Calling all goat people! A health question now!

[thebritt]

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DITTO THAT! NO ONE HERE WOULD FAULT YOU FOR REPORTING HIM!
As for shampoo - There's body wash made for incontinent people (usually used in care homes) that doesn't need to be rinsed off - just sponge it on and wipe off with a clean towel - It's called Cal-Razz or something like that. I've used it on my elderly incontinent dogs. It smells of baby powder, and it cleaned quite well. You may be able to find this type of stuff through a medical supply store/site.
GOOD ON YA for taking this baby (and it's sibling(?))!

 

[taraann81]

I am totally in love with him our little Oliver. I already have a name picked out for his brother, Jasper. I knew my DH would give in, he likes to act tough but when it comes to animals he has just a soft a heart as I do. I was wondering though. If I go get his brother, will he stay as friendly? He follows my kids around like a little puppy right now and wants to sleep on their laps? Will he be less friendly if I get his brother?

 

[hobbyfarmer]

Congratulations!


As young as he is, you can bathe him in warm water and a mild dish detergent and I would use a blow dryer (gently) to make sure that thick baby undercoat gets completely dry against his skin before the temps drop even a little overnight.


Also, your Oliver looks an awful lot like a Togg or an Alpine/Togg cross. He's so cute!

ETA: If you are bottle feeding the brother as well, they will both be tame. Bottle babies are over the top and annoying tame for the most part. You'll probably wish they were both wild in another few months!

 

[taraann81]

Thanks. I had no idea what little characters goats can be! He is just like a puppy right now! He hasn't been butting my kids but I have heard that they may start to do that. Is there a way to avoid that ?

 

[hobbyfarmer]

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Don't let the kids (or anyone) push or hold him against his head. Butting is a natural thing they do to establish the chain of command or sometimes just to play. If you mess about his head much, he's going to find it normal to play with or to dominate people the same way. Goats are smart though - a sharp "no" when he pushes or butts with his head will generally break the habit young. If he isn't already, you might consider having him disbudded if he's going to grow up with your children.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Per the last poster, I was going to say there is a special nipple that you can get for baby goats/and or other livestock. Sometimes, a regular nipple like for a baby, they will not take.

Regarding when the cord falls off, I'm not trying to be smart, but I think it's kind of irrelevant at this point how old the goat really is. I think your suspicion is probably correct, he isn't as old as the guy said he was. All you can do at this point, is try to make the little guys life as good as possible. I agree with the other posters, go back and get his twin. He needs a comanion, and you can hopfully make two animals lives better.

You will be fixing him won't you? He will make a much better pet.

 

[Carolina Chicken Man]

Quote:
Don't let the kids (or anyone) push or hold him against his head. Butting is a natural thing they do to establish the chain of command or sometimes just to play. If you mess about his head much, he's going to find it normal to play with or to dominate people the same way. Goats are smart though - a sharp "no" when he pushes or butts with his head will generally break the habit young. If he isn't already, you might consider having him disbudded if he's going to grow up with your children.

Definitely disbud him, if he's not too old already.

 

[calgal98]

The cord may hang around for a while. Not a concern as long as its dry. If you wash the baby, use an animal shampoo. Human shampoo tends to dry them out too much.
Goats need the companionship of another goat. They don't do well alone. Further, they can become quite insistent on having your attention if you don't have someone else for them to bond with. You may like it now when he is cute, but not so much when they are constantly bleating and climbing on you for attention. I feed a herd of 20 and its always a *trip* or three to feed them. As far as bottle vs bucket, bucket is fine as long as they are getting their nourishment. Enjoy your goat(s) They are addictive. Nobody can have just one!! LOL

 

[Haviris]

He looks like a little togg! He's adorable, I would definately go back for his bro!

Yes it is normal for him to still have the cord, I don't exactly when it falls off, it varies I guess (and seems to go faster for dam raised kids). My youngest will be two weeks tomarrow, they still have theirs, I'd say they can keep them for up to 6 weeks! But average is probably 4-5 weeks (I'm trying to guess on memory), I don't think my 7 week old still has his.

Washing him is fine, and probably a good idea w/ where he came from, baby shampoo, puppy shampoo, I've used dish soap.

I don't know about switching from pail to bottle, never had to try that. I wonder if they'd lose their suck reflex after using the pail for so long. If it were me I'd prefer to get him on a bottle, but don't know how possible it will be.

Good luck!

 

[taraann81]

I guess the reason I thought his age was relevant is I have never had a goat before, so I have no experience feeding a baby, so all I can go on in regards to amount and frequency is the info I have read in Storeys guide to dairy goats and on the side of the replacement pail and these are different depending on the kids age

Yes I will definitely be fixing him. The guy offered to band him for another 10 dollars but he said he would have to keep him for a few more days. I didn't want to leave him there any longer so he came home.


Disbudding... What age is too old? I really want this done, at first I thought it sounded cruel until I read how much worse it is if they grow their horns and then end up needing them removed as adults. When you pet his head you can feel the littlest bumps there, is it too late?