FF Goat - Asking Questions

She has two teats and the kids seem fine. They are on her a lot. I went and got goat milk replacer and the buckling took a good ounce, the doeling didn’t. I noticed she has a full belly but the buckling didn’t so maybe that is why he drank. I will keep an eye on them. I will get a picture tomorrow. Hopefully with them always being on her she will produce more but they never really seem to nurse her dry but I can tell that they seem fine. They jump around and play when not sleeping.

Louannx said:

She has two teats and the kids seem fine. They are on her a lot. I went and got goat milk replacer and the buckling took a good ounce, the doeling didn’t. I noticed she has a full belly but the buckling didn’t so maybe that is why he drank. I will keep an eye on them. I will get a picture tomorrow. Hopefully with them always being on her she will produce more but they never really seem to nurse her dry but I can tell that they seem fine. They jump around and play when not sleeping.

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Then I wouldn't worry too much about her milk production, but if she allows, it wouldn't hurt to check both teats for milk once or twice a day. Just give each teat a squirt onto the ground if she's having plugging issues.

Keep an eye on them and see if he habitually nurses a little less than her. Like is his belly always a little less full than hers. Just something to make note of. But again, as long as they both seem happy and normal, I wouldn't worry a whole lot.

Thank you so much! Will do. Have a good evening to both of you.

Quick question, is it normal for kids to favor one teat over the other. My doe had twins last night. They are healthy and nursing real good but they seem to favor one teat over the other.? Both teats are working well I checked..

FRED DESANTIS said:

Quick question, is it normal for kids to favor one teat over the other. My doe had twins last night. They are healthy and nursing real good but they seem to favor one teat over the other.? Both teats are working well I checked..

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yes we had a doe with twin doelings who only nursed off one side, we had to milk the other side. We tried to get the kids to nurse the other side but they wouldn't.

I've had the same situation. I worked with the kids and would gently move one to the other side. Sometimes you have to block access to their favored teat by covering it with your hand. Just pick one kid to try to graft to the other teat and leave the other kid on the favored teat. Hopefully it won't take long to convince them that there are two faucets, lol.

It really helps if the doe is cooperative.

frustratedearthmother said:

I've had the same situation. I worked with the kids and would gently move one to the other side. Sometimes you have to block access to their favored teat by covering it with your hand. Just pick one kid to try to graft to the other teat and leave the other kid on the favored teat. Hopefully it won't take long to convince them that there are two faucets, lol.

It really helps if the doe is cooperative.

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we wondered in our situation if it had to do with the one side being the 1st they nursed on so to them that was where they went..

I have a whole different problem . My doe kidded twins and walks away from the buckling . If he nurses when the doeling nurses he gets to nurse . He was a bit weak at birth, and she has been trying to abandon him ever since I've given him two bottles about six ounces each .I have found him trying to nurse y truck early one morning .I gave him a bottle that morning He is strong enough now to follow her out to the field . I'm on constant guard . Last night the dog started barking and ran out in the pasture . Next thing I know she is driving the little guy up . He kept trying to run under anything and hide, so she started trying to pick him up .I called her off and he went under the hay mower and bedded down. The flock had been up for at half hour or more and the doe never called for him once .While Mini who's kids were born the same day goes crazy if they get out of her sight. So you run into all kinds of things . If you milk out the side save the milk and freeze it . Might come in handy latter . Keep the side milked down not out . encourage them to nurse it every chance you get .

frustratedearthmother said:

I've had the same situation. I worked with the kids and would gently move one to the other side. Sometimes you have to block access to their favored teat by covering it with your hand. Just pick one kid to try to graft to the other teat and leave the other kid on the favored teat. Hopefully it won't take long to convince them that there are two faucets, lol.

It really helps if the doe is cooperative.

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Well it seems they figured it out. They are nursing both sides now.

Yay - sometimes it just take 'em a few days.