7 wk old goat and milk

[christie]

Okay I was reading weaning age on another thread and it got me concerned...
I had just purchased a doeling thats about 7 wks old. they pulled her off her mother and told me she drinks water and eats hay and grain and should be fine w/ out a bottle. I figured they knew what they were talking about... But I still have a goat in milk... only giving 1lb a milking and thought I would hold her down and let the doeling nurse off her if she wanted. Well the 1st 2 nights wat she was letting her come nere her.. and yes she was on the stand. Well tonight she was able to nurse off her.
Should she be getting a bottle still.?
I never bottle fed a goat before, but do have some milk replacer for kidding emergencies, and some nipples somwhere in the birthing kit.
But she was dam raised... and so friendly.. follows me everywhere... But anyhow how don't want her to be stunted in anyway.... Sugestions?

[steff bugielski]

I had a doe die last year with a 8 week old doeling. I kept the doeling. She was not given any milk after her mom died. She is fine although on the small side. Just had a doeling herself and the new kid id 3 months old and huge.

But you can let it nurse or give it a bottle either the milk you milk from your doe or store bought milk, whole cow. No replacer is needed. Replacer is not good in my opinion.
If the doe will let it 2x a day put her on the milk stand and let the kid nurse. Can't hurt.

[Rockytopsis]

Originally Posted by steff bugielski

you can let it nurse or give it a bottle either the milk you milk from your doe or store bought milk, whole cow. No replacer is needed. Replacer is not good in my opinion.
If the doe will let it 2x a day put her on the milk stand and let the kid nurse. Can't hurt.

Good advice from Steff.
Nancy

[christie]

I pay $7.50 a gallon of milk definitely not sharing it w/ a goat.. hubby would kill me!
she did nurse off the milker. Its not much, she sucks her dry in seconds. She only gives a pound a milking so its probably not enough for her. The doe seems to be of good size now. MAybe I can buy some cheap milk for her.... hmm.
So milk re-placer is no good? Its just sitting there in the barn... I was hoping to finally use it for something... But would the baby even drink out of a botttle? I tried the 1st couple nights giving her the milk in a pail and she didn't drink it. Well at least I see she doesn't have to have anything so thats good.

[southerngurl]

Get some store bought milk, has to be whole milk. Feed that for a few days and then start to use some of the replacer, mix it exactly according to the direction and add it to the real milk- give it 25% then 50% and stick with 50% until you use it up- or you may just stay with 25%. Don't overfeed, you can't just feed all you want like you can with real milk. I never use it, but if you have it sitting there might as well get rid of it. It's easier on older kids. And if your ever need milk in an emergency, just use store bought whole milk.

[Backfourty,MI.]

The baby will probly not take a bottle at this point since she's used to the dam & nursing that way.

I would just let her nurse off your doe in milk a couple times a day & make sure she has plenty of hay & grain the rest of the time. At 7 weeks old the mother isn't letting them nurse all the time like when they were newborns.

I agree with Stef also, don't use the milk replacer. Even store milk would have to be given slowly as to not upset her stomach becuase she's always had the dam's milk.

[ozark_jewels]

I too, would just let her take what the doe is giving twice a day. It will be much better than nothing, and its already proven to work. Replacer is not a good choice, although you could try sprinkling it over her feed. It shouldn't make her have the runs or bloat if fed this way. But I'd still let her nurse the doe.

[christie]

Yeah its great that she nurses from my milker but alas the milker is leaving tomorrow mourning yeah for me, bad for the kid!
Sprinkling milk replacer on her food is okay?
How much grain should she be getting?

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by southerngurl

Get some store bought milk, has to be whole milk. Feed that for a few days and then start to use some of the replacer, mix it exactly according to the direction and add it to the real milk- give it 25% then 50% and stick with 50% until you use it up- or you may just stay with 25%. Don't overfeed, you can't just feed all you want like you can with real milk. I never use it, but if you have it sitting there might as well get rid of it. It's easier on older kids. And if your ever need milk in an emergency, just use store bought whole milk.

Well then, if the milker is no longer an option, I'd vote for the above recomendation.