Baby has been born!!

DaSouthernYankee

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I’ve been on a waiting list for two baby girls(Nigerian dwarfs) and today a baby girl was born! I go to pick her up Saturday. I’m so overjoyed but also a little nervous since her counterpart hasn’t arrived yet. Any tips on keeping her brim being lonely while I wait (predicted to only be a week or two till the next litter) and any bottle tips are welcome!
I planned to feed her 2oz every two hours until she is a week old then move to 3oz every four hours, and gradually increase her amount as she gained weight. I have a chart from goatspot I’m going off as far as introducing grain and hay.

Does this sound about right?!
I suddenly feel like I’m missing something. She has an 8x8 weather proof house, straw to lay in, and lots of love to arrive to... anything I will need immediately otherwise?
 

Southern by choice

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If a newborn she should not be alone in a shelter. just keep her inside with you, use a dog crate and make sure she gets out etc.

How many days old will she be when you pick her up?
Are they training her to the bottle now?

The only time we do every 2 hours is when the kid is under two pounds and can only take 1/2 oz. usually for a day or two.

In general you start with what she is weighing, and how well she is taking the bottle. You don't want to end up with floppy kid syndrome.

If the other kid is coming from the same place why don't they feed her and wait til the other is born? They can go together.
Also what do you plan on giving her by bottle? Goat milk or something else?
 

DaSouthernYankee

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If a newborn she should not be alone in a shelter. just keep her inside with you, use a dog crate and make sure she gets out etc.

How many days old will she be when you pick her up?
Are they training her to the bottle now?

The only time we do every 2 hours is when the kid is under two pounds and can only take 1/2 oz. usually for a day or two.

In general you start with what she is weighing, and how well she is taking the bottle. You don't want to end up with floppy kid syndrome.

If the other kid is coming from the same place why don't they feed her and wait til the other is born? They can go together.
Also what do you plan on giving her by bottle? Goat milk or something else?
I planned to keep her inside with me at night and bring her out to play while I’m outside so she stays accustom to outdoors.

She was born today so she will be 3 days old. Basically from what I understand the breeder let’s them nurse part time and bottle train to make sure they can do so.

She is roughly 4-5 pounds! Born chunky! I’m aware of the crucial ness of not over feeding but I guess I thought she needed every two hours in the first week.

And there is a waiting list so if I pass her by someone else on the list will take her and I’m just nervous the next litter will end up being all boys or something and I’ll miss my little girl. So they don’t really hold them if there are other people ready for bottle babies.

I planned on feeding organic whole cow milk but am open to other options if people think a formula is better.
 

DaSouthernYankee

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Here’s a few pictures if this helps with size and weight ideas.
 

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Southern by choice

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I cannot caution you enough on this.
I understand the breeder let’s them nurse part time and bottle train to make sure they can do so.

You need to make sure the kid is FULLY on that bottle, not just oh she took it just fine (and the goat took a few drops once) seriously this is an issue.
I know nothing about where you are getting your goat etc and not trying to insult the breeder... but there are people out there that let the kid nurse, the goats are not taking a bottle, not trained then sold as a bottle baby, then the new owner is crying and freaking out because they have this newborn kid that won't take a bottle. It is a myth that if they get hungry enough they will take it. Sometimes they will just get weak, still refuse and then you have to tube feed or they die.

I would ask the breeder when you pick her up how much she is taking in each bottle and how often. Have the breeder go over with you how to properly bottle feed and the breeder should schedule a time where the kid is due for a bottle so you can watch and learn and give the bottle.

Organic whole cows milk- is it raw or pasteurized? Will the breeder send any goats milk home for the transition?

At 3-4 days and that size she should be able to go overnight like last bottle 10-11pm and morning bottle 6-7 am then about every 4hours in the day.
I'll tag @Goat Whisperer she is my farm partner and manages the farm, the Nigerians are her thing and she is really good at individualizing schedules.
 

