Our Nubian/Alpine mix goat just had triplets. These are her first kids. My question is, do we have to bottle feed one or will she take care of all 3 of them? They are 4 days old and look fine. I'm just wondering what everyone does in this case. By the way, this is our first experience with kids too. Also, we're keeping them in our stable. How soon can they join the other animals in the pasture? We have a Nubian and a sheep that are about to give birth as well. Thank you!

-- Monica DeCollibus (c.decollibus@ocsnet.net), March 08, 2000

Answers

The great granddaughter of my second goat had triplets yesterday, 2 does and a buck. Because I have CAE in my herd, I raise my does on pasteurized milk and let Mama raise the bucks. This is only the second year I have let the does raise their buck kids and I love it as it relieves me of milking in the evenings. I milk in the mornings,let the kids run with the herd all day and when the kids are on solid food, I separate them at night

As far as letting the doe raise all three, just watch them carefully to be sure all are getting plenty to eat. You may want to supplement the smallest one with a bottle as some of mine have actually pushed the least aggressive kid off the teat. Once the doe and kids have adequately bonded and the kid is agile enough to escape bossier animals, they can go into the pasture. With your other animals about to have their own offspring, it shouldn't present much of a problem. Just observe all and act accordingly. Really a fun time, isn't it? I got my first goats in l978 and they never cease to fascinate me.

Good luck! Marilyn

-- Marilyn (rainbow@ktis.net), March 08, 2000.

Hi Monica,

Congrats on your triplets. most goats should have the ability to rear triplets, however, there are some who don not have enough milk. i would keep an eye on them. Check their bellies to see if they are full. if not then you may need to supplement with a bottle. We had a sanaan a few years back that had triplets and since she was a heavy milker was able to take care of all 3. I'd wait a bit before putting all in the pasture, you can put mom back in a few days if you want to put the kids in a kid pen or leave in the stable. Good luck.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), March 08, 2000.

If she is mothering them well and they seem lively they are probably doing alright. If one is crying a lot it may be hungry. What I do is to let the doe mother them all for a few weeks and as soon as I can find a buyer I try to sell a triplet buck if there is one, as the bucks are usually bigger and hog the milk. Or you could eat him. If they are all does or all bucks you could either sell one or let the mother keep them all and start feeding them fine alfalfa hay and grain as soon as they will eat it, going slowly on the grain at first.If the doe is at the bottom of the pecking order I let her stay alone until the babies are about 4-5 days old and come running when she calls them. If she is a dominant doe you can let her out the first day as long as they all have a roof to stay under if they need it.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), March 09, 2000.

Monica, Rebecca has the best answers! Between her and Patty Gamble I feel very unneeded! I also would try to sell, or bottle one of the triplets if you feel up to it, especially if one is a boy. And remember that you will eventually have to, by 12 weeks, when your kids are weaned at around 12 weeks, your buck kids will be very able to breed their sisters or any other kids you have. The girls will problably not come into heat until Aug or Sept but you don't want these little guys to breed them. Good luck with your goats, its always so exciting to have babies...Vicki McGaugh

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 09, 2000.

Monica, HEY CONGRATULATIONS ON THE TRIPLET KIDS! Rebeckah is the expert on goats. I have read a lot of suggestions she has given and they are all very good. So my addition is to band or castrate your buck kids asap unless you have a buyer or they are to be kept as a herd sire. The little bucklings get to be a nuisance really quickly and will breed your does and doelings at a very young age. I have seen and heard of this happening many many times. karen

-- Karen Mauk (dairygoatmama@hotmail.com), March 12, 2000.

My family has been raising goats for many years now, and has had some encounters ourselves with triplets. We usually bottle feed all our kids, because we find it makes them freindlier and easier to handle. Although, we don't leave the kids with their mothers, it is entirely possible to leave all three with their mother, although they won't get as much milk that way. Leaving two with the mother and bottle feeding the other with replacer will make the bottle fed ones more healthy due to the natural milk. It will as a result make things harder to manage. I highly recomend going either way but keeping all three together if possible. Hope I Helped, MollyR.

-- Molly R. (dancechictoes@WEEK.com), March 18, 2000.