Orphaned pygmy buckling

NostalgicGranny · #1 10/02/11, 03:30 PM

How much should he be bottle fed & how often? Seems like every website I've been to has a different opinion which ranges from 3-5 times a day 8 oz. This little guy is only eating a couple ounces a x4 daily. He looks a bit boney to me but not to DH. Dh gives him water in a dish and he drinks it up. I don't believe he's getting enough to eat. Is the 8 oz total for the day or for each feeding - this little guy is pretty tiny (Dh says he doesn't weigh 8 oz)?

He was one of three. The first two delivered during the night did not make it. One never made it out of the sack and the other appeared something had sat on her. We have no idea why the mama died - just know she was a fantastic mom who suddenly wasn't with this one so we knew something was off. There is no vet in my area who does farm animals. There is one that does dogs and cats, and another that is strictly equine, so we do not have a vet to consult for anything. This is our first bottle baby, so I'm worried the problem is we are just clueless.

crazygoatgal · #2 10/02/11, 03:38 PM

I have Nd's so I'll tell you what we do. Hopefully he got some colostrum, if not try to find some. I give 4-6 ounces at least 4 times daily, but at first they won't drink that much. They naturally want to suck just a minute of two from mama but they do it 30 or so times a day. They have to get pretty hungry to want to suck down a whole bottle at once. I just let them suck what they want when they are tiny and when they are stronger and older I will regulate the amount in regular intervals. Try 2oz every few hours to see if that works. Good luck and I'll keep you in prayer.

ps. As they get older, I increase the amount of milk to 6-8oz 3-4 times a day and kind of see who needs more or less. I wean at 10-12 wks old because I just love feeding them.

NostalgicGranny · #3 10/02/11, 03:53 PM

Ahhh thank you - it's nice to know he isn't to far off base. We believe he did get colostrum as both DH & I saw mama feeding him on more than one occasion.

Is the water OK for him to drink when we aren't feeding? If not how old are yours when you offer water?

crazygoatgal · #4 10/02/11, 04:06 PM

I did not offer water at all until they were being weaned. if they wanted to explore the water buckets I didn't stop them. When i was weaning I would water down the milk a little bit every few days or so.

I honestly don't know if it is fine or not for him to drink water right now. My head says that at this young age, they should probably be filling their tummies with nutrient rich milk. ???

crazygoatgal · #5 10/02/11, 04:09 PM

I'll pm you my number and feel free to call me later.

Backfourty,MI. · #6 10/02/11, 07:10 PM

Don't give him any water. A baby goat that was just born should only be getting milk. If you have goats milk that's the best to feed him but if you don't have another goat to milk give him Whole cow's milk from the store, no replacers. Warm the milk first too but you probly already knew that.
I bet you already know this little guy will end up being everybodies favorite right?

**mygoat** · #7 10/03/11, 12:30 AM

I get my minis up to 12-16 oz as soon as they'll take it. When I start them out, I usually take them a bottle of 6 oz and let them have as much as they want, 4x per day. Once they empty that, I'll increase it to 8oz, etc. I go down to 3x per day pretty quick, usually by a week old or so. I have no set time I go down to 2x per day, but I don't think I did this year until they were at least 3 months old. I'm a big advocate of feeding as much milk as you can afford, for as long as you can afford to do so. If he's just wether quality, I would wean him around 10-12 weeks. This years' keeper bucklings that I raised got milk until they were 6 months old.

thaiblue12 · #8 10/03/11, 12:57 AM

No water for now, mine start drinking it at 2 weeks old.

What are you feeding him? Goat milk? Please not replacer, if that is what you are using slowly switch him over to whole milk from the grocery store.

What kind of nipple are you using? My tiny ones like the human bottles with a large X cut into the nipple. Some refuse to use the livestock ones since their have tiny mouths or they do not like that rubber smell.

They get tiring the first few days with trying to sip here and there but like Crazygoatgal said they eventually get it. They and I end up wearing a lot of milk at times till they do.

Good Luck with him. If you do not have a friend for him, you should get one, bottle kids do better in pairs

More baby goats is always good lol.

crazygoatgal · #9 10/03/11, 12:03 PM

Hows the little guy doing? Hope you both got a routine going now and he is nursing well. Post a pic when you can. We are all rooting for him.

NostalgicGranny · #10 10/03/11, 12:58 PM

He's doing good so far. His appetite has increased, so that is a good sign. We've been using human bottles and nipples with an X cut in the top. And cows milk. Tried canned goats milk but he wouldn't take it. Then I read online that you shouldn't give canned milk (reconstituted) because of the additives. Sure enough when I looked it had some sort of anti caking chemical in it. -sigh- I wish they'd stop adding things to the food they sell.
I didn't think he was suppose to have water but hubby thought if he'll take it that maybe it was OK.

The biggest problem right now is where to keep him. Right now he's in a dog carrier with exercise outside a few hours a day. He gets a walk around the yard and also gets time in a makeshift playpen as we call it. He needs more sunshine and room to roam I think. All in all he seems happy enough. So I figure we can't be too far off base.

NostalgicGranny · #11 10/03/11, 12:59 PM

Oh, and thank you'all for your help and advice I really appreciate it!

crazygoatgal · #12 10/03/11, 01:11 PM

When I was doing bottle babies, they would live in my bathroom full time for the first week and then go out periodically during the day if it was warm enough. I would leave them loose with papers on the floor. I couldn't leave them out alone because we have hawks and now bald eagles I hear. Being in the bathroom makes "doing your business" very enjoyable! Glad hes doing well.

thaiblue12 · #13 10/03/11, 01:41 PM

I keep mine in the mud room, and they pee on pee pads. They usually learn in a day.

But see he needs a friend close to his own age

Then he has a sleeping buddy, head butting, jumping, eating paper friend, lol.

I am glad he is eating better for you

Pictures would be great...hint hint

Backfourty,MI. · #14 10/03/11, 08:20 PM

So glad it sounds like your little guy is doing great! Thanks for the update & pictures really would be appreciated for us goat junkies that can't get enough baby pictures!

Pony · #15 10/04/11, 03:28 PM

Just saw this thread. Glad that all is well and your little guy is growing, but so sorry to read that you lost your mama goat.