Bottle Feeding 101
Here on our farm we vary the way we feed our kids. Sometimes, kids are pulled as full time bottle babies. Other times we dam raise. My personal favorite method is a "Hybrid" of both. We introduce most of our kids to the bottle when they are just a day or two old as a "supplement". Their mom gets to spend a few hours every day out with the adult herd away from the babies. We feed the babies once while mom is away and then milk mom before she is returned to the babies.
If you find yourself with a kid that needs bottle feeding, here are my personal recommendation.
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SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:
* Colostrum (for babies under 24 hours old ONLY)
* Pritchard or EZ Nurse Teat Nipple
* Empty Soda Bottle
* Milk
* Colostrum (for babies under 24 hours old ONLY)
* Pritchard or EZ Nurse Teat Nipple
* Empty Soda Bottle
* Milk
Acceptable Kinds of Milk to Feed:
(In order of personal preference)
* Fresh Goat's Milk
* Meyenberg Goat Milk (Sold in stores)
* WHOLE Cow's Milk from the store
* Milk Replacer made SPECIFICALLY for GOAT KIDS
NOT Multi-Species -I use either Does Match or Manna Pro Kid Milk - Although Does Match really is the very best you can buy!
(In order of personal preference)
* Fresh Goat's Milk
* Meyenberg Goat Milk (Sold in stores)
* WHOLE Cow's Milk from the store
* Milk Replacer made SPECIFICALLY for GOAT KIDS
NOT Multi-Species -I use either Does Match or Manna Pro Kid Milk - Although Does Match really is the very best you can buy!
Babies should eat 10-20% of their body weight DAILY.
With Nigerians I usually feed around 4oz per 5lbs at every feeding.
Keep in mind this can vary slightly with each kid.
Goat's Body Temperature is warmer then humans. Newborn babies tend to prefer their colostrum/milk around 100 F. If the milk is too cool, they may not want to drink it. As they get older, you can slowly offer cooler milk.
With Nigerians I usually feed around 4oz per 5lbs at every feeding.
Keep in mind this can vary slightly with each kid.
Goat's Body Temperature is warmer then humans. Newborn babies tend to prefer their colostrum/milk around 100 F. If the milk is too cool, they may not want to drink it. As they get older, you can slowly offer cooler milk.
Day 1:
Babies who are removed from there mom at birth will NEED colostrum. It is really best that they get this from there mom. They will need colostrum for 24 hours after birth. If you do not have the mom to get this from a powdered or gel colostrum can sometimes be found at a feed store. Babies get vital nutrients and antibodies from colostrum and kids that do not get colostrum often fail to thrive.The powdered/gel form should not be used IF the mom's colostrum is still available. Powdered/Gel Colostrum is a LAST resort NOT a replacement!
DWARF GOAT KIDS should receive 1-2 oz of colostrum every 2 hours AROUND THE CLOCK for the 1st 24 hours!
Day 2:
Once they are over 24 hours old they can be moved to goat's milk, cows milk or milk replacer. Babies should continue to be fed around the clock every 3 hours. Babies at this age will usually eat 1-3 oz of milk at every feeding.
Day 3 - 7:
Babies should be fed every 3 hours except for a 6 hour period through the night. It is essential to feed babies often at this early age. The amount they eat will slowly increases as they age!
1 Week - 3 Weeks:
At a week old babies are usually strong enough to stand eating every 4 hours with an 8 hour break overnight.
4 Weeks - 6 Weeks :
4 weeks of age is when we usually cut babies back to eating 3 X daily with a 12 hour break overnight.
7 Weeks - 8 Weeks:
Feed up to 10 oz of milk 2X daily
8 Weeks - 9 Weeks:
Feed up to 10 oz of milk ONCE DAILY
At 9 Weeks babies can be weaned as long as they are eating and drinking well on their own! However, It won't hurt to keep your baby on a ONCE DAILY bottle until 12 weeks of age!
*Dam raised kids can be weaned at 8 weeks of age. We keep bottle raised babies on a bottle longer because they often grow slower then dam raised kids.
Dam raised kids consume more milk in many smaller feedings throughout the day then a bottle baby does!
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
* At feeding time do not increase more the 1oz of milk PER DAY.
