We definitely bottle feed and always will. Our reasons are below. If you like dam-raising, that’s great! Everyone gets to choose how they want to raise their own goats. This is just what works for us and why.
We have raised 30-50 Nigerian Dwarf kids per year 100% on the bottle for the last 6 years (3/12/2024.)
We have raised 30-50 Nigerian Dwarf kids per year 100% on the bottle for the last 6 years (3/12/2024.)
Why Do We Bottle-Feed?
Because it's easier for the people and healthier for the goats.
- Bottle feeding makes the dams easier to milk and handle. At birth they have all these bonding hormones and when you milk out the colostrum, they see you as their baby. They continue to stand nicely on the milk stand to get milked. Does who dam raise hold back milk and throw kicking tantrums. Even a skittish dam will quickly learn to come to get milked and grained if she doesn’t have kids on her. We don't need to chase or catch does to milk them. They are pushing down the door to get in. We have a set milking order and call their names.
- The kids are very socialized with less time. We feed 3 times a day. Sometimes newborns get 4-5 feedings for the first week. Aside from that, we may not spend any other time with the kids, but they love people and see them as feeding machines and follow them like puppies everywhere. This helps us sell the babies because they are so friendly. And the baby wethers can leave as young as 2 weeks old, once they are disbudded and established on the bottle. The new owners can feed cow milk from the grocery store. This socialization continues into adulthood and even after switching farms. Bottle-raised goats generally see all people as food machines and they are not hard to catch.
- Bottle feeding also helps us keep healthier dams and healthier kids. With the dams, you are milking twice a day, feeling the udder, seeing the milk, noticing if she’s eating her grain or shivering and you will catch illness, calcium deficiency, or mastitis very early. This summer I had a couple milking does get pneumonia. The symptom my kids noticed was “their udders felt hot to the touch.” They took temps and found they were 105+ but eating grain and producing milk. We started antibiotics immediately. Some breeders’ first indication of pneumonia is finding a dead doe who was “totally fine” the day before.
- Also, bottle-feeding keeps the dam's udder from getting damaged, bruised or cut by her kids'teeth. Nursing kids often damage the udder with incessant bumping. The udders can get lop sided if a single kid is only using one side and as kids get older, the does are less interested in feeding them.
- Bottle feeding kids also helps you quickly find illness. The first sign a kid has a fever is they don’t finish all of their bottle. They may be jumping around, looking great, but actually 105! If antibiotics are given quickly, almost all kids recover and survive.
6. It makes sure kids are getting enough to eat. Many if not most Nigerians do not produce enough milk to raise more than 2 kids. I have seen a triplet from another herd who starved to death and the owner had no idea until it was too late. Her bigger brothers just pushed her off and drank all the milk. This can happen with colostrum too which is why we milk it out and split it between kids. Sometimes we have to buy whole cow milk from the grocery store to supplement what their dams are making. We mix it with the raw milk so they get some of each. You can also raise them entirely on whole cow milk if needed.
If a doe has 3 kids and each kid needs 24 oz per day, then that doe needs to make 72 ounces a day or 9 cups of milk. 4 lbs is a half gallon or 8 cups. So that doe needs to be doing 4.5 lbs on milk test. We do monthly milk test and I do have some does who milk 4-6 lbs at peak, but rarely is that a first freshener. And many second or third fresheners don’t milk that much either.
Number of kids is not necessarily the issue. I had a doe who had a single kid and never milked more than 1.2 lbs on test. That’s 2 cups a day! Her single kid would have struggled to get enough to eat.
Each kid needs 24 oz per day to grow well. We do 8 oz three times a day until they are big enough to drink 12 oz per feeding, then switch to twice a day feedings that match our milking schedule. We milk the dams and then put the warm milk right into their kids.
When you dam raise, you need to weigh kids a couple times a day to see if they are gaining weight. But with bottle feeding, no weighing is necessary because I know they are each eating 24 oz per day and subsequently will grow well on that.
7. Milk test day is easier and quieter. Dams are not stressed out because they are separated from their kids. Kids are not fighting you about taking a bottle. When you bottle-feed, test day is the same as every other day with dams happy to come get milked and kids excited to get their bottle.
8. We will continue to feed keeper doelings 24 oz per day until they are 6-7 months old. We have found they reach breeding weight faster and it’s a good use of extra milk.
9. Finally, some retained doelings may never stop nursing their dam, even after she kids again the next year. This is a frustrating way to lose milk and potentially colostrum before the kids are even born. With bottle-raised kids, if you keep them in a pen close to their dam, after 1-2 weeks kids who have never nursed can go back in with their dam as they don’t know that milk comes from an udder.
If a doe has 3 kids and each kid needs 24 oz per day, then that doe needs to make 72 ounces a day or 9 cups of milk. 4 lbs is a half gallon or 8 cups. So that doe needs to be doing 4.5 lbs on milk test. We do monthly milk test and I do have some does who milk 4-6 lbs at peak, but rarely is that a first freshener. And many second or third fresheners don’t milk that much either.
