New bottle baby advice

TRAILRIDER · #1 03/05/12, 09:43 AM

Yesterday I picked up three boer bottle babies. They are 2 to 3 weeks old. I promise pictures soon!
Both the boys take a bottle real well. As long as I put the nipple in thier mouth, they go to town. I am feeding them warm save a kid with probiotics mixed in. Using a glass soda bottle and lamb nipple. They are taking about 12 oz twice a day. The breeder said they were being fed 16 oz twice a day. But after ten or twelve they seem to be done. Maybe in time as we get to know each other they will take more. They enjoy a little grain and nibble hay too.

The little doeling is a different kettle of fish. She wasn't bottle fed from day one like the boys. She does not like the bottle. This morning I warmed up some milk from my own goat and fed that to her. She was much happier with that bottle than a milk replacer bottle. I also made the hole in the lamb nipple slightly bigger so she would get more with each suck. She did drink without too much of a fight, but every now and then she would stop and turn her head. I would have to pry her mouth open and put the nipple back in. The she would drink again for awhile. I was worried that she drank so little last night (half what the others drank.) But this morning when I looked in on them she was the first to greet me at the stall door, bouncing and crying to be fed. They are in a stall, the barn doors shut and she is wearing a coat too, since its snowing today.

Do any of you experienced goat moms (and dads) have any advice to help the little girl take her bottle better? (I considered a drop of honey on the nipple, but remembered that you don't give human babies honey because of botulism.)
Also how old should they be before I let them sample alfalfa pellets? I haven't been able to find any green alfalfa hay lately.

chma4 · #2 03/05/12, 10:10 AM

I used a drop of molasses on mine to get her started.

Oat Bucket Farm · #3 03/05/12, 10:28 AM

Persistence will work better than anything else. Just keep prying her mouth open and putting the nipple back in. It will take her a little longer since she wasn't raised form day one it, but she will eventually get it. I've got babies as old as a month, switched over to a bottle.

We have hay, alfalfa pellets and water available from the beginning. At first they take no notice, then they play with it and by the time they are three weeks to a month, they are munching on it.

TRAILRIDER · #4 03/05/12, 10:39 AM

Thanks, I will let them experiment with a few alfalfa pellets today. just wanted to make sure they wouldn't choke on them.

Yesterday evening the babies were kind of interested in me, today I'm thier new best friend! When I feed one little boy, the other wants to climb on us and knock the bottle out of my hand.

thaiblue12 · #5 03/05/12, 11:16 AM

Maybe the glass bottle is not working well? I use plastic baby bottles since I have Nigerians, I know others use plastic soda bottles.

I do not use replacer, I use whole milk from the grocery store. If you switch them, add the whole milk slowly to the replacer and keep reducing the replacer for the whole milk till they are only on milk, they may also like it better then replacer.

I have never used replacer but I know someone who did with bad results, a couple of people on here say they use it with no problem, I prefer not to use it since it doesn't really contain anything natural.

Wag her tail while she is drinking, it helps, also if you put her under your knee, robe, or something she will feel better about eating, more like if she is on her mom.

TRAILRIDER · #6 03/05/12, 12:30 PM

Oh never thought of wagging her tail.I know when I make kissy sucky sounds on her forehead she does drink better. Guess it reminds her of brother being beside her. So glad mt neighbors can't see me!

KrisD · #7 03/05/12, 01:10 PM

Throw a small towel over her eyes when you offer the bottle. As Thai said it makes them think they are under mom.

Oat Bucket Farm · #8 03/05/12, 01:34 PM

One problem with a glass bottle is it won't collapse as they suck and there isn't a good way for air to get in, so they get to the point they can't get any more out unless they let go and air can get back in through the nipple.

Try a plastic soda bottle.