Help - rearing solo kit with first time doe

[Tbgb1912]

My does feed twice daily at dawn and dusk..but I have a super over achiever who feeds three times for the first week then down to two...so if she is feeding twice a day you should not need to supplement just keep him warm..

How long would their feedings usually take? I spend ten minutes in the morning with the doe and kit on my lap, but a lot of that time is spent with her cleaning the wee guy, and searching for other nipples. Would he actually he getting enough milk? His belly looks rounder, but definitely not full from some of the photos I have seen on here

 

[Miss M]

Normal feedings take five minutes or less. Occasionally, a doe will stay longer, but it's usually over pretty quickly.

It's different for trying to help a kit who can't seem to get enough. You usually have to be content with "rounder" rather than "ping pong ball". Are you still doing the formula?

 

[EnglishSpot]

I had to be satisfied with "rounder" with Hungry, but I also fed him 4-5xs a day for a couple days.

 

[Tbgb1912]

I was using the formula for a couple of days, as the doe began fighting me whenever I brought the kit out to feed. But now I let her run around and release her energy before sitting her on my lap and she seems to be more content with that. She's happy to sit there and clean him while he suckles. He's made it to day five so far, he's survived a couple of -2 degrees nights, so I think he's a fighter. He's getting two feedings a day from the doe.

 

[Miss M]

It sounds like what he's getting is sufficient. Maybe not tanking up, but if he's energetic and gets a little round at feeding time, he should be getting enough.

 

[Tbgb1912]

I think he's getting enough he's furring out, and growing. First day, to day six today

 

[Zinnia]

Oh, the little one really is looking good! Great work!

 

[Miss M]

He's doing awesome! And he's so adorable!

 

[Tbgb1912]

Does his belly look full enough to you guys, in the second photo? That's usually what he looks like after a feed. But thank you!

 

[Zinnia]

Yes, he looks fed.

 

[Miss M]

Yep, tummy looks great! I was expecting him to be thinner -- fed enough to grow and keep going, but not fed enough to grow well. He's not thin at all. You have done a great job!

 

[Tbgb1912]

It's great to hear such feedback I was rather skeptical :lol: <br /><br /> -- Sun Jul 05, 2015 7:43 pm -- <br /><br /> Just an update for anyone interested - the wee guy is just over 3 weeks old and is starting to eat his first solid foods though he is still tiny compared to other kits his age - I think maybe his growth was stunted when he was chilled and warmed/revived? My other kits his age I have to hold in two hands, but he's still small enough to fit in one.
And he is a he (unless the sex change fairy arrives)

 

[Miss M]

Oh my goodness, he's SO ADORABLE!!!

 

[Tbgb1912]

Yes he is a wee cutie