This is Nip. She is a triplet born to Sherry, a Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat. She was last born, the female of the trio, and her back legs were not strong enough to stay straight. She dragged the skin right off the back knuckles dragging herself around. Sherry is a good mother, but Nip could not compete with her brothers, so eventually she came to me looking for food. At first she was simply supplemented and still tried to compete for a little of mom's milk, but lately she has given up and become one of four bottle babies. Along with Nip, Pippin is fed. She was Cocoa's baby that she dropped did not care for. Cocoa's second born has been adopted by some one else, but I am not sure whom, because he is being fed. Cocoa is not into mothering at this time, and I suspect she has a copper deficiency because of her lack luster reddish tinged fur and weak tail web. Those are copper deficiency signs, meaning she does not eat the mineral in large enough quantities. She has to have a bolus of copper filaments to boost her intake, and soon.
The other triplet girl of Sherry's mother, Daphne, has started to come for food too. She, too, is the smallest of the trio and female and simply cannot get enough milk because her brothers push her aside. The kids are left in the goat pen with their mothers and I go to them. It is a little bit of a task to find those who are not doing as well, not quite as spry, not quite energetic and playful, but once they are offered a bottle, they have no problem finding me.
And back to Nip. Nip tried to keep up with the family and could not. The fur on her back toes is still worn off from her first days of dragging her legs, though she quickly gained strength and one would not know she was a cripple born. Nip got her name from her little sound when she is nursing, "nip, nip" and she keeps on making it. Nip and the other little girl from Daphne, not yet named, only drink about 3 to 4 ounces at a time because they are very small. Nigerian Dwarf goats are quite small though, and it appears the genes for being little were dominant with those two litters.
Loki is a pure Angora buckling abandoned by his mother, who was clueless. I have fed him from birth. He knows his name and comes running when I call him. I feel sorry for the little ones that are orphaned because they do not have a mother to teach them things or to snuggle up to, but they still play with the other babies and have each other to cuddle with. Bottle feeding must continue for some time, 3 or 4 months, though it gets less frequent as the kid's tummies are able to hold more and are more efficient. Sarah's babies may also become bottle babies, since the new owner of Sarah, did not want the babies because she plans to milk Sarah. Hopefully when she sees the kids, she will have a change of heart and accept them too. It is better for the kids and the mom to have each other.
Nip is staying at the Fat Ewe, along with Daphne's girl and Pippin, but Loki's fate may not be so kind. If no one wants him for Angora fibre, he will go as a meat goat when he mostly grown. That is so sad, to bring a baby into the world, hold him and love him to know he will be food one day, but it is the way of the farm.
Sorry, Loki. I do love you and all the little kids. I do.
The other triplet girl of Sherry's mother, Daphne, has started to come for food too. She, too, is the smallest of the trio and female and simply cannot get enough milk because her brothers push her aside. The kids are left in the goat pen with their mothers and I go to them. It is a little bit of a task to find those who are not doing as well, not quite as spry, not quite energetic and playful, but once they are offered a bottle, they have no problem finding me.
And back to Nip. Nip tried to keep up with the family and could not. The fur on her back toes is still worn off from her first days of dragging her legs, though she quickly gained strength and one would not know she was a cripple born. Nip got her name from her little sound when she is nursing, "nip, nip" and she keeps on making it. Nip and the other little girl from Daphne, not yet named, only drink about 3 to 4 ounces at a time because they are very small. Nigerian Dwarf goats are quite small though, and it appears the genes for being little were dominant with those two litters.
Loki is a pure Angora buckling abandoned by his mother, who was clueless. I have fed him from birth. He knows his name and comes running when I call him. I feel sorry for the little ones that are orphaned because they do not have a mother to teach them things or to snuggle up to, but they still play with the other babies and have each other to cuddle with. Bottle feeding must continue for some time, 3 or 4 months, though it gets less frequent as the kid's tummies are able to hold more and are more efficient. Sarah's babies may also become bottle babies, since the new owner of Sarah, did not want the babies because she plans to milk Sarah. Hopefully when she sees the kids, she will have a change of heart and accept them too. It is better for the kids and the mom to have each other.
Nip is staying at the Fat Ewe, along with Daphne's girl and Pippin, but Loki's fate may not be so kind. If no one wants him for Angora fibre, he will go as a meat goat when he mostly grown. That is so sad, to bring a baby into the world, hold him and love him to know he will be food one day, but it is the way of the farm.
Sorry, Loki. I do love you and all the little kids. I do.
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