Not sure if she is a good mama goat?

1525 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by nancy d, Oct 28, 2013

robin4

Discussion Starter · Oct 27, 2013

Well, my mama goat will not stand still long enough for the babies to nurse. She will let them nurse for about 45 seconds, then walk off. She will step right over them, It looks like their heads might break off sometimes. If they try to nurse again, she will keep moving so they can't.

I'm worried they are not getting their fill.

Is this normal....I want her to stand still until the babies are finished.

Should I milk her, and bottle feed the babies? I really don't want to , but will do anything necessary to have healthy babies.

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happybleats

· #2 · Oct 27, 2013

Perfectly normal...moms dont want babies to eat too much and get sick tummies...
check babies tummies, they should be flat but firm..not sunken in or popping out...weigh them several times a week to be sure they are gaining well..you want to see bouncy active livley kids...a lethargic kid is one to be concerned about..

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ksalvagno

· #3 · Oct 27, 2013

I would weigh the kids daily. If they are gaining weight, then they are getting enough. You need a scale in pounds and ounces or pounds and tenth of pounds to see if they are gaining weight daily. A hanging fish scale works great.

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nancy d

· #4 · Oct 27, 2013

Robin, she's a perfectly good Momma & this is totally normal for her to only let nurse several seconds then hop away.
They are so good at timing it!

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ThreeHavens

· #5 · Oct 27, 2013

The momma goats do that so the babies don't get sick from too much milk at once.

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MsScamp

· #6 · Oct 28, 2013

robin4 said:
Well, my mama goat will not stand still long enough for the babies to nurse. She will let them nurse for about 45 seconds, then walk off. She will step right over them, It looks like their heads might break off sometimes. If they try to nurse again, she will keep moving so they can't.

I'm worried they are not getting their fill.

Is this normal....I want her to stand still until the babies are finished.

Should I milk her, and bottle feed the babies? I really don't want to , but will do anything necessary to have healthy babies.

That is totally normal. Do not interfere, she is doing her job.

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robin4

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 28, 2013

Oh my goodness!!! I had no idea. I put her up in a stall today so she couldn't get away from her babies.

She wasn't at all happy either. She looked straight up like she was figuring out a way to escape.

I feel bad...Good thing goats can understand english. I told her she was a bad goat.

Going to let her out.

Love this forum!!

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ThreeHavens

· #8 · Oct 28, 2013

Don't feel bad! As long as the babies are growing, and their tummies aren't sunken in, what she's doing is normal and good. My girls give their babies lots of tiny feedings, not standing for very long at all.

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MsScamp

· #9 · Oct 28, 2013

robin4 said:
Oh my goodness!!! I had no idea. I put her up in a stall today so she couldn't get away from her babies.

She wasn't at all happy either. She looked straight up like she was figuring out a way to escape.

I feel bad...Good thing goats can understand english. I told her she was a bad goat.

Going to let her out.

Love this forum!!

I completely understand. I was raised with cattle before I got into goats and, despite the fact that I knew how does nurse their kids, I spent a LOT of time in the pens making sure I hadn't read incorrect information. As long as you don't see kids sunk in in front of their hip bones, apathetic, or lethargic your doe is absolutely doing her job and all is well.

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HoosierShadow

· #10 · Oct 28, 2013

In the first week our does usually stand for a while to let kids nurse, especially the first few days. After that, they start making 'mealtime' shorter and shorter. I remember thinking 'Bad mama, your mean to your babies!' but after the first few times of having babies I realized it was normal.

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robin4

Discussion Starter · #11 · Oct 28, 2013

ksalvagno said:
I would weigh the kids daily. If they are gaining weight, then they are getting enough. You need a scale in pounds and ounces or pounds and tenth of pounds to see if they are gaining weight daily. A hanging fish scale works great.

The little boy weighed 9 lbs at birth....now at 14 days.....13.8 lbs.

The little girl weighed 7.3 lbs at birth....now at 14 days.....14.8 lbs.

So in 2 weeks he has gained almost 5 lbs. , and she has gained 7.5, almost doubling her weight.

The boy is about 1" taller.

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