Triplets: #02 = .67 bucket baby
#03 = .56 bucket baby
#04 = .48 dam raised
#05 = .32 dam raised
#07 = .31 (runt saanen/boer cross)
#08 = .46 dam raised (saanen/boer cross)
Twin: #06 = .34 (my orphan "RC" buckling, his dam died when he was 10 days of age. We had a hard time keeping him alive because he refused the bottle.(tubed him many times) I grafted him onto another doe when he was 36 days old and weighing barely 10 lbs. In 3 days, he gained 3 lbs, and ... he is now 19 lbs! His sister though is well over 20 lbs)
Single: #09 = .5 dam raised
I have heard of people taking triplets and bottle feeding them, I had never
given it much thought because I was not into the Daily Weight Gain, but now I am wondering.... I do know that for several days, I was not able to let my does browse and they lost a lot of weight, but now they are browsing all day long, hay offered in the mornings, grain & concentrates offered in evening time, and they are quickly gaining weight.
I have also noticed that a few of my does preferr to let "some kids" eat first, then the "lower totem pole babies" get the left overs...
I only weighed my bucklings. I will weigh the doelings tomorrow.
I guess I can wait another 2 weeks to see if the better feed program makes a
difference in their weight gains...
