ohiogoatgirl
Well-known member
so finally had one litter born day before thanksgiving. and one litter born just day before yesterday. its super cold out and both does are new moms. they kept pushing the nests over.
the first litter was 9 live, 1 DOA and she knocked the nest over so down to 6live. she is a first time mom and i was suprized she had 10 in the first place. so i am keepin babies inside and takin them out to nurse twice a day.
second litter is of 8. so far all still alive. she is a second time mom but her first litter was clear back in may/june. she refused to build nest in the box and had babies on a rather crappy nest on the wire. its super cold like i said, so i tranfered the babies and nest into a box. stuck mom on top to nurse them. all seemed well.... that evening i go out and she has em pulled out and in a crappy nest on the wire again! :evil: so now i have that nest inside too and am takin it out twice a day to feed them.
so here is my problem...
neither does seem to have much milk. i'm feeling their bellies before and after i let them nurse and there isnt really any difference. not hardly a milk bag at all. just enough that i can tell where the nipples run across her belly.
the first mom i now have to hold to keep her on the babies at all. more like restrain her highly against her will and try not to let her kick a baby. and i'm not thinkin its helping too much because she doesnt stay there long even me holding her and the babies never seem much more full afterward. though they are big and healthy looking. i've got them in a large tote inside now and am trying to get them to nibble hay and pellets.
second doe i just set on the nest and she feeds fine. but i worry about the babies. she only had 5 last time. and both does are full sisters. their mom always had 8 and 5 live. everytime. so i really hope these guys can raise all their babies.
really wish i had another doe to adopt some over to!!!
so anything i can feed moms to up their milk?
the first litter was 9 live, 1 DOA and she knocked the nest over so down to 6live. she is a first time mom and i was suprized she had 10 in the first place. so i am keepin babies inside and takin them out to nurse twice a day.
second litter is of 8. so far all still alive. she is a second time mom but her first litter was clear back in may/june. she refused to build nest in the box and had babies on a rather crappy nest on the wire. its super cold like i said, so i tranfered the babies and nest into a box. stuck mom on top to nurse them. all seemed well.... that evening i go out and she has em pulled out and in a crappy nest on the wire again! :evil: so now i have that nest inside too and am takin it out twice a day to feed them.
so here is my problem...
neither does seem to have much milk. i'm feeling their bellies before and after i let them nurse and there isnt really any difference. not hardly a milk bag at all. just enough that i can tell where the nipples run across her belly.
the first mom i now have to hold to keep her on the babies at all. more like restrain her highly against her will and try not to let her kick a baby. and i'm not thinkin its helping too much because she doesnt stay there long even me holding her and the babies never seem much more full afterward. though they are big and healthy looking. i've got them in a large tote inside now and am trying to get them to nibble hay and pellets.
second doe i just set on the nest and she feeds fine. but i worry about the babies. she only had 5 last time. and both does are full sisters. their mom always had 8 and 5 live. everytime. so i really hope these guys can raise all their babies.
really wish i had another doe to adopt some over to!!!
so anything i can feed moms to up their milk?
