First kids born, but no milk from mom?

VKat

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
33
Reaction score
18
Points
36
My one year old doe gave birth to twins yesterday. My first time and hers!
Nigerian Dwarfs
One baby boy at 2.95 lbs
One doeling at 3.55 lbs

But mom's udder never did get full and tight. She had some development, but not much more than a handful. There is hardly any milk in there it seems. The kids are having a hard time, especially the smaller boy. He cries a lot and tries to nurse, then drops off, and tries and stops...
I checked their little stomachs and they are not round.
I checked mom's udder this morning hoping her milk may have come in overnight- feels just like it did a day or so before she went into labor- some development but not full.

I am worried about the kids. I do have MannaPro "kid colostrum supplement", and also "Kid milk replacer". Both of these are powdered form. I have no experience with this, but grabbed some when I found out my goat was pregnant just to have in hand in case.
Should I give this to them?

Just for background info- I got this mother doe already pregnant. She is basically a rescued animal that came from someone's small backyard and was being fed nothing but corn and rabbit pellets. So I worried already about the babies being at risk for health issues. We had no way of knowing how far along she was since they had her running with a buck all the time there.
I have had her eating Dumor goat pellets, loose minerals, and second cut hay, plus some alfalfa.

And just so this post isn't all questions- here's a look at them :)
kidsjan27.jpg

kidsjan27b.jpg
 

Southern by choice

Herd Master
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
13,336
Reaction score
14,682
Points
613
Location
North Carolina
Have you milked out the teat? Are they "clogged" or is the colostrum just too thick for them to get out?
Try all you can to get that colostrum out of her and give to the kids.
Replacers are not great. IMO Better to use whole cows milk from the grocery store. Heat to 100-105 degrees. Bottle feed them. But I would still try to work on moms udder.
 

Sweetened

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
1,239
Reaction score
1,472
Points
303
Location
Canada
What beautiful babies! Sorry youre having trouble.

If you have it on hand, id start supplememting the colostrum. Maybe keep them on her in case she comes into milk, but id supplement. Sounds like one is taking all the milk, perhaps she doesnt have enough to raise both?

Ive read a couple posts here over the past couple years of people who have goats or lambs the kid and dont get milk for a week! I havent had that trouble save for a doe who aborted late term twins and she didnt bag up until a day later. Milked her out once and she never made another drop.

Good luck, keep us posted and follow the mix instructions carefully!!
 

Sweetened

Herd Master
Joined
Aug 27, 2011
Messages
1,239
Reaction score
1,472
Points
303
Location
Canada
Also forgot to mention, when we bottlefed our lambs, the lady told us she wont use powdered replaver because they always bloat up and she loses them. I used 3% milk mixed with whipping cream (the liquid stuff) as whole milk isnt sold in stores here, 1 egg to a 1 liter bottle and some honey.
 

Bucking Adoeable Fainters

Loving the herd life
Joined
Jan 22, 2014
Messages
357
Reaction score
413
Points
143
Location
CA
Many congratulations on your twins. And well done helping this poor mama!

Agreed with southern and sweetened. Milk MAY come in. She is young and a FF, she may need time. But i would supplement also. Especially that buckling. I would also give him some nutri-drench if he is weak. Idk if you are B or Selenium deprived in your area, may need also.

Best of luck, keep us posted. And again congratulations!
 

bloonskiller911

True BYH Addict
Joined
Feb 16, 2013
Messages
451
Reaction score
155
Points
213
Location
Indiana
They are great looking kids. Good luck. I hope everything works out. could her bag have still be small because of the larger kid drinking the milk and her not producing enough. We give our nursing nannies, an oz of calf manna pro pellets the first four days and we up their feed ration by a half cup to help with milk production, it takes a lot out of them. Keep us posted on how they are doing!!
 

VKat

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Jan 19, 2015
Messages
33
Reaction score
18
Points
36
First off, THANK YOU guys so much! I am brand new to all of this, and your input is so valuable!

Have you milked out the teat? Are they "clogged" or is the colostrum just too thick for them to get out?
Try all you can to get that colostrum out of her and give to the kids.
Replacers are not great. IMO Better to use whole cows milk from the grocery store. Heat to 100-105 degrees. Bottle feed them. But I would still try to work on moms udder.

I did give them a nice squeeze and saw milk come out easily after the babies were dried off yesterday. So there should be no clogs. I also tried to express milk since then, and only got some going on one side.

Also forgot to mention, when we bottlefed our lambs, the lady told us she wont use powdered replaver because they always bloat up and she loses them. I used 3% milk mixed with whipping cream (the liquid stuff) as whole milk isnt sold in stores here, 1 egg to a 1 liter bottle and some honey.

That's why I hesitate so much to just give them some bottle and let them keep trying to nurse with mom. I read that some people say the powdered stuff can cause more trouble. It's all I have on hand though :(

Do you guys think I should give just a little bit of the powder colostrum supplement for now?
Or wait until I can get some whole milk and additional supplies tonight?
I hate the idea of them going hungry and getting weak! Poor babies! But I don't want to cause them any extra issues either.
 

Pearce Pastures

Barn Babe
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
5,315
Reaction score
1,065
Points
383
Location
Hanna, IN
We bottle feed almost all of ours here on whole cows milk alone. If she has no milk, get a few ounces of warm whole milk. If you have NONE and say can't get to the store until tomorow, the powder might do but I too have tried it and had scours---a baby with diarrhea is scary. Plus, the supplement is not the same as a replacer and honestly, doing whole milk is so so much easier and worked better. No need to do any mixing either.
 
Top