My doe Leela (with triplets) is a very mediocre mama and I'm very concerned for the smallest doeling. Her mama won't feed her unless her favorite doeling latches on first, then one of the other two have to act fast to get the other half. The buckling has held his own but the littlest doeling has started slipping. Last week the two biggest ones gained 3#s each and smallest ones weight gain was negligible. They are almost 5 weeks old and she's gained well every week until now. I've tried to give her a bottle to supplement several times-- no luck until today for the first time I was successful! Her little tummy felt soft and empty and her mama just butts her away every time she's go in for a snack. So my question is: how often should I offer her a bottle at this age? She only takes an ounce or so at a time but I figure every little bit helps.
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She wasn't interested in the buck on the other side of the fence so that seems unlikely. She is way better though and is feeding them all equally and just seems overall happier. Strange. I'm SO glad this has smoothed out whatever the reason.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
Oh! I wonder if she was in heat?
Sometimes it just takes time for everyone to get in their "groove" too! :) Glad things are looking up!
Well now I'm thinking she really is having hormonal issues because yesterday and today everyone is full and well-fed and she's not being mean to any of them. Think I'm going to look for the homeopathic remedy. Couldn't hurt.
That is a really cute picture, even though the story behind it is not so sweet.
It IS really odd and I've been completely baffled. She doesn't have any reason to smell odd. She will lay down with her mom and put her head over on her (so sweet) and and jump up and stand on her back and they seem fine together, but Leela only goes to the big doeling to lick her belly and encourage her to nurse. She will look at the other two like they are someone elses kids most of the time. They literally have to watch for the signal that she's going to nurse Sable, then they jump at their chance. If either of the other kids approach her to nurse, they get butted (gently) away. It's very frustrating.
That is so odd for the doe to act like that. The birthing scenario you described happens more often than not with NDs that have more than two, and does have no trouble bonding with all the kids. Any chance that the doeling could smell funny. A couple months ago someone on here mentioned having visitors who were holding the babies and afterwards the doe did not seem happy with the kids. But again, I think those were younger kids. Usually within a couple of weeks, they are all bonded like glue.
Dang! You were at the Mother Earth News Fair??? I was going to go but things happened that prevented it. I would have given my right pinkie to meet you and I MISSED it!! Waaaahhhhhhh!
Thanks for straightening me out on the weight gain. They all doubled their weight at one week. Biscuit has gained 2+ pounds every week until this week. She nurses fine and mama doesn't have a problem with her nursing at all. It's just that she doesn't seem to like her as much as the other doeling, so when the other one wants to nurse, she'll let her and another one nurse then. She had a full 30 minutes to bond with the big doeling when she was born then the other two came out and she seemed overwhelmed. She has never bonded closely with the other two but she does feed them. She just acts nurturing only to the biggest doeling.
I had no idea you were in Ashville! I was speaking at the Mother Earth News Fair there a couple weeks ago!
Glenna, thank you so much for your response! I read it this morning before I went down to the barn. This time when I put Leela on the milk stand she was REALLY full even though they were all up and about. I took the little one and let her nurse although Leela kicked like crazy (I held her leg). Funny she doesn't mind me milking her, as she is used to it, but she really didn't want that kid to nurse! I held her like that until the doeling had quite a bit, then milked her and got 10 ounces! I think your suggestion to separate the big kids at night is an excellent one! Not sure with her attitude if she will feed Biscuit when she wants to, but she'll have a chance that way, and then when I milk Leela, I can hold the little one to nurse as well. GREAT IDEA!!
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