[jaykay]

I should think so, if he seems to be drinking til he wants to stop. That's what I'd be giving a very new 'pet' lamb if I had to bottle feed. Hopefully he'll be allowed to feed on his own soon.

I lost Daisy when her kids were about 10 days old. I had Daisy's mum Ellie, who hadn't kidded that year but who I'd milked through. When Daisy died I tried the kids on Ellie because they were seriously unimpressed with a bottle, having had the real thing. No way, Ellie did not like them and was having nothing to do with them. Well I carried on tying her up but she made such a fuss, kicking and jumping, I didn't think they were getting much, so I bottle fed too.

On about day 3 of this, as I'd just finished with one squirming kid (whose full name is Rowan Wrigglepants, from this experience! ) I turned round to look for her brother as he wasn't hovering nearby as usual. And he was feeding from Ellie  I let go of Rowan, who ran up and suckled too - and that was it, Ellie raised them from then on 

So it can take a day or so but given that this little one is hers too, and she's calming down, I think it looks like she'll take him back.

[Daisys Mum]

I'm beginning to feel that we are making real progress now as this morning I only had to put my hand under her chin to keep her on her feet whereas before she would just sit down and had to be physically held up. When I let them out into the yard she is following him about. Last night was a real worry as the heat lamp wouldn't work but all ok this morning, mind you they were just about buried in all the extra straw I had given them .

[jaykay]

When I let them out into the yard she is following him about

sounds very positive 

[goosepimple]

First time mums    just as well we didn't get put off by smelly nappies Anne.
 
Everybody - I know Daisys Mum's problem was the smell from the vets / disbudding, but is it normal that first time mum's need a bit of help to stand still when feeding - or do they do it for the first week or so and then can't be bothered (not talking about post disbudding)?  Or once they've got the hang of it, that's it pretty much sorted i.e. no problems?

[jaykay]

My experience of my three goats is that they just get on with it - no problems from the start, first time or not.

[goosepimple]

Must be the head teacher in you Jaykay, they're all doing as they're told  .

[Anke]

First time goat mums - like sheep - often need some supervision and if needed guidance for the kid(s) to find the milkbar....especially longcoated Golden Guernseys are apt to hide their udder just a bit... the actual bumbling about by the new kid can be quite unsettling for mum too, so calming her down etc etc is all helpful. I have actually had kids that went to the bottle from day 1, but as I milk/bottle from day 4 anyway, it doesn't matter.
 
One other thing - with single kids often they only drink from one side of the udder, not like lambs who will go and switch between the two. So the other side has to be emptied by milking, easing out only untiil day 4 to5, after that stripping out otherwise real danger of mastitis in that quarter.

[jaykay]

Lol, the idea that I could tell Ellie to do anything she didn't want to.......

I've just been lucky I'm sure, but I think Old English are fairly easy - I suppose in the same way primitive sheep can be.

[goosepimple]

thanks both, interesting replies.  Just asking because I've seen first timers in sheep and ducks and they can be a bit dopey I can see, not really getting it until later on and need a bit of help (sure I was like that with No1).  Seen me retrieving ducklings from all sorts of places and running after the mum to get them back with their clan.

[Daisys Mum]

First time mums    just as well we didn't get put off by smelly nappies Anne.
 
Everybody - I know Daisys Mum's problem was the smell from the vets / disbudding, but is it normal that first time mum's need a bit of help to stand still when feeding - or do they do it for the first week or so and then can't be bothered (not talking about post disbudding)?  Or once they've got the hang of it, that's it pretty much sorted i.e. no problems?

I think one of the problems was he smelt VERY strongly of perfume, presumably from the vet nurse. So although I will have Gobo's kid or kids done I am planning on taking them in wrapped in a towel that she has been sleeping with and insisting that they do not handle kids without this towel.

[goosepimple]

Good idea    vets assistant probably new she was going to be handling a goat and went overboard!   

[Daisys Mum]

Went out this morning at 6 to find Petal had beaten me to it and had fed him herself so hopefully now it will just need keeping an eye on.
She probably decided that she had had enough of me groping her to check that he was getting both sides and that there was no signs of mastitis.

[jaykay]

Brill 

[Mammyshaz]

Good news 

[goosepimple]

That's a relief, will be good expertise when you come to Gobo's twins