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     Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 650 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.216.141  Rating: N/A |
I would try the bales of hay, better support, she may be more comfortable than hanging. A three legged goat is a possiblility but not for a very long life. Her prognosis is still pretty bleak for as long as she has been down with no indication of any progress. But only you and she know when to give up. The other legs pay the price of the added burden of being three legged with founder and arthritis setting in pretty early from the added strain. I have had a few goats that had one bad but not completely useless leg and this is what happened. And needless to say this is her last pregnancy. Ummm, fresh (well not canned) goats milk in the grocery store! I forget that some places are reasonably civilized. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Amy Maxwell New member Username: amyqmaxwell Post Number: 13 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 70.57.15.71 Rating: N/A |
Thank you Maggie! I will continue to try and bottle feed them until they are comfortable with the idea. How much should I feed them in a sitting? I figure at four days old they may only take in 1/4 to 1/2 cup to be full....?? The goat's milk I bought at the store was not canned but refrigerated in a carton. I will try the recipe you suggested though. I think because of the doe's "injury" she gets to be very uncomfortable in the sling and starts throwing fits. I will continue to put her in it daily for a couple of hours so at least her bag can hang properly. I've milked goats before so was very surprised that I couldn't get anything out but like I said her bag was very hard and I massaged it for quite awhile and it softened up a little. She's very attached to me and lays her head on me while I sit with her but she still would throw fits every now and then. I think she was hurting. She was even uncomfortable for awhile when I put her back down. Other then that she seems very happy laying down and scooting around. Her one leg is beyond repair though as she constantly lays on it. If I put her on the other side it seems to hurt her and she'll just lay completely flat and paw with her front leg. I was in tears last night because I don't know what to do or how to help her. Her sacrum pops and cracks and I don't know how the damage occured or the true extent of it. If she regains the full strength in her good hind leg can a goat walk on three legs and get up and down on three legs?? Any other suggestions for getting her on her feet? I've wondered if putting her across a couple bales of hay would be more comfortable..... I am very happy to have three healthy beautiful babies from her. One's a little girl that looks just like her mamma. I just wish we could do something more for Rosie. | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 646 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.216.141 Rating: |
Continue to try and supplement. If the kids are playing they are probably getting enough to eat for now. I don't know if this doe is going to be able to do this for 8 to 10 weeks especially as the kids grow and require more and need to go out to play. Use the homemade formula on the articles page under the heading Kids and Kidding. Or milk out the doe when you have her up and use that milk to supplement the kids or mix the two together. She will be thankful to not be laying on an over full udder too. Bumping and massaging the udder in a downward motion will help her let her milk down. The canned goats milk from the store is nasty I don't blame the kids for not wanting that stuff. Please use proper milking technique, DO NOT pinch the teat and then pull your fingers down the teat stretching it. This is quite painful and actually closes off the teat to milk flow. The Fiasco Farm website has very good instructions for hand milking at this URL http://fiascofarm.com/goats/how_to_milk_a_goat.htm Be sure the milk you are offering is very warm, a goat's body temp is considerably higher than ours. It will feel almost hot on your wrist. You will have to teach the kids to take a bottle. Sit on the ground with the kid in your lap held close to your body. I hold the bottle in my right hand with my right arm wrapped around the outside of the kids body. Pry the kids mouth open with your left thumb, insert the nipple and hold the kids mouth closed around the nipple. If you can cover the kids eyes with you finger this helps. Squirt a bit of milk into the mouth. Be gentle but firm, calm, talk softly, tickle the tail if you can (like mom nuzzling the kid). To feel for their full bellies feel just behind the last rib, this is where the stomach is. It should feel about the same width as the ribs. Congrats to you and this brave doe on her successful delivery! Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Amy Maxwell New member Username: amyqmaxwell Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 70.57.15.71 Rating: N/A |
I have the doe that can't get up or walk and have posted messages about her before. She delivered three very healthy babies this past Saturday and they seem to be doing very well but am concerned they are not getting enough milk. She nurses them while laying down and they seem to find the teats and eat on their own. We've had her up a couple of times in her sling to nurse but yesterday afternoon when we got her up her bag was hard and almost disformed from her laying on it. I couldn't get the milk to really come down into her teats to even milk her like a normal goat. The babies nurse and their tummy's feel full but not very round feeling if you know what I mean. They play a little and then snuggle up and sleep. They aren't crying constantly like I'd expect if they weren't getting enough and their tummies aren't skinny skinny empty looking. I've tried supplementing them with bottles of whole milk and then goat's milk that I bought at the store last night. They just aren't really interested and just go right back to trying to nurse on mom. I've had some late nights with them as I just am worried about mom herself and the babies starving. Has anyone had babies that weren't getting enough and how to tell if they're not? Should I continue to try and supplement? |