Devonviolet

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Welcome to Backyard Herds! and congrats on your new little doelings. Hopefully the coming kidding will produce another doeling. Do you have a plan, for what to do about company, for your little girl, if the coming kidding only produces boys? Your little sweetie will need another goat for company. :hugs

Pay attention to the excellent advice that @Southern by choice has given you. This advise comes from years of raising many goats and having a bottle feeding program. @Goat Whisperer is also an expert on bottle feeding NDs. These are some of our most experienced goat people. I have learned a lot from both of them. :D

Southern's advise about having the breeder schedule your pick up time, when the kid is due for a feeding, is an excellent one. By having her teach you how to give a bottle, she is proving to you, that your little girl can really take a bottle easily.

is the breeder willing to be available (day and night), if you should have a problem? I would hope she would be willing to do that at least for the first week. Of course the "night time" availability would be for unexpected difficulties only.
 
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DaSouthernYankee

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I cannot caution you enough on this.


You need to make sure the kid is FULLY on that bottle, not just oh she took it just fine (and the goat took a few drops once) seriously this is an issue.
I know nothing about where you are getting your goat etc and not trying to insult the breeder... but there are people out there that let the kid nurse, the goats are not taking a bottle, not trained then sold as a bottle baby, then the new owner is crying and freaking out because they have this newborn kid that won't take a bottle. It is a myth that if they get hungry enough they will take it. Sometimes they will just get weak, still refuse and then you have to tube feed or they die.

I would ask the breeder when you pick her up how much she is taking in each bottle and how often. Have the breeder go over with you how to properly bottle feed and the breeder should schedule a time where the kid is due for a bottle so you can watch and learn and give the bottle.

Organic whole cows milk- is it raw or pasteurized? Will the breeder send any goats milk home for the transition?

At 3-4 days and that size she should be able to go overnight like last bottle 10-11pm and morning bottle 6-7 am then about every 4hours in the day.
I'll tag @Goat Whisperer she is my farm partner and manages the farm, the Nigerians are her thing and she is really good at individualizing schedules.
Thank you so much for your input!! I will certainly ask her to walk me through some things and she did say she would send me with written instructions as well. So I’ll have to find out what she’s currently taking.

I honestly planned on just buying it from the store, so pasteurized. But I know tractor and supply sells tons of milk replacer options I’ll be sure to see if she will send me with some goat milk.

And thank you for the last bit of info I was so nervous I’d be setting alarms or sleeping through them starving my sweet baby goat!!

You’ve been so helpful!:bow
 

DaSouthernYankee

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Welcome to Backyard Herds! and congrats on your new little doelings. Hopefully the coming kidding will produce another dueling. Do you have a plan, for what to do about company, for your little girl, if the coming kidding only produces boys? Your little sweetie will need another goat for company. :hugs

Pay attention to the excellent advice that @Southern by choice has given you. This advise comes from years of raising many goats and having a bottle feeding program. @Goat Whisperer is also an expert on bottle feeding NDs. These are some of our most experienced goat people. I have learned a lot from both of them. :Dk

Southern's advise about having the breeder schedule your pick up time, when the kid is due for a feeding, is an excellent one. By having her teach you how to give a bottle, she is proving to you, that your little girl can really take a bottle easily.

is the breeder willing to be available (day and night), if you should have a problem? I would hope she would be willing to do that at least for the first week. Of course the "night time" availability would be for unexpected difficulties only.
Hi, thank you!! I’m so excited to be a goat mom! Haha
And it sounds like there are a few litters due but only one within the next two weeks so that’s why I’m praying there’s a girl in it for me! I suppose if not I’ll have to wait for another one or perhaps get a little boy... I know it’s not quite the same but I do have ducks and I’m hoping they can at least offer some friendship or entertainment in the mean time (under supervision of course). And I’m going to keep her inside for a bit while she’s so small so at least she’ll have plenty of attention. Keep your fingers crossed I get my second baby girl soon I suppose!!

And so far the breeder has been very good about answering my questions promptly, I guess I may just need to ask more. Part of me was kind of nervous to be the “20 questions” customer or seem incompetent. I don’t have tons of goat experience but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to be a great goat owner!! But I do believe she will make herself available and seems to be really passionate about her herd, so I’m sure she’ll want to see them in happy homes!
 

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Congrats and good luck with your new baby goat(s)! Looking forward to more pics once you have her/them. :)
 

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