Goat Gone

Lee&Lyric · #1 11/26/13, 04:05 PM

Good day everybody:

This morning our doe went a visitin' and we could not locate her before Lee had to go to work. http://www.sewandcro.com/new-baby-goats/ She just had kids about three days ago.

I am so worried for Missy's kids. What about their feeding? Will the kids take milk from a bowl or do we need to fashion a bottle?

Working to not be distraught,

Lyric

**mygoat** · #2 11/26/13, 04:23 PM

Seems odd that she'd wander too far away from her newborn kids. Search for her body.

They will NOT eat from a bowl. You will need to go to the farm store and get lamb nipples that fit on a pop bottle. Feed WHOLE VIT D COWS MILK FROM THE GROCERY STORE. No formula - you'll end up with issues. You will need to feed at least 3x per day, as much as they want, up to about 20oz.

Start offering hay and lamb starter free choice at about 2 weeks of age, along with loose minerals and baking soda. KEEP FEEDING milk.

coccidia prevention at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 wks old. Longer if needed. I deworm at 4 and 8 weeks of age, then again as needed. I also vaccinate for CDT at 4 and 8 weeks of age.

Kids can be weaned as early as 8 wks if eating solids well - I free choice grain/hay. The trick is never letting them run out such that when you DO fill the feeder, they gorge themselves - this can cause problems. I suggest a lamb starter which is usually medicated and the Ca:P is balanced for the wethers/bucklings. I usually do not wean doe kids till 3-4 months of age, sometimes as late as 5. They grow fast this way.

WE usually get down to 2x per day feedings by around 3 mon.

Lee&Lyric · #3 11/26/13, 04:48 PM

THANK YOU! Showing this to Lee right now.

Goat Servant · #4 11/26/13, 05:21 PM

Oh gosh, hope you find her!
If kids are less than 48 hrs old, beg borrow or steal colostrum for them.

gunsmithgirl · #5 11/26/13, 05:55 PM

Hope you find her if not get a bottle and get those babies some milk!

Suzyq2u · #6 11/26/13, 07:50 PM

Hope you're able to find her

I'd be afraid too if she left her babies.
Great info from mygoat - Good luck!!

Lee&Lyric · #7 11/27/13, 11:37 AM

Hello My Goat Friends,

Good news! Missy returned at some point yesterday while we were out. When we got in it was dark and get this . . . this morning upon light we found her in the chicken coop with her kids!!!!

She was there last night; we just couldn't see her.

Thank you ALL for chiming up with help and support. You're gems.

xoxo,

Lee and Lyric

P.S. Here is a pic of them . . . so cute http://www.sewandcro.com/new-baby-goats/. If you visit please take a moment and comment. It's nice to know when you stop by.

**mygoat** · #8 11/27/13, 11:42 AM

Thank goodness!

Pinehollow · #9 11/27/13, 12:37 PM

Glad she's home... hopefully they're not eating the chicken food!

where I want to · #10 11/27/13, 01:09 PM

Whew. I thought she was a goner too because I have never seen even the most casual mom leave her kids for long.

Suzyq2u · #11 11/27/13, 01:31 PM

oh thankgoodness!! I was worried

Pony · #12 11/27/13, 03:39 PM

Wow, that was a quick shift from extreme concern to extreme relief!

Glad she is home and all is well in your goat world.

Doug Hodges · #13 11/27/13, 03:54 PM

Super glad she's home.

kasilofhome · #14 11/28/13, 01:54 AM

I have had newborns drink from a dish of mothers milk held up to their lip --I dip and after a few trys they do catch on. That is just an FYI---also I have only do it with a few-times and then set down a heavy --metal shallow bowl and the ones with a clue go to the bowl and the others get the bottle. '

So it can be done---best right from birth--harder after they have had their first bottle to retrain them.