What's with her udder?

[TGreenhut]

I'm really worried that my baby goats from last night aren't getting any milk. Her udder and teats were fine when they were born and they did get milk from them, but now its like her teats never filled back up with milk. The teats are all deflated, but her udder is still full. The babies are trying and trying to get milk and now even I can't get anything out. Nothing is swollen or hard or especially hot so it doesn't seem like mastitis so what do you think?? I've never had baby goats before so I don't know what is normal and what is not.

 

[jmsim93]

Are the kids acting hungry and desperate? If not, you probably just aren't seeing them nurse. I am dealing with the same thing...it seems like she never has any milk and when I see the kids try to nurse she is always walking away from them. (But they do it all the time...guess I would get tired to) I cannot get milk out except just a drop, but I think I just don't see them doing it all of the time. I have decided not to worry about it because they are playing and active and their belly's seem full! They are growing bigger every day. I would say to keep and eye on the kids and base your assessment on that...

 

[ksalvagno]

She may have a congested udder. If it is truly full and the teats are empty, then something is wrong. I would massage her udder and see if you can get milk out.

Also, she may not be letting her milk down. Is this a first freshener?

 

[20kidsonhill]

offer them a bottle, hungry newborns, only a couple days old will normally take a bottle pretty easily. If you don't have a nipple, try offering them some milk from a 3cc syringe, whole cows milk will work, warm it to 104 degress. Slip syringe or nipple into the side of their mouth until it is centered like a teat would be, if they start sucking they are hungry. A satisfied kid would be upset with you for doing this. Once they are 4 or 5 days old this trick gets harder, but a 24 for 48 hour kid, really wont know the difference, they just want food.

Temperature of milk is important.

Sounds like they nursed on her and she isn't producing enough milk fast enough. some does will catch up in 3 to 5 days, For us this is a cull factor, I realize she is probably a pet for you. but for me, it is too much work dealing with a doe that wont produce enough milk right away.

You can also start increasing her feed intake and calories. You may want to take the time to explain, how much she is eating. Alfalfa hay or pellets may help her come into more milk. Sorry if I should already know this from past posts.

 

[20kidsonhill]

She may have a congested udder. If it is truly full and the teats are empty, then something is wrong. I would massage her udder and see if you can get milk out.

I was thinking that as well, congested udder would feel full and tight and look large. A doe with not enough milk, would have an udder, but it would look small and not tight.

 

[Sunny & the 5 egg layers]

offer them a bottle, hungry newborns, only a couple days old will normally take a bottle pretty easily. If you don't have a nipple, try offering them some milk from a 3cc syringe, whole cows milk will work, warm it to 104 degress. Slip syringe or nipple into the side of their mouth until it is centered like a teat would be, if they start sucking they are hungry. A satisfied kid would be upset with you for doing this. Once they are 4 or 5 days old this trick gets harder, but a 24 for 48 hour kid, really wont know the difference, they just want food.

Temperature of milk is important.

Sounds like they nursed on her and she isn't producing enough milk fast enough. some does will catch up in 3 to 5 days, For us this is a cull factor, I realize she is probably a pet for you. but for me, it is too much work dealing with a doe that wont produce enough milk right away.

You can also start increasing her feed intake and calories. You may want to take the time to explain, how much she is eating. Alfalfa hay or pellets may help her come into more milk. Sorry if I should already know this from past posts.

How do you warm the milk? Microwave? Stove Top? Just wondering.

 

[ksalvagno]

Colostrum has to be heated the old fashioned way of putting a bottle in hot water. Regular milk can be heated in the microwave.

 

[TGreenhut]

I went out there and offered them a bottled but they didn't seem hungry. So then I massaged/yanked at her udder and the teats started filling up and I was able to get milk out of them. The babies seem to be happy and nursing so I will keep in eye on everything but it seems good otherwise. The mama is eating good alfalfa hay, I've given her some goat grain, and she has plenty of water with molasses in it. She definitely has enough milk because her udder is huge, so I guess it was probably just a congested udder. Thanks for the help.

 

[ksalvagno]

You may need to go out and massage a few times to make sure the congestion goes away.