Baby Goat Refusing  The Bottle?  Here’s What to Do

Pets and Livestock

By Backyard Homestead HQ

Imitating the natural drinking position of the goat.

Sit in the right position.

Don't hold the baby goat.

When the baby nudges, naturally present the teat of the bottle.

If the baby doesn't nudge, direct the baby’s mouth toward the teat.

To Do This:

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If the baby goat is weak, hold the baby goat to feed them.

Hold the baby goat in your lap.

Cradle its head in an upward position.

Gently open the mouth.

Cover the goat's eyes.

To Do This:

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Wipe the kid’s bum with a paper towel.

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Wiggle the teat in their mouth.

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Let them rest.

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But what if the baby goat still refuses with these?

Sometimes the baby just won’t take the bottle, and you have to resort to other methods of feeding to ensure their survival.

Try pouring the milk into a bowl.

Let them suck your finger and use a syringe to squirt the milk down the side of your finger.

The following tips might do the trick:

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You may need to consider tube feeding the baby goat with the help and advise from your vet.

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make the unfamiliar familiar

Remember that these listed bottle-feeding techniques require involvement, firsthand experience, a lot of patience, and a strong bond to get the baby goat to calmly eat.

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brief reminder

The kid goat will need to eat 4 to 5 times a day, and it could easily take 30 to 45 minutes at each feeding session to get them to feed correctly and to get the right amount of food.

Try to enlist the help of friends and family to ease the burden.  Don’t give up.

Over time, they will get stronger and also learn how to take the bottle and feed much easier.