How many times a day do you bottle feed one day old nubians and how much at a time?

-- Ms. Fields (ambe_01@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002

Answers

When and "if" I take them from the doe I usually give them just a few ounces about 5 times a day. It is better to leave them a little hungry then stuff their little bellies. Ever notice how a doe lets them nurse...only a minute or so then moves away from them and makes them wait awhile before drinking again. Make very sure that you goat bottles are really, really clean and the milk is warm. Nothing gives a baby the scours faster than a dirty bottle. I wouldn't worry about the nipples being sucked only by one kid if you need to switch bottles or forget which kid had what bottle. Afterall they are all together anyways. I would advise you to get a good Dairy Goat book such as J.D. Belinger's and read, read, read and learn. Good Luck

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), March 10, 2002.

Iam feeding mine,2 to 4 oz.four times a day.first two days.Then 6 to 8 oz. the next two days.As their appetite grows then I feed up to a 20 oz. pop bottle no more than three times a day.After I see they are eating hay and grain I cut milk to 2 times a day.The Replacer I have Says "This Feed up to max 1/2 pint per feeding.Feed 2 to 3 feedings per day for the first week and then if required,increase to 4 feedings per day.Once kid is 5 weeks old cut back to 1 to 2 feedings per day".Pam

-- Pam (pams65@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.

In our herd, for the first 24 hours they receive heat-treated colostrum, as much as they want. Then for the next couple of days, I feed pasteurized milk 4 times each day and again as much as they want each time. After that, I feed about 3 times each day, and then eventually twice each day. Right now I have a 10 day old kid that only drinks about 12 ounces each time, but I also have a 2 day old kid that drinks that same amount. So, it also depends on your kids.

-- Charleen in WNY (charney@rochester.rr.com), March 10, 2002.

the first couple of days, i feed 6-8 oz 3x's a day then go up according to their appetite. it depends on the goat-they are all different.

-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), March 13, 2002.