Our goat gave birth to quads - updated pics pg 9

[cluckychick]

How adorable!!!

Congratulations

 

[halo]

Interestingly enough, on the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association page....what are you laughing about? Im just LOOKING.....it says...

Dwarfs does can have several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being common with some quintuplet births occurring. Dwarfs are generally good mothers able to take care of their babies should you leave them to do the raising of the kids. They can also provide a surprising amount of milk for their size if you decide you want your own delicious goat milk or cheese.

 

[ruth]

Everyone seems to be doing fine today. In fact, the two I was worried most about are the two I see nursing every time I sit and watch. They certainly have the hang of it. The two oldest and largest are hardly ever seen nursing.

I milked Confetti today because it looked like she was about to pop. Her udder was very huge and very hard. At first I had hard time getting any milk out of her. I had to massage the udder and keep at it. I finally started getting milk and got about a cup full but she was still huge and firm. I fed each baby via dropper since I can't get them to take the bottle yet.

My plans are to assist the mama daily by both milking her and feeding each baby and by also feeding each baby supplement. That way I can be sure each is getting enough nutrition. I also spend a lot of time in there with them watching.

Here's pics taken this evening. They love their heaters. Especially the small one that blows warm air.

Here's the proud papa - only 10 months old himself so that means he impregnated her with quads when he was only 5 months. And, by the way, did I mention it's his mama? No, I didn't plan this but he broke down his pen and out of the 6 females he got his mama pregnant. I think it falls under "payback's a witch" because when he was born she only tended to the first baby, his sister, and left him to die. She would not accept him and would not let him nurse. I had to bottle raise him but I kept them together. He eventually learned to run up and nurse when his sister was nursing.

Since he's our only buck and since the three little girls all look like him, I don't think he can deny they are his.

Here's the rest of the goat gang - all females:

AND.....since I don't have enough to do - look what the stork delivered today. A little orphan lamb that needs to be bottle fed. His name is Lamby. He's a Barbidos and will have the Dodge Ram horns when he's older. A local farmer just delivered him. Said the mama abandoned him and he, the farmer, has been bottle feeding him but is tired of doing so. Heard I had animals and asked if I wanted it. Who am I to say "no"?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Cute barbados ram!

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

How cute

 

[PotterWatch]

The babies are adorable! One of our does had three and had no problems feeding all of them and giving me some milk. I imagine she would have done just fine with four as well.

 

[clport]

I milked Confetti today because it looked like she was about to pop. Her udder was very huge and very hard. At first I had hard time getting any milk out of her. I had to massage the udder and keep at it. I finally started getting milk and got about a cup full but she was still huge and firm.

Ruth, are you sure she's not getting mastitis? That's all you need with four babies to feed! If she's firm as though she has a lump in her breast, better take action now. You can use warm compresses and massage to get the milk flowing better and to reduce the lump if there is one. If the bag gets hot to the touch, you need medication. Hope you don't have this problem after all!

Such cute babies. I want all four!
carol​

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Ruth, are you sure she's not getting mastitis? That's all you need with four babies to feed! If she's firm as though she has a lump in her breast, better take action now. You can use warm compresses and massage to get the milk flowing better and to reduce the lump if there is one. If the bag gets hot to the touch, you need medication. Hope you don't have this problem after all!

Such cute babies. I want all four!
carol

Thanks Carol - that's what I'm afraid of but don't know if they can get mastitis this quickly after having babies. DH and I just finished applying warm compresses while I massaged and tried to milk her. I'm getting squirts out but it takes a lot of work. Still the consistency of colostrum and milk combo. But she is huge and I'm only getting a tiny amount out. I do feel what seems like knots or lumps or hard areas which I've massaged and applied warm soapy water and rags for almost an hour.

Is it possible that her milk just hasn't come down yet. All four babies keep nursing on her so is it possible they are just nursing her dry?

The udder did feel warm but not hot or red - just looks like she's about to burst.

I know when I was milking her last season she would be soft and flabby after milking not still full feeling and hard.

I'm calling the vet tomorrow but I'm hoping I'm just being a nervous new quad mama. All babies are bouncing around the tack room like little jumping beans - all go up and nurse till they seem full and then walk away - they don't seem frustrated as if they aren't getting any milk - all are thriving. I haven't force fed anyone yet but I may try and get some milk replacer in each this evening just to be sure. So far, no one has any interest in the bottle. I'll have to force it with a medicine dropper.

Edited to add: I just finished reading a lot about congested udders and it seems more like what she has. It's both sides and milk does come out just not much and it takes several attempts to get a small squirt to come out. I'll keep applying warm compresses, warm water soaks and massages.

 

[chicks4kids]

I would LOVE to see a pic of them nursing...they are just so cute!!!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Quote:
Ruth, are you sure she's not getting mastitis? That's all you need with four babies to feed! If she's firm as though she has a lump in her breast, better take action now. You can use warm compresses and massage to get the milk flowing better and to reduce the lump if there is one. If the bag gets hot to the touch, you need medication. Hope you don't have this problem after all!

Such cute babies. I want all four!
carol

Thanks Carol - that's what I'm afraid of but don't know if they can get mastitis this quickly after having babies. DH and I just finished applying warm compresses while I massaged and tried to milk her. I'm getting squirts out but it takes a lot of work. Still the consistency of colostrum and milk combo. But she is huge and I'm only getting a tiny amount out. I do feel what seems like knots or lumps or hard areas which I've massaged and applied warm soapy water and rags for almost an hour.

Is it possible that her milk just hasn't come down yet. All four babies keep nursing on her so is it possible they are just nursing her dry?

The udder did feel warm but not hot or red - just looks like she's about to burst.

I know when I was milking her last season she would be soft and flabby after milking not still full feeling and hard.

I'm calling the vet tomorrow but I'm hoping I'm just being a nervous new quad mama. All babies are bouncing around the tack room like little jumping beans - all go up and nurse till they seem full and then walk away - they don't seem frustrated as if they aren't getting any milk - all are thriving. I haven't force fed anyone yet but I may try and get some milk replacer in each this evening just to be sure. So far, no one has any interest in the bottle. I'll have to force it with a medicine dropper.

Edited to add: I just finished reading a lot about congested udders and it seems more like what she has. It's both sides and milk does come out just not much and it takes several attempts to get a small squirt to come out. I'll keep applying warm compresses, warm water soaks and massages.

Some of the swelling you're seeing could also just be normal edema from freshening. We'd see it a lot when cows freshened. After a few days or a week the swelling would go down and the udder would return to normal.

Just make sure the milk isn't stringy/lumpy/red tinged. You can also temp the goat to make sure she's not running a fever.