Skinny Doe

[Apryl in ND]

I just brought home a nubian doe and her doe kid. They are both very skinny but the mother is extremely emaciated. The doeling was pulled and bottle fed but the owners left the doe's buckling on her. They just weaned him last week. Could she still be making any milk a week later? My plan was to milk this doe, but she looks so terrible I'm thinking even if she isn't completely dried up yet that she's just too skinny. Is attempting to milk her completely out of the question?

I know they both need to be dewormed. I'll do that tomorrow. What kinds of feed do you recommend to put some weight and condition on them? I'd like them both to be in good condition to breed by fall. Thanks.

[Apryl in ND]

I would post a picture of them if I could figure out how. I'm trying to follow the forum directions and not having any luck...... The things it's telling me to click on don't exist. Well whatever, here's a link to a picture of them.


http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php...=1387867331455

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php...=1387867371456

[Wonderland]

A website like photobucket.com will allow you to upload pictures onto it, and then paste the code here for pictures.

Those look like some adorable goats! They just need fixing up. I love their color, though.

Aside from the worming, the mother's coat looks like she could definitely use some copper. Loose minerals certainly need to be set out for them (if you haven't already), but I would give her a copper bolus. The kid probably needs copper, too, but I can't see her coat as well. You can get the boluses here - http://www.jefferslivestock.com/ssc/...%20AND%20bolus. You can empty these boluses and put the copper in smaller pills that you can get from health food stores if you need to cut back on the amount. They're packed for 150-500lb calves.

I'm sure others with more experience will chime in, too- I don't know about the milking or what specific foods would help them put on weight. Good luck with them!

[Apryl in ND]

Thanks! Yes, I love their coloring and think they'll make great goats once they're healthy. They're definitely fixer uppers though. They have loose minerals out with a high copper content. I should bolus though probably.

[deineria]

Pretty coloring. I'd Copper bolus FOR SURE. Bo-Se. . .worm them. . .
I'd feed a good quality grain mix like Blue Seal Caprine Challenger.
A goat mineral - try sweetlix meat maker, as it can be found easier than some, might be a good idea.
Add rice bran pellets - from legends horse feed at Southern States, to her feed.
Alfalfa pellets or hay is MUST for a doe in milk.

Your vet can get you BO-SE - it isn't expensive. It is an injection.

[Apryl in ND]

Okay, I do have some Bo-Se on hand actually.