Newbie: 7 week old buckling - likes FOUR bottles a day

[livingjourney]

Okay, I have read that at this age he should be having 3 bottles at 8.00 am, 2.00 pm and 9.00 pm with 8 - 12 0z a day. But my little buckling likes four bottles, 8.00 am, 12.00, 5.00 pm 9.00 pm. He is eating his Lucerne and doing well on that. Do I be strong and stick to the 8.00 2.00 and 9.00? This is the same buckling that had scours that was feed related by the way. He is firming up now due to the Lucerne hay.

I swear that breast feeding my own kids was easier that this :/

Sincerely

Vee

 

[lovinglife]

I will probably get in trouble for this, but I think sometimes we overfeed the babies. I did the bucket method with mine, so they would free feed. When they got a bit older my boys were getting bent leg, so I cold turkey weaned them and now their legs are nice and straight. They were 8, 9 and 10 weeks old, and the youngest at 8 weeks was the worst for crooked legs. Now he is the best, nice and straight. They still get the grain hay and pasture and are doing well. If it were me after my experience I would cut back and encourage him to eat solid food. That is my experience, I am sure there will be a lot of other opinions.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

Mamas, even the ones that allow nursing well past a "decent" weaning timeframe, force the babies to take a little then move on. Eat some, move some, graze, browse, etc. they do not usually let them have as much milk as they get from a bottle or for long periods. I would cut him back. When you get to one bottle, If you want to indulge him and let him have the one for longer than the 12th week....non one will know unless you fess up. My 4 week old NDs are already eating alot of solids and chewing their cud etc..... They still nurse every chance they get and get a supplemental bottle too, but they are doing good. Your little guy will act starving but they all do. Even when they are very well fed.

 

[Moonshine]

Yeah my 7 week old doling is the same way "starving"! I feed her at 7am, 1pm, and 7ish pm. I feed all the animals at 6 feed and because the doling isn't getting a bottle at 6 she has been eating feed along with the other does. I also added calf mana recently to help entice her to eat more feed as well and she's really starting to do better. I'm a newbie and still learning and just going by what I've been reading. I think its going to be really hard when its time to cut back a bottle! I'm a total push over and softy! My little doling is a major Diva and she has me pretty much wrapped around her little hoof and she knows it!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

3 times a day is plenty and it encourages them to begin eating solid foods sooner and get their digestive system to develop. Yes, they would love it if I gave them an all day buffet of bottles but 3 is good.

 

[livingjourney]

Thanks for all the replies. Today is the day I will give him three bottles of 400-500 mils instead of four bottles 300 mils. I have fed his bottle this morning, and have left quite a bit of lucerne hay there for him to chow down on. I hope he doesn't whinge until 2.00 pm :/

I will let you know how we go

Sincerely

Vee