Yet more bottlefeeding questions

deineria · #1 05/05/10, 07:56 PM

Okay, so how much do you feed in ounces daily for kids that are:
7 weeks
and
13 weeks

I think I must be feeding quite a bit less than some others because I fed about what Fiasco and the first breeder I dealt with recommended,
so they get 36 ounces at 7 weeks and 24 ounces at 13 weeks split up in 3 feedings for the 7 week old kids, and 1 single 24 ounce feeding for the 13 week old kids.

Also, would it be okay to split the 7 week old kids up into only 2 verses 3 feeding since they are eating very well?

What do your Nubian doelings usually weigh at 7 and 13 weeks? Are weight tapes accurate at this age?

shiandpete.1 · #2 05/05/10, 09:11 PM

Our Lamanchas (7 weeks old and 6 1/2 weeks old) and then the 2 Sable does (10 weeks old) are getting approximately 60oz a day, split into 2 feedings along with alfalfa and a meat goat grower pellet.

deineria · #3 05/05/10, 09:43 PM

I'm worried we've underfed them a great deal then! We only get about 30 oz a day from our doe who had mastits because the one side it totally dry, so we have to buy the milk!

Goodness!

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #4 05/06/10, 01:05 AM

Minimum your kids should gain 10 pounds a month, so a 3 month old should weigh 30 pounds plus their birthweight...........4 month old, 40 pounds plus their birthweight, so I just figure 27, 37, 47 pounds, infact I tell customers to go to farms with a weigh tape around their neck and never but any big breed doe that doesn't weigh this because they are likely cocci, worm or management starved and will never grow to their potential. My kids outwiegh this by 10 pounds or more per-month, mine are offerd via lambar all they want 3 times a day at those ages, now 12 weeks twice a day, it's why I only keep as many kids as I can afford to feed out since I buy milk also. Mine are drinking 3/4 a gallon of milk per day each. They are also eating their meat goat pellet, calf manna and also alfalfa hay.

Are you using cocci prevention? Are they being wormed? Most underweight kids are about parasites. Vicki

susanne · #5 05/06/10, 07:15 AM

weight tapes are rarely accurate for young kids unless you pull the tape tight. better is a scale.

deineria · #6 05/06/10, 11:10 AM

Oh, I think the doelings born here are large and not at all underweight.
The doelings we bought at 2 weeks old were small, they were quads, and
they still seem small to me, but not thin, just not as large as the two horses (kids) we
had born here - lol. They were twins. All of the kids at the other farm were smaller than ours at birth and 2 weeks, but they had an amazing set up, their does looked amazing, but they said most kids were small at birth with their buck. I know quite a few of their adult show does came from that buck and are all a nice size now.

All the reading and questions I've asked, I just assumed what the original breeder told me about bottle feeding and never looked enough in to that - so I just realized everyone else
was feeding 60 oz a day or so, and here I am feeding 24 and 36 oz (plus free choice hay and then our feed mix with a medicated pellet added in)
So my question is really more about whether if I start feeding 50-60 oz a day, have I caused any growth stunting that can't be corrected at their ages (7 and 13 weeks).
They look healthy and in great condition. . . but obviously, if everyone is feeding 60 oz and I have been feeding 1/2 that, they probably haven't grown like I'd have hoped. . .
I'll add photos later.