Bottle Feeding Two Kids

[oium.farm]

My son wanted to get a pygmy goat to show at our local fair. So we decided we would get two kids so that they wouldnt be alone, plenty of other animals on the farm but you get it. We found a really nice lady that breeds and sells nice healthy quality pygmy goats and we have been waiting for her goats to kid. Last Monday, Nov 4th it turns out that her one goat had three kids and will only let one feed and has totally rejected the other two. Wait for it..... So, we are going to go down and pick up the two that have been rejected and bottle feed the two kiddos. A LOT of work ahead of us but our entire family is on board (there are five of us) so these kiddos will be well taken care of, we built a whole nursery and play area for them yesterday. I will post some pics on here later today after we go pick them up. Of course I am always open to any pointers/ideas that any of you may have...

[mygoat]

Make sure they both still recieved quality colostrum within the first 12 hrs of life - Most breeders would have either milked out the dam or held her still a few times for the extras to nurse.

How exciting! Congrats on the new babies. Can't wait for pics.

[oium.farm]

She said that she did make her stand for them to nurse a few times but that by day three their Momma drew the line and that wad that... We are SUPER excited

[trnubian]

Congrats! And good that they got their colostrum. I HIGHLY recommend whole store bought milk over any type of formula. All they can eat at least 3 times a day. 4 or 5 would be better while they are still so young. Good luck and have fun with them.

[oium.farm]

I have read whole milk but I have also read formula. So I was kind of questioning that, they are currently on formula. So how would the transition be?

[dozedotz]

We have never used any formula, but we did have to transition kids from mom's milk to whole milk from the store. We accomplished it by mixing mom's milk (the breeder had pasteurized and prepared for us) with the whole milk from the store until they were drinking just the store bought milk. Didn't take long. I think she gave us 2 gallons of milk to bring home. I should say that the kids were already on the bottle...they were not dam fed. This made the transition easier I'm sure.

[Minelson]

Yes whole milk. You are going to have so much fun!!! Bottles babies are a blast I am excited for you! Pictures ASAP!!!
Don't forget to do the cocci prevention meds

[oium.farm]

We went to get the two babies and unfortunately one of the babies died... We are super sad! We did take the one and will be going back in five weeks to get the other one from its Momma... He will be a in door baby for awhile... The kids are happy to bring the one home and sad that one died... but then happy to go back and get the other one... Happy/Sad day...

[Frosted Mini's]

I hope the other one that you picked up is okay, that would be even more heartbreaking! Do you know what happened to the other? Why are you picking the other up in 5 weeks? Will it be a bottle baby, too? Will they get it on a bottle before you take it? That is much much too young to wean, but if you are going to bottle feed that one too, it will do fine.

[oium.farm]

Geesh I sure hope he is fine... So, the doe had triplets last Monday and only accepted one. So even though she wasnt taking care of the other two, they were still in with her and the "accepted" kid. Possibly Momma had enough? The breeder said she had bottle fed her around 11am and she was fine and spunky then around 4:30pm she found her dead. The breeder said that she weans them at six weeks and for us to come back in five weeks to get the "accepted" kid. I am transitioning this little kiddo to whole milk, some goat formula (which is what he is drinking) mixed with whole milk and water then eventually in the next few days just whole milk.

[Doug Hodges]

Good luck with the baby. Is it going to be by itself? In my opinion I would want a friend for it immediately.


Living the good life

[oium.farm]

That was the plan but unfortunately it didnt happen. Our female wirehair jack russell has already adopted him... She is licking the color off of his face... Since there is just one we are keeping him inside...

[Frosted Mini's]

NO! The kids cannot be weaned at 6 weeks. That is way way too early. I would look elsewhere or get her to keep the other kid until it is at least 8 weeks, or at least see if she can put that one on a bottle as well, which would also solve the problem of lack of goat company for your other baby. I NEVER wean before 12 weeks, and this year, my doe kids were on milk until 16 weeks plus. Don't wean the bottle baby that early either. It is just not a good idea. I wonder why this lady is doing that? Maybe she is trying to get small kids by stunting their growth. Really not a good idea.

[oium.farm]

We do not plan on weaning our little guy until 3mths or so. I am going to ask her to transition the baby girl to a bottle instead of wean her. I wanted to take her with us yesterday but she was nursing on her Momma and her Momma was actually a little protective of her and her only... Our little guy makes a grunt noise while he is sleeping... He pooped lastnight and it was diarrhea... I am hoping with a more stable diet and TLC it will all clear up... He LOVES being bundled in a blanket in my chest/lap For some reason this app will not let me attach a pic so I will load one from the comp this am

[mygoat]

It's REALLY hard to transfer a baby onto a bottle past a couple weeks of age. Get her sooner rather than later if you can. If you pick her up at 5 weeks old 'on the bottle' but dam fed up until then, she won't take it, I guarantee it. She'll also be untame, most likely. If I'm going to put kids on the bottle, I do it preferably at birth so the dam doesn't know any diferent - if you take them older, she'll look for her kids. Taking them at birth means the doe just bonds to me (I pull ALL dairy kids). She doesn't get to see them or lick them - but she doesn't care because I become her baby. I've sucessfully put 2 week olds on the bottle, though.

REALLY good formulas work for raising goats, but I will always prefer to use whole cow's milk from the store. It's generally cheaper and better for them. Formulas have to be species specific, Whey protein, and must be mixed well and at the proper temperature at feeding.

Don't forget to vaccinate them with CDT at 4 and 8 weeks of age. Start coccidia prevention at 3 weeks of age and continue every 3 weeks until 'well grown' (5 mon or so). Most cocci preventions can be added to milk. I generally use Baycox. I usually deworm at 4 and 8 weeks of age, as well - then again as needed. I free feed goat kids grain/alfalfa pellets as soon as they'll eat it, as well as free choice hay, water, minerals, and baking soda.

[oium.farm]

Ok, so here are just a couple pics. Notice the jack russell peeking over the blanket??? That is Willow, She loves him and he is her baby...

[oium.farm]

We have some friends that have dairy goats so we are thinking of getting some fresh goats milk from them for the little guy... Any thoughts?

[mygoat]

As long as the dairy goats are tested free of CL, CAE, and Johnes, then that would be best. Ask for test results - not just their word that they are 'healthy'. Using raw milk from an unknown status herd is a great way to transmit diseases.

[oium.farm]

I dont want to risk any illness/disease so we will just stick to the goat formula

[Backfourty,MI.]

Stick to whole milk from the store, much better for the baby than formula or replacers.
Also I would contact her about switching the baby to the bottle now & picking her/him up for a buddy for your baby. The longer she waits to get the new baby on the bottle the harder it will be. 5 weeks to switch her to a bottle will be Almost impossible.

Your little one you picked up is adorable!