My bottle baby is en route!

[Our7Wonders]

He's on his way here! Hubby just picked him up. They gave us some mama milk to feed to him - I will be mixing it with whole milk. A little less goats milk, a little more cows milk each feeding.

So, from what I've gleaned on here: 3 bottles a day. At least 6 hours apart 7-8 hours apart even better. He's 6 days old - so I'm going to offer 10oz bottles and increase an ounce per feeding IF he seems hungry still - but no more than 20oz total for each bottle. Does that sound about right? They lambar feed at the dairy he came from, so I'm not certain of the exact amount he's been getting.


Do I need to be super careful about the position of his head/neck while he's eating to make sure milk flows to the right tummy? I can't remember where I read that before, and it may not even have been regarding goats. Just want to make sure I'm doing it all correctly.

Besides the typical coccidia/vac protocol, is there anything else you'd do for a new bottle baby? Do I need to worry about stress from transition and travel (3 hour car ride today) and if so what do I watch for and how do I treat?

 

[mossyStone]

Take lots of pictures, i cant wait to see your new boy....


i am one of those who gives 4~ 12 oz bottles a day for 30 days them 3 ~20 oz bottles a day for 4 mos some times longer i love bottle babies....


I have never had any problems after transport.

 

[hermityfarmer-women]

Congrats! I am so jealous though. I have to wait until Thursday for my Bottle babies! Enjoy, and I can't wait for pics!

 

[PattySh]

Make sure you have the same nipple he is used to. Yes posture is critical he needs to reach down to the nipples (picture the bend in his neck if nursing). Nubians are big, you may need 12 oz . My week old kids are getting 12 oz soon to increase and month olds (nubXs) are getting a bit over 20 oz. With a buck I recommend no excessive handling, make him respectful etc. As hard as it may be don't spoil him. Never let him climb on you, stand him on the floor to feed him.

 

[haviris]

My bottle kids get 4-5 bottles aday until they are atleast a month old, generally 4 til they are two months, then 3 til they are 3 months, then the weaning may start.

My current 5 day old bottle babies are getting about 6 bottles aday, but they were born fairly weak and we're just now getting them over that, and I started working them to bottle every four hours throughout the day which will equal 5 bottles. We'll probably do that til they are two weeks or so then put them down to 4 bottles.

I know some don't have the time to do it this way, which is understandable (but I'd never give less then 3 bottles aday til they are atleast 2 months old). But when possible more bottles more often is better for them.

 

[Roll farms]

Congrats on the new baby!
*waits for pics*

 

[Our7Wonders]

He's here, he's here! I'll try to get some pics up tomorrow.

He's very tired tongiht! I'm having a hard time getting him to take the bottle - but I'm hopeful after a nice long nap he'll be more cooperative.

He had a three hour drive home, during which hubby said he cried almost the whole way. Slept for less than an hour. Then once here he was so busy checking things out, crying, checking out the kids (human), and more crying. He wasn't the least bit interested in eating yet. Once he calmed down, he curled into a ball and has been sleeping for the last hour.

He was on an every 6 hour schedule - and as much as I love my new goatie - after tonight I'm not getting up at midnight unless it's an emergency. We'll move him to 3 bottles a day hopefully tomorrow.

He's not quite what I expected - but I think he'll work out well for us. The dairy raises purebred nubians, or so I thought. I just assumed I was getting a purebred nubian buck. However, when I spoke with her initially I stressed I was looking for a buck from very milky lines. She said she had a girl in particular who produced alot of milk, as did her dam. Sire was from great milkers too. She had a singleton buck and she thought he'd be perfect for us. DH called me after picking him up and said he had wattles. What? On a nubian? Is that possible? Well after he was home I called her to ask just what he was mixed with. His sire was 100% Nubian. Dam is 75% Nubian/25% sannan. She has kept the % does because they seem to milk even more than her full nubians. My intent is to have milkers just for my family so it's not a huge concern for me - but I was hoping to sell my babies for enough to buy their hay each year - not sure that the mix will sell as well - but we'll see.

As for the wattles - I think their kind cute on a buckling! He riminds me alot of our little Bo that was born on Wednesday, similar coloring and markings.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Congratulations!! I like wattles too!!! Enjoy the new baby!!!

 

[scrambledmess]

I can't wait for pictures!

 

[mossyStone]

I have seen alot of Pure bred nubains with wattles.......