Update! Kid died wondering about adoption

[Indiana hens]

Gf's favorite nanny had another still birth. Feel bad for her. Anyone ever have any luck with getting a nanny to take a substitute baby goat? I have not looked for a replacement kid yet.

 

[Buff Hooligans]

Boy, your title made it sound like a human child died never knowing if he was adopted or not. Glad it's about a goat kid!

 

[helmstead]

I haven't had any luck, but I've never had a doe mourning. I've had does that will attempt to steal newborns, but it never lasts more than 30 mins or so...

Sorry for your loss. So sad...

 

[HennysMom]

Buff - I thought the SAME thing! I was sitting here almost in tears thinking a poor child died only wanting to be adopted

WHEW!

I'm sorry about your baby goat too though...

to you and GF

 

[Indiana hens]

Was my thinking but never had one cry about it so much. She thinks we are bringing the baby back. She tried cleaned it and started eating the afterbirth. Her second birth and of coarse she did not care about the 1st birth; just wanted back with the herd then.

 

[Katy]

We've grafted orphan calves onto cows that have lost a calf. Sometimes they pair up without much problem and other times it takes a long time. I'm sure it can be done, it might just take some time.

 

[moms_pantry]

We had goats years ago, and we "gave" a baby goat to another mother. We had to hold her and allow the baby to nurse. When the milk goes through the baby's system, the mother goat will smell that and recognize it as her own and will adopt the baby goat. It worked for us. Hope that helps.

 

[vicki2x2]

I know a places that takes rescue fawns that have had luck with getting the does to take the fawns, so I would think you could get a doe to take a kid.

 

[Indiana hens]

Quote:
Ok, sigh! Any breed of baby goat? Are we talking a day or two to get the smell? I have tried before with agoat; but not this diligently. We have another nanny in the nursery that may have 2. I don't like taking a kid from it's mom. Bottle feeding is not my idea of entertainment.

 

[Western Chick]

It's certainly possible...

The trick is to get the new baby to get the new nannys milk into her and passing through. Once baby gets mom's milk, it gets mom's smell, that's how the nannies recognize it's theirs.

You'll have to get an orphan kids soon. In the mean time milk the nanny and save the colostrum, you can bottle feed it to the orphan kid to get a head start.

Some nannies aren't picky and will let anyone sneak a drink, others are more picky. If you have trouble getting mom to let baby nurse you can tie her up or use a grafting gate- basically a head catch to hold her while baby drinks. There are also grafting powders you can get. It's sprinkled on the baby to make the mom accept it easier. We've used it with cattle but never with goats.

Once the baby passes mom's milk through (pees) it should be a done deal but until you're certain it has been accepted, keep close watch to make sure the baby is getting it's nourishment. Baby goats can be VERY fragile.

Good luck!