Goat falling asleepwhen bottle feeding!!!

Rosetta

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Help! My baby goat keeps falling asleep when I go to feed her. Then the bottle leaks everywhere and I don't know if shes eating anything at all. Or just making a mess. Tips?
 

animalmom

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Welcome to BYH!

Yeah, they do that, the whole fall asleep in your arms. I suppose I'd do that to if I was surrounded by warm loving arms and being fed.

How old are the kids and what breed?

What nipple are you using? That might have something to do with the leakage. I like the Pritchard nipples, but I have Nigerians.

I found that if one of the kids fell asleep that if I wiggle the bottle it wakes the kid up enough to go on sucking. If you know how many ounces are in the bottle to start you can figure out if the kid is eating by how many ounces are left.

Pictures are always greatly appreciated, please and thank you.

It is helpful to the rest of us if you put your general location on your profile. We don't need specifics, just something like East TN, or Western Colorado or South of the Pecos. Please and thank you.
 

Southern by choice

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Welcome to BYH!

Yeah, they do that, the whole fall asleep in your arms. I suppose I'd do that to if I was surrounded by warm loving arms and being fed.

How old are the kids and what breed?

What nipple are you using? That might have something to do with the leakage. I like the Pritchard nipples, but I have Nigerians.

I found that if one of the kids fell asleep that if I wiggle the bottle it wakes the kid up enough to go on sucking. If you know how many ounces are in the bottle to start you can figure out if the kid is eating by how many ounces are left.

Pictures are always greatly appreciated, please and thank you.

It is helpful to the rest of us if you put your general location on your profile. We don't need specifics, just something like East TN, or Western Colorado or South of the Pecos. Please and thank you.
x2
 

Rosetta

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The goat is about 2 weeks, and shes a Nubian/boar. We also use Pritchard. There should be a picture attached.

I try to wiggle the bottle, and sometimes I bounce her on my lap a little bit. She'll start sucking, maybe once or twice, then she stops and closes her eyes. And she's asleep again.
 

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Rosetta

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The goat is the one in my profile picture.
And thanks for the advice on including my location! I've fixed it now
 

animalmom

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So, how many ounces is she drinking at a time? Is she nibbling on hay or anything else? How many times a day are you offering her the bottle?

She a cutie, that's for sure!
 

Rosetta

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She's drinking about two on average. I'm feeding her about 5 times a day, 7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm, and 11pm. She does munch on hay a little bit sometimes as well. Do you think I should introduce pellet food? Is that why she's not drinking much?
 

Southern by choice

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I would be giving Vitamin injection. Or if you don't have that look for Jump Start paste many TSC have this. Order it fast.
Our 2 & 3 lb Nigerians take down that or more. So the fact that is all she is not taking more is either due to something internal that you just can't see or she is simply getting lethargic from lack of food.

She needs to eat substantially more or she will die. I know you are trying so I am not "blaming", just so you know.
I would do B injection asap and still get the jump start.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/manna-pro-jump-start-plus-gel?cm_vc=-10005
 

Missmonty

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This isn't a problem just with goats. Even my human children would fall asleep when they're eating their bottle. I actually had a really hard time with one of themas they weren't getting enough to eat! But back to goat talk!

It'll be hard but try different things to keep her awake like wiggling the bottle a bit, petting her, just moving around. You could even try things like music. I agree with above in trying to determine the root cause of why she's not drinking much. Its very important she is getting enough nutrition so it is most certainly a good idea to make sure she's getting enough vitamins. Hopefully the boost in vitamins may help her be more willing to eat
 
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