/08/08, 12:06 PM

Thanks for the replies. Her water was dumped over this morning so I don't know how much water, if any, she drank. My son said she did take a quick sip when he was watching her this morning. I will just keep watching her.
I tried everything in the water. You should have seen all the different containers I had going. The rest of the herd and the dogs got a treat. When she did drink she drank regular old water. I actually lugged in the big waterer from the main pen in case it was the containers that were bothering her.

I wish I could take pictures!! I have lost my camera. Rocky is the sweetest buckling ever and he is so big. Bigger than the other week old buck here.

Thanks again,
Tiffany