09-06-2025, 10:21 PM
One of my goats just gave birth now.
Sometimes, first-time goat mothers don’t immediately care for their newborns. I recently had a doe that refused to clean her kid after birth. I had to step in, clean the baby myself, and even try holding the mother so the kid could nurse. Unfortunately, she still resisted.
Thankfully, after some time, she began to accept her role and allowed the kid to feed naturally.
Important Tip: Newborn kids must drink colostrum within the first 2–4 hours of life. Without it, they can easily die because they cannot regulate their body temperature and they miss out on vital antibodies needed for survival.
If a mother refuses to nurse, farmers should intervene quickly by helping the kid suckle or by bottle-feeding colostrum.
What to Do if a Goat Refuses Her Kid
1. Clean the Kid: Wipe off mucus and fluids if the mother refuses to lick it.
2. Encourage Nursing: Gently hold the mother still so the kid can find the teat.
3. Milk the Doe: If she still refuses, hand-milk some colostrum.
4. Bottle or Tube Feed: Use a bottle or stomach tube to feed the kid colostrum within the first 2–4 hours.
5. Monitor Bonding: Keep an eye on the mother and kid. Many first-timers eventually accept their kids after a few hours.
6. Stay Prepared: Always have frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer available in case of rejection.
Sometimes, first-time goat mothers don’t immediately care for their newborns. I recently had a doe that refused to clean her kid after birth. I had to step in, clean the baby myself, and even try holding the mother so the kid could nurse. Unfortunately, she still resisted.
Thankfully, after some time, she began to accept her role and allowed the kid to feed naturally.
Important Tip: Newborn kids must drink colostrum within the first 2–4 hours of life. Without it, they can easily die because they cannot regulate their body temperature and they miss out on vital antibodies needed for survival.
If a mother refuses to nurse, farmers should intervene quickly by helping the kid suckle or by bottle-feeding colostrum.
What to Do if a Goat Refuses Her Kid
1. Clean the Kid: Wipe off mucus and fluids if the mother refuses to lick it.
2. Encourage Nursing: Gently hold the mother still so the kid can find the teat.
3. Milk the Doe: If she still refuses, hand-milk some colostrum.
4. Bottle or Tube Feed: Use a bottle or stomach tube to feed the kid colostrum within the first 2–4 hours.
5. Monitor Bonding: Keep an eye on the mother and kid. Many first-timers eventually accept their kids after a few hours.
6. Stay Prepared: Always have frozen colostrum or colostrum replacer available in case of rejection.