First bottle baby

[barredcountrycoop]

Well after a couple of years of kids, lambs and no problems, finally got a new mommy who wants nothing to do with her first kid. Poor thing had it and ran, so we've had to bottle feed from the first. Day one was serious concern, not eating, had to force it down with a medicine dropper. Day two it got in the swing and is now eating really well and looking stronger. While the 24 hour a day feeding have been a pain, it's been a family affair that I think most have enjoyed feeding it with a bottle.

 

[duffontap]

Prepare for a goat who thinks its human! Our bottle babies have grown up to be very friendly adults that follow us around like puppies. Congrats on your new kid. JD

 

[Our7Wonders]

This is my first kidding season and the first two kids born were refused by mama. She was fine for the first week but refused them after disbudding them. I had no intention of bottle feeding - but here I am. It was frustrating at first but is getting better now that we're all getting the hang of it (both goats and humans alike)!

I bought a buckling to bottle raise and tonight I was just offered a lamb to bottle raise - and because I'm a glutten for punishment, why not? It's like my motto with my children - what's one more? After seven kiddos my hubby said we're done and so I guess I'm making up for the lack of babies in the house by filling my goat shed!

Good luck with that baby!

 

[barredcountrycoop]

thanks guys and yes it is going to be very spoiled.

 

[scrambledmess]

Our 5 bottle babes are so friendly, I don't let our 3yo human kids in with them. LOL They would get mauled! It has been a lot of work, but it has been a great experience too. My oldest is so in love with these goats, he has been asking me how much land should he get as an adult so he can still have goats. LOL

 

[barredcountrycoop]

scrambledmess my son is the main reason i have them. I figure at 16 there is a lot worse that he could be in to other than his animals

 

[Our7Wonders]

scrambledmess my son is the main reason i have them. I figure at 16 there is a lot worse that he could be in to other than his animals

My oldest is my 16yo boy. He has been great with our new little farm venture. We started with baby chicks and he was the one I thought would be the LEAST interested. He loved those baby birds! He's my back up with the goats - he can handle pretty much all the chores that the goats require. He hasn't milked yet though, I think he's a little nervous about that one, but we're only recently back in milk - she kidded just 3 weeks ago - he has plenty of time to learn.

I hope your son is enjoying himself!

 

[Roll farms]

I'm glad you're enjoying him. I'd be lost w/out my babies...
Now that he's taking the bottle better, how often do you feed him?

 

[scrambledmess]

Thanks all. My oldest is 14. He was the one I thought would have the least interest. But he is really getting into this "farming" thing. He is actually considering taking the Ag classes in high school next year. LOL

 

[barredcountrycoop]

We started with chicks as well. he was working at a feed and seed and decided he wanted chickens. seemed harmless, built a coop (found BYC to learn what i was doing) got some chicks. not long later he wanted a goat, he bought on that was for sale at the feed store. figured out goats don't like to be alone so we bought another male. figured out not much he could do with two males so i bought him a female and fenced off about an acre of pasture to keep them in. Then the old man he worked with got some texas barbados blackbelly sheep and man did he want one of those rams,lol so we bought a couple of ewes and a ram. we now have a pasture full of lambs and kids. He feeds, waters, cleans daily and does really good at it. he loves bottle feeding the bottle baby. He is in his second year of ag. SO it has all been a good investment in my book. I enjoy them as well and it's something we do together.

duffontap, it eats about every three hours. we have a baby bottle it drains at each feeding. It's cries when hungry and is quiet as can be when full. we put it out with the other goats and it plays with the other two new kids, which are only a day older. once done it is ready to get back inside where it belongs, eats and goes ot sleep,lol