Baby buck kid questions

Mpwelch50

Ridin' The Range
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So my daughter brought me a buck kid that is a mystery. The guy who sold it to her told her it was weaned. But it’s very small. It still has a dried up cord hanging. It has 8 tiny teeth with gaps. It is fighting the bottle. Won’t eat pellets. Nibbles on hay. He has good solid poop. But no rumen sounds at all. My daughter is always rescuing things from ne’er do well brokers. Luckily we have a quarantine barn. It’s horn buds are just peeping out of its skull. It’s a Nubian by the way. So my question would be what is the best way to move forward. Keep trying to force a bottle? We have dairy goats so the milk is not replacer. Do I try sweet feed to entice him to eat? I am a little out of ideas. I’ve been bringing him inside because it’s quite cold right now. But he does jump around and follow everyone around.
 

frustratedearthmother

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If the baby still has the umbilical cord hanging there's absolutely NO way he's weaned. It generally takes 8 - 10 days for the cord to fall. Eight teeth is normal. That baby needs a bottle. Definitely keep trying the bottle. In fact I'd take away the hay overnight so he gets hungry and then try the bottle. Glad you're bringing the little guy inside. Hope he does well for you - good luck!
 
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