| Author | Message | ||
     Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1561 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.215.105  Rating: N/A |
Mine start exploring solid food at a week or so old. Not eating really but doing what the big goats do. Glad you figured out the problem. Mine could always tell which nipple was theirs! Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Frances Rieha New member Username: frances_r Post Number: 2 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 216.235.36.16 Rating: N/A |
Thank you Maggie. I have to tell you that I figured out what was wrong. He's been on the formula nearly a week, so I wondered why he would go "off" like that. I switched nipples on the baby bottle. They were using a newborn nipple that I'd put a largish hole in so they wouldn't have to suck so hard when I first got the goats. I think the food was rushing in him too fast, so I started using a nipple with a smaller hole. He has to work a bit more for the food and is actually eating more. Also, I noticed when I take them out for walks, the boy is nibbling at browse now. Getting ready for the next step? | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1552 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.215.105 Rating: N/A |
If the milk replacer has soy protein in it it may be upseting his stomach. There is a good recipe for homemade milk replacer on the Articles page under Kids and Kidding or you can feed straight whole cow's milk like you buy at the grocery store. Also take his temp, normal is 101.5 to 103.5 anything over 104 is a fever. Goats will try to act as normal as possible even when they are very sick. If his stomach is tight he may be a bit bloated (a milk replacer with soy can also make them more prone to bloat). I treat by giving about 1 tablespoon of vegeatable oil (this breaks up the bubbles holding the gas. Then I hold the kid with his head end higher and deeply massage the left abdomen to help expel the gas. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Frances Rieha New member Username: frances_r Post Number: 1 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 216.235.36.16 Rating: N/A |
Hi I'm new here. I've got 3 mixed breed babies from my neighbor that were rejected by their moms. Two are a bit younger and weaker, but doing well considering. The oldest and strongest has been quite a pig about food until today. Normally they all eat about every 5 hours. The smaller will take between 3-4 oz per feeding and the biggest between 5-6 oz. Today he is not interested! He only took food ever other feeding and only about 3 oz at that. He seems happy, perky, normal. He will eagerly suck a few big swigs off the bottle and then walk away like "who cares?" He will come back for a bit more and then acts like he's completely turned off by food. I can get only about 3 oz in him. Should I worry? Is this a normal bucky attitude? PS: They all received colostrum from a syringe for the first 3 days. They are all on powdered goats milk (all I can find at the feed store) and they all pee and poop appropriately. Thanks for any feedback. |