I had a doe give birth on 2/11/14 with triplets, she is a First Freshener and I don't think she is taking the best care of her kids. She also has a small udder, even for a FF, IMO. I am worried about the babies getting enough milk and when she does let them nurse it is not long enough and it is not as often as she should let them. Could I supplementing the babies with extra milk? How often should I do this? What is the next best thing to moms milk?
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I'm glad Rachel mentioned the fact that organic milk is usually ultra-pasteurized. A couple years ago someone bought a bottle wether from me and was buying goat milk at the store -- talk about expensive! Anyway, he got diarrhea from it, and I wondered if it was because it was ultra-pasteurized. I know some people have more trouble digesting it. Just more food for thought!
Yep, I just got whole milk from the grocery store. I didn't get organic, because most often, that's been ultra pasteurized, but other than that, I just got the kind we would drink if we were buying milk. (whole) If your babies are getting "regular" milk and even just a little of mom's milk, that's a good thing, and will help them grow faster than they will on ANY kind of re placer alone. Rolling Hills Nigerians said:
The only other doe I have in milk kidded the same day with triplets so I can't really milk her yet. I could get cows milk from the grocery store? Is that what you mean?
I'm so glad you are keeping an eye on the babies! It is a rare first freshener that can produce enough milk for three kids.
People can argue all day long about which milk replacer is best, and you'll have people on all sides who are very passionate about their choice. I've used store-bought cow milk, goat milk replacer, and all-species milk replacer, and the only one we had a problem with was the latter. I really saw no difference between the cow milk and the goat milk replacer. We were using the all-species milk replacer with two piglets and a goat, and all three of them died, so I totally blame the milk replacer because they were all doing fine until about 36 hours after we bought that milk replacer.
Offering a bottle three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) is probably a good starting point. You might find that one (or two) of the kids is really guzzling the milk, in which case you might need to do it four times a day. Initially I wouldn't let one have more than about two ounces at a time. Diarrhea is usually caused by kids getting too much milk at one time.
The only other doe I have in milk kidded the same day with triplets so I can't really milk her yet. I could get cows milk from the grocery store? Is that what you mean?
Other goat's milk is the next best thing to mom's milk... and then it really just depends on what you have access to... I have raised a kid on store bought whole cow's milk, because that's what I could get my hands on affordably.
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I'm glad Rachel mentioned the fact that organic milk is usually ultra-pasteurized. A couple years ago someone bought a bottle wether from me and was buying goat milk at the store -- talk about expensive! Anyway, he got diarrhea from it, and I wondered if it was because it was ultra-pasteurized. I know some people have more trouble digesting it. Just more food for thought!
Yep, I just got whole milk from the grocery store. I didn't get organic, because most often, that's been ultra pasteurized, but other than that, I just got the kind we would drink if we were buying milk. (whole) If your babies are getting "regular" milk and even just a little of mom's milk, that's a good thing, and will help them grow faster than they will on ANY kind of re placer alone.
Rolling Hills Nigerians said:
I'm so glad you are keeping an eye on the babies! It is a rare first freshener that can produce enough milk for three kids.
People can argue all day long about which milk replacer is best, and you'll have people on all sides who are very passionate about their choice. I've used store-bought cow milk, goat milk replacer, and all-species milk replacer, and the only one we had a problem with was the latter. I really saw no difference between the cow milk and the goat milk replacer. We were using the all-species milk replacer with two piglets and a goat, and all three of them died, so I totally blame the milk replacer because they were all doing fine until about 36 hours after we bought that milk replacer.
Offering a bottle three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) is probably a good starting point. You might find that one (or two) of the kids is really guzzling the milk, in which case you might need to do it four times a day. Initially I wouldn't let one have more than about two ounces at a time. Diarrhea is usually caused by kids getting too much milk at one time.
Other goat's milk is the next best thing to mom's milk... and then it really just depends on what you have access to... I have raised a kid on store bought whole cow's milk, because that's what I could get my hands on affordably.