* NEVER FEED A DWARF GOAT MORE THEN 10 OZ AT ONE FEEDING
* OVER FEEDING A HUNGRY BOTTLE BABY CAN LEAD TO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS!
Feel their bellies after a feeding. You want their bellies "full" but not "hard or "tight"
Babies who are removed from there mom at birth will NEED colostrum. It is really best that they get this from there mom. They will need colostrum for 24 hours after birth. If you do not have the mom to get this from a powdered or gel colostrum can sometimes be found at a feed store. Babies get vital nutrients and antibodies from colostrum and kids that do not get colostrum often fail to thrive.The powdered/gel form should not be used IF the mom's colostrum is still available. Powdered/Gel Colostrum is a LAST resort NOT a replacement!
DWARF GOAT KIDS should receive 1-2 oz of colostrum every 2 hours AROUND THE CLOCK for the 1st 24 hours!
Day 2:
Once they are over 24 hours old they can be moved to goat's milk, cows milk or milk replacer. Babies should continue to be fed around the clock every 3 hours. Babies at this age will usually eat 1-3 oz of milk at every feeding.
Day 3 - 7:
Babies should be fed every 3 hours except for a 6 hour period through the night. It is essential to feed babies often at this early age. The amount they eat will slowly increases as they age!
1 Week - 3 Weeks:
At a week old babies are usually strong enough to stand eating every 4 hours with an 8 hour break overnight.
4 Weeks - 6 Weeks :
4 weeks of age is when we usually cut babies back to eating 3 X daily with a 12 hour break overnight.
7 Weeks - 8 Weeks:
Feed up to 10 oz of milk 2X daily
8 Weeks - 9 Weeks:
Feed up to 10 oz of milk ONCE DAILY
At 9 Weeks babies can be weaned as long as they are eating and drinking well on their own! However, It won't hurt to keep your baby on a ONCE DAILY bottle until 12 weeks of age!
*Dam raised kids can be weaned at 8 weeks of age. We keep bottle raised babies on a bottle longer because they often grow slower then dam raised kids.
Dam raised kids consume more milk in many smaller feedings throughout the day then a bottle baby does!
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
* At feeding time do not increase more the 1oz of milk PER DAY.
* NEVER FEED A DWARF GOAT MORE THEN 10 OZ AT ONE FEEDING
* OVER FEEDING A HUNGRY BOTTLE BABY CAN LEAD TO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS!
Feel their bellies after a feeding. You want their bellies "full" but not "hard or "tight"
Bottle Feeding : Problems that can arise
Problems can always crop up with any animal but here are some issues that can come up specifically when bottle feeding.
SCOURS (aka: diarrhea)
Change in Diet: I've seen this frequently when using powdered milk replacers. If you do use a powdered milk replacer make sure to use one specifically for goats. Avoid "Multi Species" replacers.
Over Feeding : Always increase bottle size SLOWLY! With Nigerian do not increase daily intake by more then 1 oz per day! If your baby is super hungry at each feeding, feed more often! Frequent smaller meals are better then fewer large meals. A baby who overeats on milk can get very bad sudden diarrhea. OVER FEEDING IS BAD!
Coccidia: Coccidia isn't really a "bottle baby" problem but a baby animal problem. If your baby comes up with unexplained diarrhea coccidia is another thing to consider. Coccidia has approximately a 3 week life cycle. Meaning, you won't usually see it in babies until they are at least 3 weeks old.
SCOURS (aka: diarrhea)
Change in Diet: I've seen this frequently when using powdered milk replacers. If you do use a powdered milk replacer make sure to use one specifically for goats. Avoid "Multi Species" replacers.
Over Feeding : Always increase bottle size SLOWLY! With Nigerian do not increase daily intake by more then 1 oz per day! If your baby is super hungry at each feeding, feed more often! Frequent smaller meals are better then fewer large meals. A baby who overeats on milk can get very bad sudden diarrhea. OVER FEEDING IS BAD!
Coccidia: Coccidia isn't really a "bottle baby" problem but a baby animal problem. If your baby comes up with unexplained diarrhea coccidia is another thing to consider. Coccidia has approximately a 3 week life cycle. Meaning, you won't usually see it in babies until they are at least 3 weeks old.
