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I just got two new baby goats, one is 3 weeks and one is 1 week old. I am trying to learn how to bottle feed them - well, technically, we are all trying to learn this particular skill together since they were just taken from their moms!
I had absolutely no idea it would be so challenging...lol...I thought they would get one drink and take right to it. I got replacement milk and the nipples from Tractor Supply, but I am wondering if I might have better luck with a regular baby bottle and nipple?
We made it through the first day, but I am open to any advice. All my other girls were older when I got them. They are darned cute, though!
M. and D.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 4/2/2012 8:35:26 PM
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Get them to suck on your finger, then switch them to the bottle quickly. Also, I don't know many folks that have good luck with milk replacer. Might be more beneficial for them and you to buy whole milk from the grocery store, warm it up, and feed it. A pinch of baking soda in one bottle a day helps reduce bloat too, since they are used to nursing on demand from mom.
Good Luck!
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New Member
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I'm one who is having good results with replacer! If you're buying at Tractor Supply, our littles liked the MannaPro Kid Milk best. As they got bigger (almost 6 weeks now) we switched over to another brand, but they started out well on that Kid Milk. We are still using the original bottles, which are regular baby bottles from the store. They are hard on the nipples, but we've just made them soldier through and use them after they bit them. They gulp alot, but they do fine. 
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New Member
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| I've bottle-fed a goat and a lamb, with milk replacer, and sometimes it just takes a while for them to get the idea of the bottle. My lamb took to it almost immediately, but my goat was awful. There were several times that I had to syringe feed him the milk!! I think it took about a month for him to finally get the hang of it.
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Junior Member
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Well, I have good news - we finally figured it out! They are so darned cute! They are taking the replacement milk well. Thanks for the baking soda hint! I had to actually force their mouths open and hold them around the bottle for a couple of days, but now that they have the hang of it
I didn't know you could use regular milk, but I hate to change them since they are thriving.
I know I'm goofy, but I love my goats!
Thanks for all your help...
M. and D.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 4/13/2013 7:00:38 PM
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| baby bottles work just fine. I use 4 oz bottles for the youngest kids and at about 3 weeks I use an 8 oz bottle. the younger kid should be getting from 1 to 3 ozs every 3 to 4 hours. the older kid should get about 8 to 16ozs 2 to 3 times daily. I've introduced medicated pellets by mixing with water and placing in bottles after it breaks down . My goats love it.
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| The save-a-calf brand for multi species is what we used and had great luck when P2 thought it would be a great 4H project to get a kid to raise. Well that lasted shorted then a snow ball down under and gavie the kid to Ma-Maw.
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Starting Member
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Last Login: 8/16/2012 8:37:39 AM
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| When bottle feeding do you take the baby from its mother or leave them together?
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Junior Member
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Normally babies left with their mother don't require bottle feeding, unless the mother refuses or is unable to feed them. Some of mine were weaned by the previous owners to milk the mothers, and one was orphaned.
M. and D.
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You have to get a nipple that fits in the mouth very comfortably, sometimes a sheep nipple, sometimes a baby bottle. It can take a long time. You have to get the position of the head in the right position and just keep trying. Let hunger help you.
Try this-I read this on a website-
Open the kid’s mouth. With your thumb, hold down the tongue and insert the nipple into the kid’s mouth. Remove your thumb. Encourage the kid to suck by gently stroking its throat. This may take a few tries before the baby goat gets the idea.
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