Goat udder...too big?

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freerangefreaks

freerangefreaks

In the Brooder
10 Years
Jun 1, 2009
22
0
22
Hi, sorry this should be on the BYH but for some reason I can't get registered.

Anyway, my goat kidded two little bucklings this morning and they are having trouble nursing. Her udder is so enormous that they are looking for teats in the wrong place. I have assissted them and they have nursed a little but they can't seem to do it on there own. Should I bottle feed them for now or just keep helping them nurse?

This was her udder yesterday BEFORE babies. Now it's even slightly bigger.
alisabutt.jpg

anotherbutt.jpg
 
I'd milk that goat quick. Also save that milk and bottle fed it to the bucklings, the will benifit from having that first milk after birthing.
 
Yah, no kidding that's enormous isn't it. I couldn't milk her until she delivered. I milked a little off of her after the babies arrived just to relieve a little pressure. But I didn't want to milk too much because I didn't want to waste the colostrum.

Would you give them a bottle or just keep helping them nurse until they get it?
 
I don't mind bottle feeding them it's just that they want to nurse and keep trying they just can't seem to get low enough to latch on. I would love for them to nurse naturally. Momma goat is very patient with them.

How much can I milk her and still not take all of the colostrum from the babies? What I'm trying to say is I'll milk off some and still leave enough for the babies to nurse. Do you think that will make it easier for them to nurse naturally?
 
MIlk her now!!! Yeouch!!! Either way, even if you do take some colostrum while milking her, they're not going to be able to get it from her udder anyway.

Milk her until the bag feels softer, you should be able to tell when it is enough and that the babies will be able to latch. That will make it easier for the babies to feed (I had to do this myself to feed my newborn...TMI!! LOL!) I would try to bottle feed the babes what you are able to milk off, just to be sure they are getting as much as possible.
 
I milked her so her udder is nice and soft but it seems to be still to low for babies to latch. I am just going to bottle feed for today and see if they can get a better latch tomorrow.

Thanks. Holy stressful. After a sleepless and very long night, I appretiate all the help.
 
You're doing great!!

Is it possible to tie her or hold her elevated until the babies can feed? I don't know how gentle she is, but tying her and tying a leg up (only if needed) and physically guiding the babies or holding up the nanny or at least her bag may help. Again, that depends on how cooperative she is!
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Maybe have her stand on something 4-6" tall and hold her? Good luck!!!!!!
 
Kids are like calves, if the teets are too swollen they cant latch on to nurse no matter how much you show them where it is. You need to just try to keep her calm while you milk her down, it will hurt her some (if she's anything like our heifers) but you need to get the teets small and long enough to fit in the kids' mouths correctly. Good luck!!!
 
I milked her quite a bit about 2hours ago and now she's just as big as before. One little guy has figured out how to lie down to eat but the other I'm still guilding to the nipple. I can't firgure out how to get him to take the bottle.

I didn't milk her enough. I am going now to try to get those teats small and long. I guess I might have to milk her every couple of hours.

Thanks again. I will go and get some pictures now.
 

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