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03/06/12, 08:03 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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Kids won't nurse! What now?!
They were delivered yesterday at 1PM. They were acting hungry right off the bat and I was able to get each to take a bottle for some colostrum. Since then it's a no go! They act hungry but then won't take teat or bottle. Truffles doesn't know what to do with them since she is a first time mother and still a bit confused. Every time they act hungry I offer both teat and bottle. If I am lucky they may take one or the other for all of less than a second. And then after that they're resistant and won't do it again. I've never tubed before but am starting to wonder if I need to. I don't think it's FKS since other than this they seem fine getting up and frolicking about occasionally. I'm getting more colostrum than they are as I get soaked every which way trying to get them to take. What should I do?
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03/06/12, 08:25 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Redding California
Posts: 1,967
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Are you going to bottle or dam raise?
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03/06/12, 08:38 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SE Kansas
Posts: 288
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Are you certain they're not nursing the mama when your back is turned?
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03/06/12, 08:46 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Redding California
Posts: 1,967
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They are too young for FKS
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03/06/12, 08:49 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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I'd like to dam raise but if they're not taking I don't see how that'll happen. I'm sure they're not nursing I stayed up all night watching and I was there when she birthed.
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03/06/12, 09:06 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,984
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It has been my experience that nursing is really variable.
I bottle feed all mine and normally some kids will come out hungry as heck and then others will drink only a sip or two and it takes them several days to really get eating.
Normally I don't worry unless they are not eating ANYTHING for 6 or 8 hours.
As long as they will take a sip or two they are usually OK.
You know you should pet their backs and stimulate around their tails with your hand while the kid is nursing to simulate the dam cleaning them. Right??
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03/06/12, 09:27 AM
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Romans 8:28
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: N. GA
Posts: 1,098
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They are probably nursing while you type or go to the bathroom. Go take a nap, and offer a bottle when you wake up. They may be picking up stress from you and can't settle. They aren't 24 hours old yet, they will learn how to nurse. It's going to be OK.  
__________________
Samantha,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
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03/06/12, 10:07 AM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
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If they were born yesterday afternoon & had not been eating they would not be frolicking around. They would be very weak, tired & not getting up much probly.
Baby goats only nurse from their momma a few seconds or so at a time but they do it all day & night.
If your sure the wax plugs are cleared from the mom(which it sounds like you've already made sure of that) then put the baby to a teat but kinda rub their butt like momma would doe when she nudges them to a teat. They don't like you to put the teat in their mouth or hold them their. It's kinda tricky, just use a light hand, be patient & once you get them to latch on a few times they will become little Pro's.
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03/06/12, 11:02 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Vermont
Posts: 984
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How long do you try one thing before switching to another? I would choose one or the other - either mama or the bottle, and stick to it. Switching back and forth between a bottle and mama when they're this young might just confuse them, especially if you only try one for a few minutes before switching to the other.
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03/06/12, 11:06 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Northernmost Arkansas
Posts: 1,010
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When I'm not sure, I tube them. Then I know they have something in their tummies and it gives me peace of mind.
This is the best guide to tubing that I know of and the one I recommend:
http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/cepublicatio...998/eb1998.pdf
Sue
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03/06/12, 02:53 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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24 hour UPDATE
So here's where it's at. I've got both to take the teat and they seem to be getting the hang of it. Truffles on the other hand still seems unsure of what's going on. She will try to walk off sometimes and I wonder if I wasn't sitting there if she would let them nurse or stand still at all. Also it seems to me she thinks she had triplets...the two boys and I. If I leave she cries for me and while I'm stimulating them to nurse she tries to stimulate me. But I haven't seen her try to stimulate them to nurse. In fact the only interaction I've seen her do is after I've already got them to nurse for a bit and when they stop and lay down she will sniff them and lick their faces a little. Occasionally I will see her cry and look around for them.
It seems like maybe she hasn't bonded to them well. What should I do or not do at this point?
Last edited by movebyfaith; 03/06/12 at 03:00 PM.
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03/06/12, 04:06 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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BUMP for Help
BUMP for Help
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03/06/12, 04:52 PM
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le person
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 6,236
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BO-SE! They need some Bo-SE, this is a common sign of selenium/E deficiency. Also give a 440 iu vitamin E cap orally. Give the vitamin e gel cap daily for a few days.
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03/06/12, 04:54 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northwestern, WI
Posts: 1,792
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Are the kids still active? Have you seen them potty? If they are, I'd probably keep doing what you are. I'm thinking your first timer may be having a time getting the hang of this, but as mentioned above, little sips are normal for some kids the first day or so. I have tube fed a kid for a day in the past when I just wasn't sure. Good luck and keep us posted.
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03/06/12, 04:59 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,701
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If the babies are sucking..maybe you are confusing Momma on what her role is. If they have had a couple of rounds at the teat..I'd stay out of the way and let them be goats.
Check that they have peed and pooed. If you are nervous..you may be making a first timer nervous. Like a post above said..if they are eating...they're gonna be okay.
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03/06/12, 06:52 PM
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Caprice Acres
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 11,232
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I'd pop 'em in a kidding pen. Give momma bucket of water and a pile of hay, and let them bond.
I take my dairy kids away at birth, and let the dams lick me. They adopt me as their babies. They then worry about me whenever I leave, lol.
__________________
Dona Barski
"Breed the best, eat the rest"
Caprice Acres
French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.
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03/06/12, 08:41 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,252
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Sounds like they are doing ok. At first it always seems that the babies aren't nursing, but they always do fine. When Gabe was little I didn't EVER see him nurse for the first week or twol
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03/06/12, 09:24 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Virginia
Posts: 147
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mygoat
Give momma bucket of water and a pile of hay, and let them bond.
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If you use a kidding pen... or just have them in a regular pen. Just make sure the kids can not get into the bucket and drown, happens every year with FF, just don't want it to be you.
Like everyone has said, kids hit the teat going 90 miles an hour, take a sip and run off.
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03/07/12, 05:31 AM
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Katie
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
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Sounds like they are doing pretty good & momma is just taking a little time to figure out what's going on. Some FF are a little slow to catch on at first. I would keep a close eye on them & like Mygoat says I'd put them in a stall or kidding pen for a day & let them bond. Just watch them to make sure all is good.
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03/08/12, 09:22 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 31
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48 hour UPDATE
Well after Monday night and all day Tuesday of the kidding pen. She seems have gotten the hang of it. I put them back in her normal pen Wednesday and alls well this morning. There are absolutely NO buckets around here. I use automatic waters.
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