| Author | Message | ||
     Sandi Scott New member Username: sarasotasandi Post Number: 15 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.50.233.24 Rating: N/A |
Kris, When I had a sick little goat last year, the first question the vet asked was if we had any chickens on our farm, or if chickens had ever been housed in the barn where we now keep the goats. You would do well to heed the advice of Violet and find a way to keep chickens and goats separate. Some breeders don't like to leave triplets with the mom - they'll always bottle feed at least one, or graft the extra to a mom with a single. I offer the bottle - and by offer, I mean I hold the baby on my lap, put the nipple in it's mouth and dribble in some milk - 2 or 3 times a day to all triplets in the first week or two after birth. If they vigorously refuse the bottle, I figure they are getting enough and leave them to their moms. Last year I noticed that one of a triplet group would sneak over to another doe and get a few gulps before that doe catches on that it isn't her kid, so I made sure to breed my girls in groups this year so there would be extra "moms" around. Some of the does tolerated this more than others, and the kids all figured out who allowed it and who didn't real quick. Sandi | ||
| kris bowman New member Username: kmbowman Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 67.3.217.121 Rating: N/A |
Violet, This doe always has more than enough milk. we get a quart out of one udder twice a day until she slows down a bit in a couple weeks when the kids are older. She just doesn't seem to have as much concern about them as she should. for example we all baby our firstborn and are actually waiting for the next dirty diaper so they can always be clean. But then by the 4th or 5th child it may be awhile before we even catch that the diaper is dirty. We get lax with our concern because we know they will not die from a bit less attention. I don't think mom is quite feeling well still and so doesn't seem to have the energy to keep clean and keep up with all three. there is always one by her side with a full tummy but the other two are always hiding. I see right now that she finally found the two in the dog house and she is laying outside the entrance waiting for them. So thats a good sign. | ||
| Violet Knapp New member Username: violetknapp Post Number: 20 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 69.29.254.180 Rating: N/A |
Hi Kris, it wouldn't hurt to give them a bottle or two along with nursing. I have done that, and if the kids are hungry they will take to the bottle fairly quick. It is also pretty normal for kids to try to find cubby holes to hide in. I would try to keep them away from where the chickens are though as chickens carry alot of cocci. Some does just don't produce enough milk to feed 3 kids. http://www.angelfire.com/vt2/hilltopacres/ | ||
| kris bowman New member Username: kmbowman Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 67.3.217.121 Rating: N/A |
This is a continuation from the pig feed thread but doesn't concern the moms so much so i started a new thread. The two sickest moms seem to not take as good of care of their kids. They don't keep them as clean and don't mind if they are taken and brought in the house. they also seem to leave them by themselves alot and are not concerned with them at all when the moms are eating. Should i be concerned if the aren't cleaning their poo off of them very well? I found one of them with the sticky yellow poo hanging out and dried. normally they would clean it off fo rthe kid. The triplets seem to want to keep hiding in the dog house that the chickens use. two of them crawl in there together and get cold and this morning i found them with dry but slightly warm mouths. Last night my daughter had to pull them out from under a couple dozen chickens that would have smothered them. Mom has that oversized teat again this year and they are only able to nurse on one side like last year. They have such tiny little mouths and are thin and bony compared to the other kids. We milk mom out on the one side and i'm wondering if we should start bottle feeding them in addition to their normal feedings? Should we just separate them completely or do you think they will hold their own? The #1 buck kid thinks has cared for the triplets since they were born. He knows where they are at all times and will nuzzle them and really seems to be more attentive than mom. He also screams and tries to trip me if we take the triplets out of the pasture. Any one with more experience that could give me some experienced advice on the triplets would be appreciated. Thanks! kris |