[Moon.Stars]

Hi all.

This is not our first rodeo with bottle kids. First year they were not growthy, so we added creep last year and they did great. Always 500ml 2x a day, regardless of if born on farm or brought in.

They are full sized goats. They are about twice the size of our tiny twins, but smaller than our big singleton we have. The twins born on our farm, we are bottle feeding. Things are good as gold with the twins. They were getting 250ml twice a day, and they have been upped to 500ml twice a day. They are happy, healthy, and gaining. They are not kept together.

With the off farm babies. We started off slow, hydrating fluid the first feed home, then some sips of milk, then a full 250 ml feed for a few days. They were upped to 500ml and now they are all miserable. Not during the first feed at that amount, but at any after. Feeds are 12 hours apart. Scours, hunched, one of them started kicking at his stomach even fed 300ml. They are very healthy, hearty kids. They have gained since upping the feed. They were not gaining on 250ml. They are fed the exact formula, temp, time, and nipple shape as the born on farm goats and they are the same age.. I trust where we got them from.

I can't figure out what on earth I am doing wrong. Every bottle baby we have ever had has been on 500ml 2x a day at 2 weeks old, and I have never had a problem. The consensus here was that it's not enough even. Agh!

 

[goatblessings]

How much do they weigh? General rule of thumb is to feed at first 10% of body weight total for the entire day. Only feed enough to have a firm flat tummy, not poochy. That is quite a bit per feeding , you may try to feed smaller amounts 3-4 times a day. What kind of milk are they getting?
I would give a pinch of baking soda in the first bottle, and a pinch of probiotic in the last bottle.
If diarrhea continues you can give scour halt. But I would try adjusting feedings to more often and not as much in the bottle to start.

 

[ksalvagno]

What kind of milk are you using?

 

[Moon.Stars]

How much do they weigh? General rule of thumb is to feed at first 10% of body weight total for the entire day. Only feed enough to have a firm flat tummy, not poochy. That is quite a bit per feeding , you may try to feed smaller amounts 3-4 times a day. What kind of milk are they getting?
I would give a pinch of baking soda in the first bottle, and a pinch of probiotic in the last bottle.
If diarrhea continues you can give scour halt. But I would try adjusting feedings to more often and not as much in the bottle to start.

They are all over 10lbs, with some over 15lbs. When getting the 10%, which is 500ml (250ml, 2x), we were not seeing daily gain and a few lost weight. That is why we increased the amount. They are getting Grober Kid Gro.

We can only feed 2x a day unfortunately, as we both work full time. I will look into adding baking soda into the bottle. I am also thinking that doubling increased the amount too quickly, and I'm going to have to do some odd number. We doubled it with the other smaller babies and they have been fantastic. Not all goats are created equal lol

 

[Dews]

Try cows milk! I had tons of trouble with Bottle babies on formula and non since I switched to cows milk. They are not so prone to scouring and seem a lot healthier.

 

[Moers kiko boars]

Ive always used milk,added 1 egg yolk, & 1 Tbs karo syrup. But the signs your babies are showing is overfeeding signs. And 2 feedings a day is a big change from feeding off Mom. That may be part of it. Most kids need a more gradual change.

 

[Moon.Stars]

Ive always used milk,added 1 egg yolk, & 1 Tbs karo syrup. But the signs your babies are showing is overfeeding signs. And 2 feedings a day is a big change from feeding off Mom. That may be part of it. Most kids need a more gradual change.

They have been on a commercial schedule since they were born, so I don't think that's it lol

I think everyone nailed it with the overfeeding, we reduced to 350ml 2x a day and everyone is much happier!

 

[Boer Mama]

I’m glad everyone is doing better with the reduction 🤗

 

[toth boer goats]

👍😁🤗