Should I just officially wean them?

[TGreenhut]

On the 12th I got two more Nubian doelings. They were three months old on August 3rd and 6th. They were not yet weaned from their moms, I just figured buying them would wean them. Well now that I have them, I'm realizing they are pretty thin. They're not eating much hay or grain even if they have free choice alfalfa, grass hay, goat grain, beet pulp, and black oil sunflower seeds. I have a doe in milk so milk supply is not a problem. Since they are so thin should I keep them on milk until they are older or should I wean them now?

 

[SheepGirl]

I don't think it's because they aren't weaned...I think there's an underlying issue. My lambs are 2.5 months old and they eat hay and grain on their own. My concern is that your doelings aren't eating...take their temps and see what they are.

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

I don't think it's because they aren't weaned...I think there's an underlying issue. My lambs are 2.5 months old and they eat hay and grain on their own. My concern is that your doelings aren't eating...take their temps and see what they are.

Yup, and i would also worm them. Ive only seen wormy thin babies- most babies that arent sick or wormy LOVE to eat. Maybe have ur vet check em out?

edited to add- A bbay goat at 3 months old would already be eating more hay and grain than it is eating milk from its mom (or maybe about equal?), so really, its not an issue of them not knowing how to eat real food, or even not knowing they are hungry and need to eat real food. Something is not right....

 

[TGreenhut]

Their temperature is normal. They were wormed the day they came to my farm. They are eating, just not very much. Do you think it could be stress? They cry for me constantly when I'm not around.
I'm going to try to get pictures because they aren't super skinny, just thinner than normal.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I decided to keep bottle feeding my baby buckling ( I bought him a few weeks ago as a bottle baby), milk for a while longer. I am currently watching my chunky monkey of a little girl (about a month older than him) barely stopping the nursing and she turned out so silky and healthy looking, and I think the milk is a really good, healthy thing for them. As long as I enjoy it and he does too, and supply isn't a problem, I will probably let him keep having his bedtime snack for another few weeks yet.

As long as they aren't having problems with worms or cocci (definitely check those first)....you could give them milk if you think it would help them, it certainly won't hurt them. The enzymes and probiotics etc, would be good for them. That being said tho, nubians are all pretty lean as babies. When Bambi came to us at 6 months, I think it was, she was scrawny, all bones and skin. But she ate fine and was actually healthy. I don't think I have seen a nubian baby that wasn't skinny. Some nubian lines are even slower to mature as well. Your kids are likely just taking time to adjust...It has only been 3 days right? Maybe once they aren't so lonely for mama they will focus on food a little more.

 

[SheepGirl]

Their temperature is normal. They were wormed the day they came to my farm. They are eating, just not very much. Do you think it could be stress? They cry for me constantly when I'm not around.
I'm going to try to get pictures because they aren't super skinny, just thinner than normal.

Well if their temperature is normal and they've lost weight, then I'm guessing internal parasites.

 

[ksalvagno]

Being taken from their mom and their home that they have known is very stressful. I would find out what they were wormed with and how much. Different dewormers work on different parasites and I bet coccidia is taking advantage of the stressful move. If they haven't been wormed for coccidia, then I would go ahead and do that and do it now. It certainly wouldn't hurt to offer them a bottle if you want to. It may help the stress. Were they eating grain and hay before you took them? Do you have the same grain that they were used to if they were eating grain? Those could be factors in their not eating well.

 

[TGreenhut]

Being taken from their mom and their home that they have known is very stressful. I would find out what they were wormed with and how much. Different dewormers work on different parasites and I bet coccidia is taking advantage of the stressful move. If they haven't been wormed for coccidia, then I would go ahead and do that and do it now. It certainly wouldn't hurt to offer them a bottle if you want to. It may help the stress. Were they eating grain and hay before you took them? Do you have the same grain that they were used to if they were eating grain? Those could be factors in their not eating well.

They were on a cocci prevention plan when they were younger. I'm getting a fecal done ASAP, but I just started school again and my parents work, so it will be difficult (but I'm trying hard!). Before I took them they were eating grain and hay. I am feeding them pretty much the same stuff as the previous owners. I have been giving them a probiotic supplement paste in case that helps. They absolutely refuse to take a bottle and they won't nurse from my milking doe even if I put her on the stand and stick their nose up to her teats (which is what they even did at their previous home because they were both one of triplets and the owner did that to insure they were getting enough milk).

 

[TGreenhut]

I decided to keep bottle feeding my baby buckling ( I bought him a few weeks ago as a bottle baby), milk for a while longer. I am currently watching my chunky monkey of a little girl (about a month older than him) barely stopping the nursing and she turned out so silky and healthy looking, and I think the milk is a really good, healthy thing for them. As long as I enjoy it and he does too, and supply isn't a problem, I will probably let him keep having his bedtime snack for another few weeks yet.

As long as they aren't having problems with worms or cocci (definitely check those first)....you could give them milk if you think it would help them, it certainly won't hurt them. The enzymes and probiotics etc, would be good for them. That being said tho, nubians are all pretty lean as babies. When Bambi came to us at 6 months, I think it was, she was scrawny, all bones and skin. But she ate fine and was actually healthy. I don't think I have seen a nubian baby that wasn't skinny. Some nubian lines are even slower to mature as well. Your kids are likely just taking time to adjust...It has only been 3 days right? Maybe once they aren't so lonely for mama they will focus on food a little more.

They are refusing milk so I'm guessing that its not an option to keep them on bottle. :/ I worry about their weight because my other babies have always been so plump and fat

I moved them in with my other goats and they have been bonding with my milker. Now that they are calming down they seem to be eating a little more. Maybe it is just stress. But I will get a fecal just in case even though they were wormed and raised on a cocci prevention plan.

 

[TGreenhut]

Their temperature is normal. They were wormed the day they came to my farm. They are eating, just not very much. Do you think it could be stress? They cry for me constantly when I'm not around.
I'm going to try to get pictures because they aren't super skinny, just thinner than normal.

Well if their temperature is normal and they've lost weight, then I'm guessing internal parasites.

I don't know if it's that they are dropping weight, I think it's that when I first got them they had a plump milk belly and now they are looking thin and empty
But like I said I'm getting a fecal done as soon as possible.