Baby goat not getting milk

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Sorry about the doeling!

As much as you are not going to like it (neither will she), you must get her on a milking stand or something like that to milk her. The others are right; she may just be plugged and the little buck can't get the plug out. Use a helper and have the helper hold up a front leg, bent at the knee so you don't hurt her, while you milk - they can't jump or buck on three legs so she'll eventually calm down. If that doesn't work have your helper hold her two back legs up in the air so she can't jump at all and get some milk out.

Are you new to milking? If so, you should go to www.fiascofarm.com and read about how to milk a goat. Also check out www.backyardherds.com and go to the goat section. There's tons of information and help there too.

You should get colostrum into that buck as soon as you can - if you have a friend with frozen goat milk (preferably milk that was taken within the first 2 weeks of kidding) that is the best substitute, followed by cow milk (milked from cow), then store bought whole cow milk with colostrum. It's really important that he gets the colostrum at such a young age.

If he still doesn't nurse from her after you try to milk her out, switch to being a bottle baby - preferably by using mom's milk, and feed him every 3-4 hours - you can google how much he should be having and how often at this age. I'm not too familiar with bottle feeding so I'm sorry I can't help more there.

You should also give mom and the buckling a shot of B complex or B12 to stimulate their appetites. Mom should get about 6cc and the kid 2cc. It wouldn't hurt to either drench mom with a Probios mix (you mix a powder with water according to the directions and use a syringe to put it down her throat as you would with dewormer) or top dress mom's grain with Probios. Both of these are inexpensive ($5-$10 each) and can be purchased at your feed store.

Just because her previous owner never got close to her doesn't mean that you can't. I have a doe who does not liked to be touched unless she wants to be touched, yet when it comes time to milking and hoof trimming/shots/etc. she know's I'm the boss goat and she has to do what I say. Try buttering her up with treats like raisins or bread (in small amounts). Work with her often (as well as that little buckling!) and she'll learn to trust you. To get my doe to be milked I only feed her grain at milking time and mix in raisins and a little sweet feed to keep her occupied.

Good luck!!
 
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My vet (also my boss
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) came down at lunch today. We've found Mama is not clogged, has some milk, just not enough to satisfy him. She gave Mama a shot of oxytocin to see if that might stimulate more milk.

I am going to leave him with Mama and supplement him by bottle. He ate an ounce this evening. I'll give him more at bedtime then again in the morning. He keeps nursing her and will not give up trying.

Thank you all so much for your help. I really appreciate you guys.

Sherry
 
Hope things work out. Sorry to hear about losing one.
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And just for clarification, oxytocin won't make milk, but it will cause her to let down what milk she has.
 
That's convient to have a vet as a boss!
I am going to leave him with Mama and supplement him by bottle. He ate an ounce this evening. I'll give him more at bedtime then again in the morning. He keeps nursing her and will not give up trying.

I think that is the best way to go. This way his attempts at nursing might get her to produce more. Just get some good food into her. He will know that he is a goat, but will still be people friendly....not pesky to people.​
 

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