Making sure I am doing this right...

chickenista · #1 04/16/10, 11:18 AM

Ok.. I got the 2 week old bottle Saanens. 1 normal, one a runt.
They were disbudded on the day I got them.

Jester (runt) began with the runny poo and a little bit of hunching and energy loss. Understandable.
Then Joker began with the runny poo this morning. No great shocker.
New house, switching from goat to cow milk and disbudding..

I plan on smaller feedings more often and maybe pepto if the smaller feedings don't do it..
I started yogurt in the bottles last night.

Oh.. no temps. Energy good this morning. Lots of proinging around. The runt tires more easily. I am putting Ensure in his bottle.
Water and baking soda available. Only the bigger kid drinks or eats baking soda..

Anything else?
Am I doing it right?

thaiblue12 · #2 04/16/10, 11:32 AM

No Ensure that will upset his stomach more. They are not using all 4 stomachs at this time and it takes little to upset it.
Are they nibbling on new grasses and such around the yard? that might upset them as well.
I would leave them out baking soda and some hay. I would give them both some pepto, works well on the upset tummies.
You can always wet a small amount of baking soda and make it into a ball and put it in the runt's mouth. He will be forced to eat it. Can he reach the water?
The milk switch is probably what did it, it should clear up in a couple of days.

chickenista · #3 04/16/10, 11:36 AM

Oh.. I got the Ensure tip from the Fiasco Farms thing..
And the previous owner said molasses or Ensure.. I can stop with no problem.

Pepto is on the shopping list (heading out in a minute)
The bigger one nibbles and eats heartily of honeysuckle etc.. the little only tastes and drops.
I can do a baking soda ball.

Thank you guys!
You are the best!!

And I wasn't panicky about it at all.. with all the changes, it is quite understandable!

thaiblue12 · #4 04/16/10, 12:03 PM

Ok I just went and read it. She says to add 3 tablespoons of corn syrup to a gallon of cow's milk from the grocery store. I do not agree with that. They really do not need all that sugar, they do fine on just the milk with nothing added.
I saw the Ensure part and have no idea if it helps runty kids or not. Right now I would let him get use to the plain ol cow milks and once the runs stops if you want to slowly add that back into his milk you can. But a small bit each bottle so he can get use to it and digest it.

The Pepto really does work and they look like they are wearing lipstick

I use a needless syringe to get them to drink it. Some love it and want more others hate it.
Hay even if they just nibble at it is important for them because of the all the new stuff they will put in their mouths.
They are also little sneaks so if you think your chicken feed, new flowers you planted and what not are out of reach, check again

they are sneaky and flexible little things!

Tallabred · #5 04/16/10, 12:10 PM

I had 2 bottle babies because their dam died. Somewhere on here I followed the recipe of 1 gallon of milk, 1 can of evaporated milk and 1 cup of buttermilk. One of the bottles had a pinch of baking soda added to it everyday.

Are they out where they can nose in the dirt and nibble on some logs? You might try some probios or yogurt.

ozark_jewels · #6 04/16/10, 03:15 PM

With a new move, stress, the time of year, and the age they are, its perfect time for coccidiosis to start rearing its ugly head. Treat them for cocci, then get them on cocci preventative every day in their milk. Even if the runs clear up before you get a chance, they should be on a cocci preventative at least until they are weaned.

Melbertsch · #7 04/16/10, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallabred

I had 2 bottle babies because their dam died. Somewhere on here I followed the recipe of 1 gallon of milk, 1 can of evaporated milk and 1 cup of buttermilk. One of the bottles had a pinch of baking soda added to it everyday.

Are they out where they can nose in the dirt and nibble on some logs? You might try some probios or yogurt.

I use this formula faithfully and have great success with it.

**mygoat** · #8 04/16/10, 09:00 PM

I've seen no difference in kid size, growth, or digestion wether feeding straight cow's milk or making the mixture - besides straight cow's milk being easier.

chickenista · #9 04/17/10, 09:45 AM

I lessened the amount per bottle and took them from 3 to 4 feedings a day and all is well!
The runt is bouncy again and is making pellets. The bigger one is also making pellets, but is 'starving to death'

Thanks everybody!

ozark_jewels · #10 04/17/10, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenista

I lessened the amount per bottle and took them from 3 to 4 feedings a day and all is well!
The runt is bouncy again and is making pellets. The bigger one is also making pellets, but is 'starving to death'

Thanks everybody!

Good! For the sake of their growth, please be sure to get them on a cocci preventative(I use the kind that goes in their daily bottle of milk).

chickenista · #11 04/17/10, 10:18 AM

Will do!!

garyh141 · #12 04/17/10, 10:29 AM

You can also use cinnamon for hunched belly (pain).
We used goat milk, then switched to straight cow milk (however, we got it from a local farmer), went to store bought towards the end.
Sandra