Number of kids is not necessarily the issue. I had a doe who had a single kid and never milked more than 1.2 lbs on test. That’s 2 cups a day! Her single kid would have struggled to get enough to eat.
Each kid needs 24 oz per day to grow well. We do 8 oz three times a day until they are big enough to drink 12 oz per feeding, then switch to twice a day feedings that match our milking schedule. We milk the dams and then put the warm milk right into their kids.
When you dam raise, you need to weigh kids a couple times a day to see if they are gaining weight. But with bottle feeding, no weighing is necessary because I know they are each eating 24 oz per day and subsequently will grow well on that.
7. Milk test day is easier and quieter. Dams are not stressed out because they are separated from their kids. Kids are not fighting you about taking a bottle. When you bottle-feed, test day is the same as every other day with dams happy to come get milked and kids excited to get their bottle.
8. We will continue to feed keeper doelings 24 oz per day until they are 6-7 months old. We have found they reach breeding weight faster and it’s a good use of extra milk.
9. Finally, some retained doelings may never stop nursing their dam, even after she kids again the next year. This is a frustrating way to lose milk and potentially colostrum before the kids are even born. With bottle-raised kids, if you keep them in a pen close to their dam, after 1-2 weeks kids who have never nursed can go back in with their dam as they don’t know that milk comes from an udder.
The hardest part of bottle feeding is when you separate the kids from the mom once she’s done giving birth. If you can make a pen where she shares a fence-line and can see them, she will calm down and often sleep right next to the kids on the other side of the fence. If the kids aren’t doing well and you need to take them in the house, she will call for them (some are pretty loud) for a few days or a week. Then she will settle down and forget about the kids.
So you feel terrible stealing her kids but you just have to remind yourself all the positive reasons why. The does will thank you later. And most kids get sold anyway. At 6-8 weeks old, you need to be separating bucklings from their mom and sisters (or they will breed them) and that can be even more stressful after they are bonded. Some does lose a lot of production when a kid gets sold because they aren’t comfortable being hand milked. I have seen other does who are dam raising push their kids away because the kids are constantly bumping and bruising them or causing udder injuries from their teeth when the dam just does not have enough milk to satisfy her hungry kids.
So you feel terrible stealing her kids but you just have to remind yourself all the positive reasons why. The does will thank you later. And most kids get sold anyway. At 6-8 weeks old, you need to be separating bucklings from their mom and sisters (or they will breed them) and that can be even more stressful after they are bonded. Some does lose a lot of production when a kid gets sold because they aren’t comfortable being hand milked. I have seen other does who are dam raising push their kids away because the kids are constantly bumping and bruising them or causing udder injuries from their teeth when the dam just does not have enough milk to satisfy her hungry kids.
How We Bottle-Feed:
At birth, we place the babies in a big tub or wide bucket in the kidding pen to allow them to dry while their siblings are born. This keeps them clean, out of the way so they can't get crushed or stepped on, and prevents them from nursing. The dam can lick them as she chooses.
Once the dam is done delivering or in between babies if there's some time, we milk out all the colostrum. It's easiest and cleanest if you milk one side at a time into a bottle. That way debris doesn't fall in as easily. And because we are milking on the ground, it allows you to hold tightly to the bottle as the doe moves around or kicks. One hand milks and one hand holds the bottle. Once you have a few ounces of colostrum, it's smart to pour it into a larger quart or half gallon jar with a lid that's out of reach so that it doesn't accidentally get spilled if she kicks your hand. Sometimes we put the doe on a milk stand with some grain and milk out the colostrum there. This is easier for you, but sometimes the doe still has afterbirth, is delivering kids, or is just too messy for the milk room and it may be harder to get her to leave the kids.
We try to keep this first milking as pleasant for the doe as possible. We bump her udder and move around as she moves. If she kicks, we just keep milking around her. Occasionally I'll have someone hold her while I milk or snap her lead to the fence so she doesn't move around as much. We have never used hobbles on any of our goats ever. First fresheners do move or kick the first few times they are milked, but soon learn what to expect and that kicking never stops the milking, so they give up fighting. In general if you fight with goats or get angry, the goats get more upset and lay down. Keep milking until no more milk comes out; sometimes colostrum takes a minute to fall down.
Once the dam is done delivering or in between babies if there's some time, we milk out all the colostrum. It's easiest and cleanest if you milk one side at a time into a bottle. That way debris doesn't fall in as easily. And because we are milking on the ground, it allows you to hold tightly to the bottle as the doe moves around or kicks. One hand milks and one hand holds the bottle. Once you have a few ounces of colostrum, it's smart to pour it into a larger quart or half gallon jar with a lid that's out of reach so that it doesn't accidentally get spilled if she kicks your hand. Sometimes we put the doe on a milk stand with some grain and milk out the colostrum there. This is easier for you, but sometimes the doe still has afterbirth, is delivering kids, or is just too messy for the milk room and it may be harder to get her to leave the kids.
