BUTTERCUP'S BOYS

If one of the bigger boys seems to be getting more than his fair share of milk, you can put him in a dog crate right there in the pen with the mama and the other two boys. That way the little guy will have a couple hours where he can nurse more. You will have to play it by ear. Maybe put the biggest boy in a crate for a couple hours twice a day, then put the other boy is a crate for a couple hours once a day. Then the smallest one will have 4-6 hours when he doesn't have to fight for a teat. I'll never understand why animals with only two teats tend to have three or four kids! It usually works out, but sometimes you have one that just isn't as aggressive as the others, and they can die. To make sure the little one is getting enough, you can feel his tummy. It's at the back end of the rib cage. It should feel like a little golf ball in there if his tummy is full. You can't base it on looks, because by the time their belly looks sunk in, they're really behind. By the time he's a couple weeks old, he should be able to fight for himself.

laurie jenkins said:

Two of the boys are brown w/ less white spotting. The third boy (peanut the little one) looks JUST like his mom. We struggle now w/ is little one getting enough milk from mama Buttercup . He seems to get pushed around a little . . .
Any ideas?
Laurie

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
What cuties! It's funny when siblings look the same, because usually they don't. Do they look like their mom? We had a doe this year who had quads, and all four had exactly the same coloring as she did.

Replies

Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 25, 2010 at 1:06pm

If one of the bigger boys seems to be getting more than his fair share of milk, you can put him in a dog crate right there in the pen with the mama and the other two boys. That way the little guy will have a couple hours where he can nurse more. You will have to play it by ear. Maybe put the biggest boy in a crate for a couple hours twice a day, then put the other boy is a crate for a couple hours once a day. Then the smallest one will have 4-6 hours when he doesn't have to fight for a teat. I'll never understand why animals with only two teats tend to have three or four kids! It usually works out, but sometimes you have one that just isn't as aggressive as the others, and they can die. To make sure the little one is getting enough, you can feel his tummy. It's at the back end of the rib cage. It should feel like a little golf ball in there if his tummy is full. You can't base it on looks, because by the time their belly looks sunk in, they're really behind. By the time he's a couple weeks old, he should be able to fight for himself.

laurie jenkins said:
Two of the boys are brown w/ less white spotting. The third boy (peanut the little one) looks JUST like his mom. We struggle now w/ is little one getting enough milk from mama Buttercup . He seems to get pushed around a little . . .
Any ideas?
Laurie

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
What cuties! It's funny when siblings look the same, because usually they don't. Do they look like their mom? We had a doe this year who had quads, and all four had exactly the same coloring as she did.
Aleesha May 25, 2010 at 10:20am

They are super cute.. :)
laurie jenkins May 25, 2010 at 9:50am

Two of the boys are brown w/ less white spotting. The third boy (peanut the little one) looks JUST like his mom. We struggle now w/ is little one getting enough milk from mama Buttercup . He seems to get pushed around a little . . .
Any ideas?
Laurie

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
What cuties! It's funny when siblings look the same, because usually they don't. Do they look like their mom? We had a doe this year who had quads, and all four had exactly the same coloring as she did.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 25, 2010 at 9:21am

What cuties! It's funny when siblings look the same, because usually they don't. Do they look like their mom? We had a doe this year who had quads, and all four had exactly the same coloring as she did.

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