Mamma just had Quads-----------------

[wecbob]

One of our new mammas just had quads minutes ago. One is quite a bit smaller that the others. Mamma seems to have lots of milk (she's a Boer goat). Can I expect she can raise trips OK? My thought is to pull the little one after she gets colostrum from momma and bottle feed or try to get her on another mamma who lost her baby. Any suggestions or help is appreciated. gc

 

[Devonviolet]

First off . . .

Second off . . . Congratulations on the quads!

I don't know how much experience you have with goats. Mine is limited, as I have two LaMancha does and 4 weathered Nigerian Dwarfs. One of my does, is a first freshener and just kidded one buckling. The other is a second freshener and is due in three weeks.

I'm sure some of the more experienced goaties will chime in, as the sun gets higher in the sky. @babsbag, @Southern by choice, @Goat Whisperer, @goatgurl, @Queen Mum, @Ferguson K, @dejavoodoo114, @ragdollcatlady, @frustratedearthmother, @animalmom. One of our members, @OneFineAcre, just recently had quads, so he might be a good help to you.

But, since I'm here, I'll give you my one and a half cents. Your new mama could raise trips. However, it might be easier, on her, if you could either bottle feed the two smaller ones, or if you have another goat that can nurse them for you.

How is the smallest one doing? Are all four strong enough to able to nurse?

As you know, it's important for them to get the colostrum for several days. So, if you are able, it would be good if you could milk out the colostrum and bottle feed it to your smaller two. Since she has lots of milk, you should be able to get plenty, of colostrum, to do that. I started milking out colostrum right after my little guy was born, to make sure I had plenty, in case I needed to bottle feed. But, also, to make sure her placenta came out.

Once again, congratulations on your quads! I'm praying they all do well, for you.

 

[Hens and Roos]

Congrats! We have Nigerian Dwarfs and last year had a doe with quads- the doe fed all 4- she did favor the bucklings but would rotate the kids. Make sure that all are getting colostrum. You can also weigh the kids daily or every other day to make sure they are gaining.

 

[Jenn27]

Congrats!!! Can't wait to see pics!!!

 

[SheepHappens]

You might want to consider bottle feeding the smallest because the first 3 days are the most important and can lead to starvation.

 

[Latestarter]

Congrats on a successful quad delivery! If mom has plenty of milk (from what I've heard the opposite tends to be the problem with boers), she may be able to handle all 4. If you don't want to risk it, you can always pull the "runt" or the smallest 2 and bottle feed them... Based on what you said, IMHO, I'd wait and watch to see if momma can handle it... I'd make sure all 4 are getting teat time (& that they're not plugged). Unless you WANT bottle babies...

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Very RARE for a goat to raise quads to a good wean weight by herself. Especially for the breed you are raising. Heck, around here they can barely support twins and a trip would need to be pulled.
You need to look at the milk needed to raise one kid.
Yes, she might feed them enough to keep them alive but I'd recommend you supplement 1-2 kids.
What are their birth weights? If you supplement now you can save time and money vs. waiting and shoving creep feed down their throat once they reach weaning. If you let them lag behind now, you are going to greatly reduce wean weights = less meat, more $ spent on feed to bulk them up, & a later slaughter date.
If you are raising breeders, you don't want does that are small or take a LONG time to grow out. I'd weight them weekly and compare the weights to other kids in your herd.

You do not need to officially "pull" them. You can leave them with their momma and just give a few bottles a day. This way they don't get completely "bottle baby crazy" and still know normal goat behavior and herd hierarchy. Getting them used to a nipple sooner rather than later would be good. Some kids are very difficult to train to a bottle. You don't want to wait until things could get bad to try and train them.

I'm saying this from experience. I have a few sets of quads or quints born every year. These are dairy goats however I managed a Kiko meat goat herd for years. I have done this for years now and I can tell you, you will be taxing the dam and end up with low wean weights. All of this leads to a financial loss. This is the BEST time for putting weight on your kids- milk is the BEST!

How much are you feeding the dam? You need to start upping the feed if you haven't already. Giving her some alfalfa hay would also be good! She is already taxed, by leaving all the kids on without supplementing you are taxing the dam and setting her up for issues like milk fever and ketosis.

Thankfully my dwarfs bounce back incredibly well, but the larger breeds are a bit harder to bulk up.

Now, where are the pics?! We love kid pics

Oh &

 

[dejavoodoo114]

I agree completely with @Goat Whisperer for a Boer goat. If they were a milk goat breed I would pull and bottle feed two, with meat goats, supplementing is a great way of handling this situation. I have learned the hard way that following the "guidelines" for how much milk they should get can land you with smaller weaned kids and thus smaller young adults (slaughter age for Boers).

I would also love to see pics!

 

[babsbag]

I too agree with @Goat Whisperer...it is a rare Boer that can raise triplets successfully. I have seen a few but I swear they had Nubian in them not too far back. I usually just supplemented the smallest one and let it stay with mom and sibs and I found that they were usually hungry.

 

[Queen Mum]

Supplement with a bucket or bottle feed two of them. But leave them with their mama during the day.