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Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
  
| I need help, I haven't had an orphan in about 20 years. He is 4 wks old, lost his mom Friday. He is drinking milk replacer from a bucket, but I am not sure how much total he needs, I have read several different things. He is drinking 32 oz pretty quick, nibbling on feed, drinking water. Instructions said that the bucket would be good so he could eat when hungry but I am scared he will eat too much at one time |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
 
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I just raised an orphan this year . Mine was eating about a 2 gallons of goat milk a day , maybe only a gallong and a half at 4 weeks but I fed her every 2 hrs all through the night so she ate a fair amount in a day. I also put her on Tribute foal foundation pellets which she did really well on and loved! She was up to about 4 lbs a day of those . I had to wean her at 2 months because the goat we had got sick and we didn't have enough milk. She is now almost 3 months and doing very well on hay and a growth formula feed. The bucket is a good thing they tend to get less bossy about it. Good luck I am happy to help if you need anything. I have raised a few over the years and this one has done exceptional. I lost her momma at 23 hrs after foaling so it has been an adventure .
I fed 1 1/2 cups per feeding to start and just kept going up until we were at 4 cups per feeding at about a month and a half. I fed 12 x a day to start then when I weaned we down to 8 times a day. I would feed her last bucket at midnight .
Edited by cutnrunqhmt 2016-08-15 8:54 AM
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I'm so very sorry about your mare, and praying for a good outcome with your baby. |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | sport565 - 2016-08-14 8:51 PM
I need help, I haven't had an orphan in about 20 years. He is 4 wks old, lost his mom Friday. He is drinking milk replacer from a bucket, but I am not sure how much total he needs, I have read several different things. He is drinking 32 oz pretty quick, nibbling on feed, drinking water. Instructions said that the bucket would be good so he could eat when hungry but I am scared he will eat too much at one time
Small portions frequently.. Found this from extension site. How many times a day are you putting a fresh bucket out? Seems easier to work it from a frequency standpoint.
Foals should be feed 20 to 25% of their body weight per day (not per feeding). It is important to weigh the foal daily and adjust the daily feeding volume accordingly as the foal grows. Gradually, the volume of milk fed can be increased, while the frequency of feeding may be decreased. The average foal should gain approximately 2 pounds per day. If the foal fails to gain weight, the volume of milk or frequency should be increased. A general guideline for feeding normal healthy foals is to feed every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours through the night for the first 2 weeks (make sure to divide the total amount needed-about 25% of body weight - by the feeding frequency). Once the foal is consuming the calculated milk volume readily, the feedings can be spaced out to every 3 to 4 hours during the day, and 4 hours at night for another 1 to 2 weeks. By 1 month of age, most foals can be fed every 6 hours.
Edited by abrooks 2016-08-15 6:08 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | I don't have any advice but just wanted to take a second and say, THIS IS WHY I LOVE THIS WEBSITE! Such great help and information when you need it. So happy there is help for you with this serious matter. Good luck with your baby. |
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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 403
Location: Armuchee, GA, NW section of Ga | Ive had three bucket foals the past few years. All were raised on the milk supplements in my buckets. Never had any goats or goat milk. None of mine over ate either, just drank when hungry, didnt when not. The thing you have to consider too is your time. I was able to raise mine by bucket and have a working life too off the farm. It depends on the hang time of your milk supplement, the time it is still good especially in the heat. I would feed fresh in the morning, go to work, then come home at lunch, mix a fresh batch n feed, go back to work, come hime after work n mix another fresh batch. they would drink all they wanted and i would throw away the remained when i mixed a fresh batch. At night, my final bucket was around 10pm. Adjust the amount when you see if any remains upon your returns. None of mine liked any of the feed i left out for them until about 3-4 months. Itis tough raising a bucket foal, but can be done.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 656
| Thanks for all of the input. I knew u guys would have some answers always do. He is eating well and doing well so far. |
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Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | sport565 - 2016-08-15 5:11 PM Thanks for all of the input. I knew u guys would have some answers always do. He is eating well and doing well so far.
Good news.  |
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Orphan foal