Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats Blog - Triplets born - New baby pics

[ruth]

Poor thing - he's keeping his distance from his real mama. As he tries to approach she starts grunting, snorting and spitting. If he continues, he gets head butted. But he now comes running when he sees me and snuggles up. I'm trying to stay out of the room except to go in every few hours and hold her and let him nurse. I really want him to grow up with his sister and be raised by his mama. If I have to separate him and bottle feed, I'd rather do both of them so they can both be tame and close to one another. I'm keeping a close eye on the situation.

They both need baths today. They are covered in dried yellow poop which just seems to pour out of their backsides uncontrollably and constantly. Plus they are covered in dried colosutrum from my failed feedings yesterday. Maybe if I bath and dry both babies and put them back with mama, she won't be able to tell the difference.

Nothing like taking on bottle feedings in your older years.

 

[MissPrissy]

Bottle feeding is not bad. Once you get them to 7 days it is not a constant around the clock thing. Eventually you will get them to twice a day and eating other foods. Weaning them is when you are heartbroken as they beg for a bottle - I gave in several times and gave mine bottles of warm water to get him over the hump. LOL

 

[GinaNY]

I know NOTHING about goats but you wrote this

hey are covered in dried yellow poop which just seems to pour out of their backsides uncontrollably and constantly. Plus they are covered in dried colosutrum from my failed feedings yesterday.

this can't be normal or good - are they peeing? dehydrated? did you put the umbillical cord in iodine?

can a vet check on the babies?

 

[RedStickLA]

Quote:
Hi Monique…
Congratulations on your new kids! They are so cute!!!

I am sorry the mom is rejecting the little boy…poor little fellow.

I know that I have “a very limited experience” with goats but…

You said in your post that the poop is constantly running out of their back side? Do they have diarrhea/scours? If it is it can be very serious if you don’t get it under control. Their poop should be yellow and sticky but not runny. I had a scare with Bella shortly after I brought her home. She started with the running poop.

This is what I did…
I had some Electrolytes Plus sav-A-caf that I purchased at the feed store to have on hand in case I needed it. I gave her a dose of Pepto-Bismol. Then instead of a milk bottle feeding I gave her a bottle of the Electrolytes Plus sav-A-caf. She was not happy but it did the trick and stopped the runny poop. I only had to give her one dose of the Pepto and one bottle of the electrolytes but I treated her at the first sign of a problem because I had everything I needed on hand.

Kate and others with more experience…What do y’all think??? This has me worried!

Mitzi

 

[ruth]

Well my description of their poop might have been a bit extreme. What I meant by uncontrollable is that they don't even seem to know they are pooping - they may be laying down and poop and get it all over them. Or poop and then fall in it. It is runny though, but not watery. Just thick, sticky and stinky, probably consistency of baby food. Looks like baby food squash/carrots. Between the two of them it does seem as it they are always pooping.

So with it clarified some, is this something to be concerned about?

They are peeing plenty.

Only the little boy still has an umbilical cord, about 4 inches long, and yes I did coat it with Iodine. The little girl had no cord but she has a tiny pimple of a spot where it was attached so I put Iodine on that as well.

I appreciate any and all info from the experienced goat people. I'm still holding Confetti so the little boy can nurse. She does seem a bit confused since I bathed both of them and isn't being as aggressive but isn't really nuturing either - more like a quick sniff and lick and then walks off.

 

[helmstead]

It's normal. They won't have formed stools for a few weeks, depending on how quickly they get rumen activity. Newborns can be messy - anyone with children will know. And, yes, they'll just poo and then lay in it...usually my does clean it up, though.

 

[ruth]

Thanks Kate - thought it was kind of normal based on what I've read. I have done a lot of research but there's no substitute for experience. Fiasco Farm has a wealth of information on their site.

I do have a general question though. I'm about to order a Stanchion from Hoegger. Is there anything else I should go ahead and order just to have on hand? Like, maybe certain meds - or a medical/emergency supply kit? I got a hoof trimming kit in today but so far that's all I have.

Also, is it o.k. to continue feeding the mom Grow & Show which says it's forumulated for meat goats? No one locally carries the one formulated for milk goats? Or will it only make a difference when we start drinking the milk - but it's o.k. for the babies? We have driven a couple of towns over and bought the one for milk goats, plus a mix of minerals, from a lady that raises goats.

 

[RedStickLA]

Quote:

Ok...that sounds better. You had me worried. They are messy. I have had to stick mine in the bath tub several times to clean them up too.
It looks like you are going to have a very busy week! I pray everything goes well for you. Again Congratulations on the beautiful babies! Keep us updated on their progress.
God Bless,
Mitzi

 

[bheila]

Ruth, how are the kids doing today? I hope the girls sneezes are getting better.

 

[ruth]

Hi Bheila - thanks for asking - they are much better today. Even the little boy is jumping and bucking today. I have them all in my bathroom and may leave them there till they are grown after reading that yours died. It upset me so much and even upset DH. He started checking on them often and went and got minerals for the mom.

The mom still won't let the little boy near her on his own but she's not aggressive with him, just snorts and moves her head toward him and he's learned to keep his distance - so I go in there every hour or so and hold her and he comes running - he's figured out this game - and runs up to her and starts nursing. She's very calm about me holding her and she nuzzles against my neck and I talk softly to her or sing/hum - favorite song for this - "Mama told me there'd be days like this." Somehow that song just comes to mind as I'm sleeping in the downstairs guestroom, right by the bathroom door so I can hear them if they make a peep and I'm getting up every few hours and going in there to hold her so he can nurse and I look around and there's poop and pee everywhere - oh well, "Mama told me there'd be days like this, there'd be days like this Mama said."

Here's some pics:

After first bath Tues.

Pics from last night:

They are really attached to their little heater with its blower and after nursing on mama, they run right back to it even though it's near 80 degrees in that bathroom. They sleep curled up next to it while the mama sleeps on other side of room.

Dozing off with full bellies:

I had to go out of town to visit my hormonal pregnant daughter who was crying that she needed me to come, so I left the babies with DH in charge and PRAYED all day they would be o.k. while I was gone. I kept drilling him on the fact that he had to go in there every hour and make sure the little buck got to nurse. He has a tendency to forget about time and he's never taken the responsibility for any of these animals - but he did a good job and both were alive and well when I returned. But I missed them. They are so cute.

They are starting to jump/buck/play and I could just scoop them up and carry them around. BUT....I am trying to stay out of there and let Confetti do her own thing, but I also want them to be tame so I guess they will have two mamas.