The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Azzdodd on March 16, 2013, 09:46:43 am

Title: Pygmy goat with no mothering skills!
Post by: Azzdodd on March 16, 2013, 09:46:43 am

My Pygmy nanny lulu kidded last week to twins lost one and one is well but no thanks to her! She is a first time mum and 3 years old. But she is reluctant to feed if she doenst have too! Luckily I have 2 nanny's here that are giving him top up but one is already rearing triplets and the other 2 off the biggest set of twins I've seen? Tried the penning them up to 'bond' mum jumped out! What else can I do

Title: Re: Pygmy goat with no mothering skills!
Post by: goosepimple on March 16, 2013, 11:17:10 am

Maybe try a lamb adoptor (google it)?  They're cheap and available from your local fencing man.  Keeps her in place (with a nice bucket of treats in front) while small boy nuzzles in - maybe if she realises there are treats in place while she does it ...? you could perhaps reduce the treats as the week goes on and she gets in the groove of things. 
 
You may have to check for mastitis if she overloads with milk or if any of her teats are sore etc. 
 
Is it possible you could also block her in with him by use of hay bales 2 high all around them? 
 
I'd be tempted to keep them away from the other mums, she's being lazy.  All the same, he is getting what he needs one way or the other and as a boy he is likely to be on the solids quicker than females.

Title: Re: Pygmy goat with no mothering skills!
Post by: Dogwalker on March 16, 2013, 12:12:16 pm

I'd e interested in solutions too.
One of my angoras shouts if I take her boy away to bottle feed but kicks him away when he's feeding.
He's reluctant to take much from the bottle but seems to have learned to get lots of quick sucks cos he's growing ok if a little skinny.

Title: Re: Pygmy goat with no mothering skills!
Post by: Anke on March 17, 2013, 06:53:20 am

You may have more luck with suitable strategies from the Pygmy Goat Society. Most people with dairy goats have the cop-out possibility of just milking out the dam and bottlefeeding the kids in this situation. So I really don't know if the "lamb"adaptor method works for goats... However if all else fails Lamlac would the best option and letting the nanny dry up.

Title: Re: Pygmy goat with no mothering skills!
Post by: johnys on March 18, 2013, 08:26:27 pm

We had to bottle feed two kids the female took ok but reluctantly the male didnt want to know so had to syringe feed him both ok now at 18 month old if a little on the small side