the new goat, i'm an idiot

[chewie]

ok, I got the cute little buckling the neighbors had, for a companion. but now am feeling soooo stupid. he's tiny, I mean less than half the size of my current buckling, even much smaller than the doelings who are younger. this little thing needs some serious TLC. i know I paid double what he's worth, cuz i'm betting he won't have shots or anything. I know, I shoulda asked first, DUMB me. I thought he was younger when I said I'd take him, then as we were loading him up, learned otherwise. I just didn't ask enough questions, and they dont' know enough either.

none the less, the little guy is here, and is really sweet so once he's 'cleaned up', he'll do his 'job' just fine. they said he's weaned, but he is so tiny, would it do him any good to give him a bottle per day? he's about 2.5 months old. I did worm him, cydectin, and will do so again in a couple weeks. should I treat him for cocci too now, even with the wormer in him?

I did offer a bottle this morning, and he gladly took it. I just feel SO dumb for getting a headache like this. I KNOW better!!! I bet he doesn't weigh more than 20#. the only thing I can hold up my head about this mess is I am saving this little guy from a sad life. all their animals are poor, not terrible, just not kept well. at all. the horses they have are about the best cared for, but the smaller animals get bare min., just enough to get by. this little guy was being fed a handful of corn and old hay. that's it.

so, what's the best way to get him healthy? ?

[Waiting Falcon]

If you expect him to breed this fall he will need lots of nourishment. Be careful about overfeeding him if he is not used to it.

[chewie]

oh no, no breeding this guy, he's going to be wethered and used ONLY as a pen pal. as soon as he's not as sickly, I'll get him fixed. that was never the plan, breeding him.

several occasions i've needed a 'pen pal' so when i seen this little guy a month ago, he was sooo cute, and i thought he'd be perfect for that job. for my buck, for dry does, etc., only to keep company.

in fact, what is the opinions on castration--easier on them to band or just cut? hubs can cut, I can band. seems like the last ones I banded cried alllll day long, acted miserable. but I am worried about doing this to him, esp. now with him being so run down to start with.

this boy is very sweet and cute, and that's what I was looking for to be a companion. just shoulda looked a little more for 'healthy' as well, DUMB move!

[saanengirl]

Give him a couple of weeks to get to feeling better and get accustomed to your place before you castrate him. Do you have some sort of sedative to give him if you were to cut? I wouldn't recommend cutting without a sedative. Personally I prefer the Burdizzo which crushes the cords. You have to do it properly, but if done properly it is bloodless, and they do really well afterwards.

[chewie]

i don't have a burdizzo, nor seditives, I have a bander. and yes, I thought too, give him a bit of time, he's not in with anybody anyhow, so no possiblity of breeding.

a big question is should I give him a bottle again? he's not been weaned long, and I think he needs a serious boost.

[DamnearaFarm]

Thanks for saving the little guy, 'idiot'
<<<hugs>>>

[LoneStrChic23]

We put my mom's mini buck back on the bottle after bringing him home. He was 2 months old & half the size he should have been.....Not to mention he was loaded with coccidia. Bottle feeding made getting coccidia meds down him easier. Kept him on the bottle to complete two rounds of coccidia prevention & he took on a major growth spurt. If you have the milk, I'd definately put him back on the bottle.

And no worries.... I've had those idiot moments too.....Never should have paid what I did for my last Alpine doe in the condition she was in, but she's a sweetie & I'm a sucker. Now that I have her in decent shape, she's beautiful & I'm happy I took the gamble & brought her home

[chewie]

thanks guys. he doesn't seem to mind one bit to have the bottle again, and yes, I figured on bottle would be easier to get cocci meds. down him. can I give him those meds yet?? I wormed him yesterday.

every time i see him I think, 'boy am I a dope!', then I think, ah well, I did a good thing to help the poor guy. and lonestar, that's good to know, sounds just like the situation I'm in here, so it should work out about the same. I dont' care if he grows big, in fact, smaller would be fine, just healthy is what i'm aiming for!

[Manchamom]

I start cocci meds at 3 weeks old in my little herd and I keep my boys on a bottle until 4 months of age. Of course I want mine huge and healthy. The better start the stronger they are for working.
He probably needs wormed also.