Baby goat, bottle refusal, frusterating!

[Hound]

Is outside a barn or completely outside?

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
Stall in a barn, fairly open, window w a double door, top partition open, stall walls 2/3 of barn height, with the other end of the barn open

 

[vebyrd36]

We use Karo on the nipple for calves.

 

[Crazyland]

Congrats on two new babies!
But where are the pictures?

I hope when you go back out to check on them they are all cuddled up together. We expect the storm to hit us in the later morning.

 

[RiverOtter]

You might want to try getting him really, really warm and making the nipple hole slightly larger. Often, when babies get chilled, they get chilled right to the core and even though they warm up and are up and moving, that deep tissue chill doesn't let them suck very hard, though they may be eager too. I wouldn't begin to think he was warm enough till I took a rectal temperature and had it normal - because he'll be warm enough to move around and squiggle, but not warm enough to suck hard.

If they're sucking hard enough it will actually hurt a little when they suck on your finger. And remember Momma has a let-down response so a baby just has to suck hard for a couple of seconds and then some momma's will actually spray milk. He could be strong enough to get one or two good sucks and then he doesn't have the energy to keep on sucking hard. He wears out and there's no let-down from a bottle, he has to suck as hard for every swallow as for the first one. So getting that nipple hole a teeny bit bigger may make all the difference.

 

[cozycritters]

With my baby goats I had to first make sure the milk was exactly the right temperature or they had no interest. I then had to force feed one doeling for a week before she got it.

She eventually got a hang of it. (Pls. disregard the mess-- I was 5 months pregnant and very sick.)

 

[dutchhollow]

I would go back out and make sure you watch him nurse. The cold shouldn't be a factor if he is getting milk (it is 10 here now and I have 5 under 3 weeks old outside), but they need to be nursing well. What kind of nipple were you using? The only ones I have goat take really well are the red ones you put on a pop or water bottle (pritchard), what breed of goat is it? The best would be for him to be able to stay with mom, but watch him as you might have to suppliment if he isn't strong enough to keep up with his sister at first. If you do give him a bottle, do as the others say, you have to put the bottle in his mouth for him, try to keep his head level don't turn it up if he isn't trying to swallow (I know goats are designed to nurse with their heads up) but at first you don't want him to aspirate. He will eventually get started, then you won't be able to get rid of him. Also check your does teats and make sure both of them are clear and functioning.

 

[glenolam]

Any update?

 

[X2Farm]

Sorry I hadn't updated yall sooner. The snow piled on and coupled with freezing temps, took a while to get everyone fed and watered and such.

Lil Iceman didn't make it. He passed about 30 minutes ago, here with us in the living room. Poor lil guy. I brought him in last night, he was cold and shivering by himself in the stall when I'd checked. Got about 3CC down him, put him in a basket w blankets next to the bed. Was up every couple hours with him, fed him 3 more CC's throughout the night. I guess sometime between 4 and 7am, he got twisted around and I woke up to him hollerin. He'd rolled over with his head stuck all sideways and upsidedown. Got him warmed up some, fed a lil more, but he just never recovered.

I appreciate yalls advice on the bottle feeding, thank you.

 

[glenolam]

I'm sorry you lost him - sounds like you did all you could though! Now go feel better by being with mom and daughter!!