Lesson learned and advice needed

[jil101ca]

When Libby had her twins some people suggested taking one away and bottle feeding it. Others said she would be fine. She is making enough milk, all 3 are growing really nice but her poor teats. She has a raw spot on the back of each teat from the kids fighting over her. The raw spot is hard and bleeds when they nurse. Her udder and the front side of her teats is still soft. The kids fight and when she walks away they hang on for for their life and she ends up dragging them around the stall on their sides.

I am putting Udderly Care mixed with hibitane on her a few times a day, this has healed everything on her udder except for the teats and she is away from the kids during the day. Yesterday we had to force her to stand so they could eat. We tried to change them to a bottle but they are having no part of that. All 3 are eating pretty good but they are only 1 month old so too young to wean yet. Any suggestions??

[mamajohnson]

Maybe letting them in to nurse one at a time would help, there wouldn't be a fight. Getting a kid on a bottle after being with mom sometimes takes work. I have brought home a couple of bottle babies that were a few weeks old. I had to stick the nipple in their mouth & squirt to get them the idea. Also be sure to hold the bottle up, like they would find the udder, it helps.

Good luck!

[mpete]

I agree... let one in at a time to eat... rotate who goes in first so theres nobody going hungry from being the first to eat. Is there a way to put some first aid tape around her sores and around her udder so it wont come off during feeding?

[jil101ca]

We did that last night, let one at time nurse so there was no "Momma I've been starved" panic. Everybody ate their fill.

I'd be worried the tape would come off, the sores are where the teat attaches to the udder.

[jil101ca]

after thought... would twice a day feedings be enough for them at a month old? They are eating hay and dairy ration plus calf manna well.

[mpete]

I bottle feed mine... I feed them mornings and evenings... they also have their fill of alf. pellets, calf mana, black oil sunflower seeds.

[jBlaze]

I would say twice a day feedings as long as your doe is comfortable that way. (does not get too full in between.) And just one or two at a time.
Good luck. Poor doe.

About bottle feeding, I can usually get them to take a bottle under 2 weeks. I have one boy now though, one week, that just won't. grrr. Another doe I seperated at the same time, at close to 3 weeks, takes the bottle very agressively, lol, but she is still a little skittish. ya just never really know.