Expert: Goatlady - 9/7/2008

Question
I have a pygmy goat that had three kids, they are all very small, and the smallest one isn't eating much.  She is eating a little but not much at all.  Also, it's poop at the last look was yellowish.  The kids were born yesterday at around 5 in the afternoon.  Not sure what i should do, she is standing and walking around, just not with much enthusiasm.

Answer
HI Anna,
So glad you write right away! Because she is the smallest of triplets she is probably getting pushed away from eating and slowly getting weaker. You will need to supplement her with a bottle starting as soon as you can - today. I have an article  for you to read about bottle feeding- do not use milk replacers for goats or lambs, get regular whole cows milk from the grocery store. OR  if you have  a source on your own farm from a dairy goat- feed her goat milk from one of your milking goats.

http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=76
This article shows you how to hold the bottle, as well as different nipples to use- most can be found at the local feed store- if nothing else go get a regular baby bottle  from Walmart for today and get a lamb nipple Monday. The baby cannot wait for the right nipple  until Monday she will go downhill quick without getting enough to eat.

Just give her the bottles according outlined schedule ( adjust to her  needs  by feeling her belly and feed till full but not tight, and do not over feed ) and put her with mom for the rest of them time, she may be able to sneak in some milk between the other 2 kids  she should not get rejected by mom for you intervening. The poop sounds normal. Bright orange yellow and can get stuck on her butt if not cleaned off,  and when it does it dried hard as a brick. To avoid this put vasoline on her rear and under her tail so it cleans off easy and does not stick and get hard.


Make sure she poops every day a few times and if not  give her an enema or she can quickly get toxic.
http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=92&Itemid=74


Watch her for scouring (diarrhea)
http://goat-link.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=46&Itemid=75

Let me know how she does.  You caught this quick.. :)

goatlady
Goat-Link.com