[BaconsFort]

I have a Boer who gave birth to triplets 2 days ago. The mother only has one teat because she had an infection during her stay with the last owner. All 3 babies were nursing within 2 hours of birth, so I was pretty happy. Today, however, the mother is SOMETIMES rejecting the only boy with nips and butts when he tries to nurse. Yet, sometimes he gets through. He is a bit bigger than the 2 girls, but all 3 look like they’re getting fed. They are active and healthy looking. Is it normal for a mother to sometimes reject one of the babies? Given that she has one teat, is she being selective? Do I need to prepare to hand feed this one?


We are new at this. And guess what – another doe had triplets 5 days ago. We didn’t know the does we bought 4 months ago were pregnant. Thus, we have our hands full!!
Thanks for your advice!

 

[ksalvagno]

With only 1 working teat, I would be bottle feeding at least one of them. Weigh them daily using a scale that weighs in pounds and ounces or pounds and tenth of pounds. A fish hanging scale works great. Get a bag and weigh it. Then put the goat in the bag and hang it. Subtract the weight of the bag.

 

[nancy d]

Id be bottle feeding 2 of them. After they've had 24 hrs of colostrum you can start.

 

[happybleats]

I agree. pull one or two and bottle raise....its much to taxing onmom to try to nurse three on one teat..

 

[midlothianffa]

When any if our does have triplets they usually favored 2 more than the other 1 so yes you might have to bottle feed him

 

[toth boer goats]

I too agree.