We try to keep this first milking as pleasant for the doe as possible. We bump her udder and move around as she moves. If she kicks, we just keep milking around her. Occasionally I'll have someone hold her while I milk or snap her lead to the fence so she doesn't move around as much. We have never used hobbles on any of our goats ever. First fresheners do move or kick the first few times they are milked, but soon learn what to expect and that kicking never stops the milking, so they give up fighting. In general if you fight with goats or get angry, the goats get more upset and lay down. Keep milking until no more milk comes out; sometimes colostrum takes a minute to fall down.
When the colostrum and kids are all out, we take them in the house. This gives the kids time to dry thoroughly and warm up. Then we weigh the kids and split the colostrum between each baby according to their weight. It's not uncommon for a doe to not make enough colostrum for her kids and occasionally they will make too much or lose a kid. After measuring, we put any extra colostrum in human breastfeeding bags in the freeze and then we can thaw it if needed. Newborns need colostrum to feel warm when you put your finger in it and you cannot use a microwave on colostrum or it will curdle. We use hot water from the tap in a bowl with the colostrum in a bottle to warm it. After 24 hours, you can microwave the milk.
Newborns have a small window to get colostrum. The first 24 hours and really the first 12 hours are critical for kids to get colostrum. During that time, they absorb antibodies from the colostrum directly into their bloodstream from their digestive tract. After 24 hours, their digestive tract no longer absorbs antibodies. So it is critical for newborns to get plenty of colostrum as soon as possible. (There is a fad where people buy goat colostrum to drink. This does not make sense with what we know about colostrum and absorption. People do not need antibodies against goat pneumonia, enterotoxemia or tetanus. And since they are not newborns, they wouldn't absorb colostrum the way baby goats do.)
Newborns have a small window to get colostrum. The first 24 hours and really the first 12 hours are critical for kids to get colostrum. During that time, they absorb antibodies from the colostrum directly into their bloodstream from their digestive tract. After 24 hours, their digestive tract no longer absorbs antibodies. So it is critical for newborns to get plenty of colostrum as soon as possible. (There is a fad where people buy goat colostrum to drink. This does not make sense with what we know about colostrum and absorption. People do not need antibodies against goat pneumonia, enterotoxemia or tetanus. And since they are not newborns, they wouldn't absorb colostrum the way baby goats do.)
Because our kids have never nursed they take a bottle much easier. I like to sit on the floor with my legs spread open and the baby goat in the middle so that it can't back up. Goats are prey animals so they often think you are trying to kill them and will back up. Rub their noses and pet them like their dam would lick them until they are bumping and looking for the bottle. Sometimes you can get them sucking on your finger and then slip the bottle in. Sometimes you will need to open their mouth, put the nipple in and pump/squeeze their muzzle a couple times until they start sucking. Newborns need at least 2-3 oz in the first feeding and I'm fine with them taking 4-5 oz. You can feel their stomach to see how full they are. Extended, tight tummies after eating are fine. Expect to feed them again in a few hours when they are crying and bumping each other. They will still sleep for 6-8 hours at night and if they aren't crying loudly, don't need fed until you wake up. This is another reason I like them in the house for the first night; I can feed them when they are hungry and sleep without worrying when they are quiet. Often on the second day after being born, newborns aren't as hungry if they got lots of colostrum.
If you work and think you cannot bottle-feed, remember that our babies go 12 hours overnight.
Here’s a link to the bottles we like to use: https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/wide-mouth-lamb-n-kid-feeding-bottle?
They are microwave safe, have markings on the side, and the wide mouth openings make them very easy to clean!
They are microwave safe, have markings on the side, and the wide mouth openings make them very easy to clean!
The first week babies get as much milk as they can drink. If you can do 4-5 feedings per day that's great, but we often only manage 3 feedings a day. Babies can have up to 8 oz in one feeding. Once babies are sucking well on a bottle, we teach them to use a bottle rack so we can feed multiple babies at a time. This make it very easy to feed large numbers of babies. We milk the dams twice a day, feed their babies the warm, fresh milk, then wash the bottles in the leftover wash water from clean the machine. So it’s all very efficient.
The middle feeding we use cold milk and warm it up in the microwave. Once the babies can take 12 oz in one feeding, they go to twice a day feedings which is even better. If you work and think you cannot bottle-feed, remember that our babies go 12 hours overnight. You could switch that schedule so that their longest stretch is during the day while you are gone. Then you might feed before you leave for work/school at 7 am, feed again when you get home in the afternoon/evening at say 5 pm, and doing another feeding at 9-10 pm right before bedtime.
The middle feeding we use cold milk and warm it up in the microwave. Once the babies can take 12 oz in one feeding, they go to twice a day feedings which is even better. If you work and think you cannot bottle-feed, remember that our babies go 12 hours overnight. You could switch that schedule so that their longest stretch is during the day while you are gone. Then you might feed before you leave for work/school at 7 am, feed again when you get home in the afternoon/evening at say 5 pm, and doing another feeding at 9-10 pm right before bedtime.