Baby goats and unmilking Mommas

[Dobelo17]

??? :-[ :-/
Good morning Everyone,

I am learning the problems with raising baby goats.
This is my third batch of baies from my Boer goats.
THe last two went of just fine. THis time I have problems. My does had her first batch of twins on Jan6
two nice healthy little bucks. Everyone was fine no problems kidding and off we go. Weighed them at 4 weeks and they were at 18 lbs. Last friday I go to the barn and mom looks like she cut herself on something
in the pen and can't get any milk out of one udder.
tried a needle in the udder and got some milk out
babies could nurse a little from that side but mostly
ate on one side. Went along and looked like they were
getting more milk from both sides again. Littler one
wasn't getting as much so tried feeding on bottle.
He was having none of that. So I left them nursing.
THings were fine until yesterday for breakfast
went out to feed she looked again like she had cut
both udders and babies can't nurse out of either side.
Back out with the bottles of milk replacer. Well they were having none of that. Just follow you around the barn and scream. We went out last night tried to nurse them on the bottle agian no go. Went and got out our needle again got 2 8oz bottle of milk from mom tried feeding them that still won't eat of the bottle. We are going to seperate them from mom and try feeding them from a bowl. I checked on some of the goat boards I am on they should be able to make it if they will start eating their grain and hay. I will keep trying the milk
replacer I think they will get hungry enough pretty soon
to eat of the bottle. Guess I should go out and hug the
other three that make raising Boer goat babies so easy.
Have a great weekend.

Becky

[annabella1]

You really need to find out what mama is "cutting" her udder on and get rid of it. Do you have another doe that might adopt the babies? I am wondering if mama's udder may have been itching from mastitis or some other infection or infestation to cause her to rub it against something that got it cut. You may need to isolate mama and find out what's wrong before it spreads.

[Dobelo17]

Hi Annabella1,
I checked on one of the Boer goat boards and they gave me some Ideas what the problem could be. I lost my littlest buckling. He got to cold on Friday and dispite all we did he
slipped into a coma and died. His brother is doing ok in the
basement for now. He drinks his milk from a bowl and likes
his hay and grain. I am ordering him some milk pellets
made just for goats. That way once his is eating the pellets
and his grain good I can move him back out to the barn. His is very lonlely with out his brother. If he is eating good enough I will let him back in with mom. and he will eat in his own little spot she can't reach. goats are very social. He needs her company as much as food. SHe is all ready drying up. It has only been two days.

Becky