The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: cuckoo on March 20, 2013, 10:32:40 pm

Title: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: cuckoo on March 20, 2013, 10:32:40 pm

Hi,
 
Has anyone any advise about how to hand rear a 6 week old kid who has consistently refused bottle - mum does have milk but doesnt seem to have much the kids growth is very restricted so I would ideally like to hand rear.  I have tried supplementing him but he just refuses bottle.  If I removed him from mum and just keep trying to bottle him will he eventually take it if he is hngry enough - how long could I leave him?  He will eat creep and hay but is too young / small to wean completely - especially as I want to maximise his growth.  Will kids drink from a trough?
 
Thanks

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: Hatty on March 21, 2013, 07:57:34 am

I have a billy kid 4 weeks old, and he was having problems latching on when his mums udder was full, I found that milking her a  little first helped a lot, in fact he pushes me out when she is on the milking stand, could you try a different teat? the bottles I bought this year have quiet small ones, if you want to try another size I have some bigger ones I could pop you one over,
I had 3 to bottle feed last year but one of my girls adopted one so only had two to do in the end.

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: cuckoo on March 21, 2013, 10:55:52 am

Hi,
 
The bottles I have have got red fairly long narrow teats -  I have also tried him on a tommy tippeebaby bottle and teat which he refused as well! - what sort of teat do you have - I could always get some different ones - unless you dont mind dropping some off? I am no certain though he will take it as he doesnt seem very interested - may just have to accept he will be small and take a while to get big enough for the freezer!
 
Thanks

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: Rosemary on March 21, 2013, 11:49:04 am

Quote from: cuckoo on March 21, 2013, 10:55:52 am

may just have to accept he will be small and take a while to get big enough for the freezer!

Hmm, maybe he's smarter than the average goat  :innocent:

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: colliewoman on March 21, 2013, 01:12:02 pm

Hey Cuckoo :wave:
When I worked on the goat farm, we trained all the kids to a bucket. At 6 weeks I reckon it very likely he will get the hang of that way ASAP. You do have to be extra careful to make sure they don't guts too much in a sitting but they slurp it down in the blink of an eye :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: Anke on March 21, 2013, 02:03:05 pm

You could persevere with the bottle, but would have to take him off mum completely. At 6 weeks he is still young enough to go to the bottle, but you could also try and see if he takes it from a bowl. Some people (I thiink Beth/Ballingal does) train the kids to drink from the bowl rather than the bottle, as it is quicker and less washing up.
 
I would also make sure that he gets a good amount of hay, despite trying to maximise growth you want to develop the rumen.

Title: Re: Bottle rearing kids
Post by: Hatty on March 22, 2013, 07:46:17 am

was going to be over your way today but just looked out the window  :gloomy:  think it going to take me all my time to get to the girls and back. as soon as the snow disappears I need to go see Roddy so will be passing I'll drop you one in anyway and at least then you have another alternative to try