The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Hartwelljulie on April 18, 2020, 10:54:37 am

Title: 48 hr old Pygmy kids feeding problem
Post by: Hartwelljulie on April 18, 2020, 10:54:37 am

Hi folks.
Twin Pygmy kids born 48 hrs ago by emergency c section. (14 he labour not progressing - both kids trying to come at once so no chance)
After op understandably Mum initially hated them - but 12 hrs after meds wore off she was showing more interest & calling. Kids were in small dog crate in pen with mum to keep them close. I had milked a little off mum to tube feed kids then regularly bottle fed /tube fed powdered colostrum while mum was not keen(butting/ stomping etc) .
Took crate away & watched tentatively ....So now she loves them, is washing them & talking & cuddling in to them but they are still struggling to feed from her. She’s a bit stompy- I can just about plug them on to her whilst she’s distracted by food & held still by my husband - but one kid in particular (who was slow to master the bottle) really struggles to know how to suckle from her. She has plenty milk.

Question ... do I leave kids off bottle altogether and hope they are hungry enough to work it out/that she allows them ?
Or do I carry on plugging them on every 3 hrs then top up with bottle if they’re not full and hope they get the hand of it eventually ?

Very thankful mum & kids both survived ! Really want to do what’s best by them all. Thanks in advance goat peeps !  :goat: :fc:

Title: Re: 48 hr old Pygmy kids feeding problem
Post by: Anke on April 18, 2020, 12:19:30 pm

Yes, put onto the dam every few hours until she lets them by herself - she will be in pain from the operation, and it really would be best to give her ongoing pain relief (not sure if your vet has done that, but she will need it for more than the usual 48 hours, also goats need a top up more often as their metabolism is a lot faster than sheep).

Check for kids being full by waking them up from sleeping/lying down and checking for a good stretch, if no stretch and immediate going towards the dam then they probably need more.

I am sure they will get on fine in a couple of days or so - a C-section is a big thing.

Title: Re: 48 hr old Pygmy kids feeding problem
Post by: Hartwelljulie on April 18, 2020, 12:35:12 pm

Thank you Anke! We have plugged them on a couple more times and mum is already standing better and kids suckling better. We will persevere  :goat: :love: