Hi Everyone
I my name is Laurene Beaudette and I am new to the group. My doe had three kids yesterday for the first time. (2 boys + 1 girl) The first boy is big, second boy small, and the girl is tiny. The mother is petite. Could you please let me know how much grain you will give a lactating doe feeding three. She will also get organic kelp, flax, sunflowers seeds in addition ( about 1-2 tablespoons each)!
Thanks in advance for your help.
Laurene
Replies
Thanks again Deborah. I will call Countryside organic's and find out the feeding guidelines.
Yes a pound of milk is about 2 cups. I'm not sure about the grain. We use old 12-ounce cans as grain scoops, and I generally wind up giving my does two cans early in lactation and only one can of grain after the first 3-4 months. Double check the label or feed tag on you goat feed, however, to see what it says for feeding guidelines.
Thank you Deborah this is very helpful!
Yes, Ginger is a first freshener and her mother did the same thing (3 kids first time and 4 the second). Today I kept a very close eye on everyone and made sure they all nursed and especially the smallest one through out the day/evening. She does look better today and will continue to monitor the situation closely. If I have to supplement Ginger's mother (Lucy) is in milk too so I have plenty of milk.
I have a small herd of 4 adult does and do not usually measure grain or milk by pounds. Could you please clarify if this is correct.
1 pound of grain = 3 cups
1 pound of milk = a little over 2 cups
Thanks again,
Laurene
Welcome to the group!
If she is a first freshener, meaning she has never given birth before, then she may not be able to make enough milk for three kids, so you need to keep a very close watch on the kids to be sure they're gaining weight. They should double their weight by a week or age or ten days at the latest. If they don't, you will need to supplement. I'd be especially worried about the smallest one, as they often get knocked off the teat by bigger kids.
Commercial goat grains usually have feeding instructions on the feed tag. However, it's usually in the neighborhood of 1 pounds of grain for every 3 pounds of milk, and to feed three kids, she'll need to be producing 4-6 pounds of milk, which is unrealistic for most first fresheners. If she kidded elsewhere before you bought her, she will be producing more.
She also needs a good free choice, loose mineral, such as Sweetlix Meat Maker, and plenty of fresh water changed and refilled twice a day, if you're using buckets.