[cuckoo]

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

[Hatty]

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.

[cuckoo]

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

[Rosemary]

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 

[colliewoman]

Hey Cuckoo
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

[Anke]

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.

[Hatty]

was going to be over your way today but just looked out the window    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