My goat had triplets, the 2 larger ones are fine, very small buck is standing but hasn't nursed yet. He doesn't vocalize when seperated from his mom like the others do (we picked them up to check them over, dip umb. cord in Iodine, etc.) Doe is a very good mother, this is her 3rd delivery. She (and I) have urged the little one to her udder, and it tries to nurse once or twice in the wrong place and then stops trying. He just stands there. He has very good color, it is about 74 degrees outside and they're in a stall with lots of hay. Any suggestions? Am I just panicking? I'm going to check on them again in about 30 min. and see if he is nursing. Also, how often will newborns nurse? I could miss seeing him nurse if I'm in here....

Thanks a million!!!!

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), January 29, 2002

Answers

We have had goats for over 20 years now and a few triplets also. When this has happened with us it seems a though the little one doesn't do as well as the other two. What we have done is just make him a bottle baby. You can also encourage him to nurse but supplement him with a few ounces every few hours also. Leave him with the others if the doe will take care of him and do no harm. Sometimes they are just weak and a little slower to get the hang of it. Did you make sure his mouth is formed OK and no problems with that ? But with 3 the doe might just appreciate some help with him. So...get a couple of little lamb nipples and a soda bottle and milk some out of the doe and offer it to him. He should take to it pretty soon..don't panic. They are just like babies...when he gets hungry and the idea of a bottle he will be fine. Let me know how he is doing. Good Luck !!

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), January 29, 2002.

Sharon, Squeeze a little milk (colostrum) in the babys mouth. It will be like a miricale what happens then. Tyr this and let us know how it works out. God Bless and good luck

-- Charles Steen (xbeeman412@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Well, I keep directing him to his mom's udder, squeezing a little milk out and on his lips. He just doesn't seem interested. I work at a "small animal" vet office, so I have some knowledge about kittens & puppies nursing. I gave him about 1cc of his mothers milk with a syringe in his mouth and then placed him near her udder. He tried to nurse and I held the nipple out for him, but he got frustrated and gave up. I'm just going to keep trying. If he doesn't seem to start nursing, how often should I bottle feed him? I have all the supplies am bottle feeding a 3wk old Nubian now. I've never bottle fed a newborn though.

Thanks guys!!

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Sharon, I like to feed new babies about 6 times a day, about every 4 hours. I slowly increase the amount and the times per day. It depends on the kid really, some gobble up all they can and can last longer between feedings. The little weak ones eat less more often and they take awhile to get to a resonable time between feedings(for me), I usually bring the weak ones in the house just becasue it is easier for me to care for them. Good luck. karen

-- Karen Mauk (kansashobbit@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

Stick you small finger in his mouth, does he have a sucking reflex? If he isn't passing poop or peeing than he isn't nursing, once his temp lowers to 100 degrees than just put him down. If you are going to save him than milk his mom, at least 1 ounce for every pound he wieghs, so 8 ounces if he wieghs 8 pounds, if he won't nurse it than tube him with it. It is imparative that you get this down him now, and syringing it down or dribbling it down is only going to prolong his eventual death. After you get the initial colostrum down him then try to bottle feed, perhaps someone close to you can mail you a prichard teat (I will if you want) they screw onto soda bottles and are very easy for weak kids to nurse, you can use a human baby bottle for now. If you haven't gotten him to nurse 4 hours after you tubed down the colostrum than tube down 8 more ounces of the next colostrum or milk your doe has. Try giving him 300 IU of vitamin E by mouth, just snip the end of the capsule and squish into his mouth. Try giving him 1/4 cc of Bo-se, and see if this helps. Continue tubing him or bottling him as long as he is peeing and pooping, first will be the dark meconium tar poop, then the yellow colostrum poop, if he isn't pooping and peeing after tubing than you have something wrong, and once agian, put him down. No when to so when, and keep him with his mom, if you want her to take care of him, doubt he will really have much of a chance with the other two already larger and claiming all there is to drink. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I went through the same thing with triplets. I got the baby to suck by putting honey on my finger. Once she started sucking, she went to the nipple but mom didn't have any more milk and her sisters kept pushing her away, so she had a bottle. I got her to take the bottle by putting honey on that too. (the nipple hole was too small so keep an eye on that too)

What Vicky said about tubing is really important. Measue the tube alongside the body for length, put it down the throat on the left side, make sure it is not in the lungs (putting the end in a cup of water would show this, if it bubbles it's wrong. I sucked on the tube) pour the milk or formula down. I gave my baby a mix of honey, salt and warm water between feedings.

Mainly, keep him warm. 74 seems warm but if he's not eating, he will get cold fast. Good luck

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), January 29, 2002.

Well, he has a suck reflex, it isn't very strong though. I milked the mother and tried him on a bottle. I've only gotten about 1/2 an ounce in him so far (not near enough I know). He weighs about 4 lbs, so I'm going to try the bottle again in a minute and then tube feed him. He's walking around now and is starting to act more interested in where the food is. Wish me luck!!!

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), January 29, 2002.

Good Luck with the little one, the info that everyone gave you is great.

-- shari (smillers @snowcrest.net), January 29, 2002.

Success!!!! The little buck is walking around like crazy this morning, he has had several bowel movements, and all 3 look fine.

Now, to give him the best chance at growing, should I leave him with his mom and bottle feed one or both of the others, or should I bottle feed him? I've heard in the past that you should leave a small goat with its mom and bottle feed the rest. Is this what you guys would do? When should I begin bottle feeding, right away? or in a few days?

-- Sharon in AL (Sharonspaws@aol.com), January 30, 2002.

Congratulations!! What I did was sell a baby to someone who wanted to bottlefeed for a 4H project. Sold it for $50 but I figured I saved on debudding, shots and food, not to mention time until it was old enough to sell. Good luck

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), January 30, 2002.