[Luce747]

One of our pygmy nannies gave birth to twin boys yesterday at circa 3:30/4pm
Sadly she decided to have them outside in the cold and they were chilled when we found them despite getting there just as the second had been born.
We immediately got them in the barn under heatlamp but although one was talking to mum, the first born looked in a bad way.
So - after about 3 hours under the lamp, the second boy gained strength and we were able to get him standing at which point mum started to take more notice of him.
She is no super mum and despite a bit of cleaning, bleeting and bonding with her kids, she is not going out of her way to help them nurse.
Today, 20 hours later, both kids are thankfully still with us and on their feet although seem a little weak and shivery.
I have yet to witness the firstborn nurse at all and have been unable to get him to take expressed colostrum from a bottle or nurse mum when shown the nipple.
The stronger lad will nurse from mum if assisted (we hold her in place) but I havent seen him find the nipple by himself.
 
How can I know if these kids are nursing? Can I presume they have fed when I was not looking?
 
 
 

[tizaala]

Tether mum, express some milk onto your clean finger , get said finger into kids mouth, while at the same time offering teet. squirt milk onto kids lips and hold kid in place untill it gets the general idea. mum should get a bit more maternal in 48 hrs . We always wait with them untill we see them stand, suckle, pee, poo.
I take it as read that you iodined the umilicals ? and the  afterbirth came away ok.

[Luce747]

Hi thanks for the reply.
Sadly I have tried all that - worked fine with the stronger kid but I can put the weaker one's mouth to the milky nipple having express some onto his mouth but still nothing.
The udder is soft and has obviously been nursed from but I think its the stronger kid and the other may not have fed at all for I know. Or would he not be on his feet if he had not fed at all during day 1?
Yes,  cords dipped and placentas passed.
 

[Fleecewife]

I am assuming goats are pretty similar to sheep, so full tummies, warm ears and mouth, and a yawn and stretch when they stand will tell you they are ok.  If they are full then they won't be interested in the teat until they are hungry again.
 
If the wee one isn't nursing and you can't get him to take from a bottle, tube him.  If that isn't possible, you can inject glucose into the abdominal cavity, but only if you are sure how to do it - vet otherwise.  He will get beyond the point where he can suck and digest food, so important to get glucose in him, then warm him up.

[Luce747]

Thank you.
Both kids have warm ears and mouth plus tums feel full and not interested in nipple.
I guess they must be nursing fine but I am worrying too much!!   
 
Is there anything I can look out for that might give me early warning that they are NOT nursing well?
oh just tell me to shut up lol
Seriously, I didn't have any of this last year! Only bred one but the kidding went like a dream and this bum start has put me off 
 
 
 

[ScotsGirl]

If weak one is stood hunched and cold looking I would worry. I would watch continually (if you have some jobs to do close by) for at least 2 hours so you don't miss the feeding. If he hasn't suckled in that time I would worry.  If he is lying down and has been for a bit give him a poke to get up. As Fleecewife said he will stretch if ok otherwise he will get up and looked hunched.


Also might be worth trying a smaller teat. The little red ones usually work well on a pop bottle.

[Penninehillbilly]

Just to make sure they get colostrum I milk into a small bottle and make sure the kids get some of that so at least I know they've got a kick start.
But they are a bit sneaky about suckling at the start aren't they, I often worry, it's hard to keep watch when there are other things to do, but your's sound OK, lets face, I'M shivering in this weather.
Been looking in my diary fo last year, kids born 1st + 3rd April.
April 1st was -1.5c, 4th Apr-inside of barn covered in snow. I remember we were trying to put boards over the pens to keep the goats a bit dryer + warmer. Brrrrr.

[Luce747]

Mine was born April 13th last year - the difference is incredible. My heart goes out to those up north having a disastrous lambing season 
 
Hopefully my remaining nannies will wait a bit longer! lol
 
Anyway - i am pleased to say, I have just seen BOTH kids nursing, independantly. So panick over for me (for now lol) 

[Lesley Silvester]

Good news.   

[heidih]

oh wat a worry . i know me and carl was starting to worry at first as i never saw thrm nurse but the relief when u see them is huge , glad it seems to be ok now...  xxx