Every now and again, you end up with a premie. It’s tough—and a lot of the time, they aren’t going to make it. But sometimes, they do. And when they do, it usually comes down to two things:
1. They were close enough to term to be functional
2. They have the will to live
You can’t force one to make it if it doesn’t want to.
But if that little thing wants to get up and go—you’ve got a shot.
From there, it’s all about managing the setbacks.
Temperature: The First Battle
The first hurdle is body temperature.
Premature newborns struggle to regulate it, but you have to be careful—because they can’t regulate overheating either.
Their nervous system isn’t fully developed.
They won’t always move away from heat when they should.
That means:
Too cold = dangerous
Too hot = just as dangerous
Check temperature regularly.
Your goal is consistency.
Keep them in a controlled environment:
• House
• Office
• Heated/insulated space
Anywhere stable is better than anywhere convenient.
Until they can regulate on their own, they need help.
Feeding: Timing Matters
Rule #1: Do not feed a cold baby.
Most livestock run around 101°F (check your species), but you should never feed below ~100°F.
Why?
Because feeding pulls blood toward digestion—which lowers body temperature.
If they’re already cold, you can push them straight into hypothermia.
Warm first. Always.
Getting Nutrition In:
Once they’re warm, feeding becomes your next challenge.
You have a few options nursing on the dam, bottle feeding, and tube feeding
Nursing:
This is ideal—but often unrealistic.
Premies are slow to learn, and some dams will reject weak babies.
If she shows any sign of not accepting it—pull the baby.
A weak premie will not survive getting stepped on or laid on.
Bottle Feeding:
If possible, use the dam’s milk—especially colostrum.
Premies have underdeveloped guts.
Milk replacer is hard enough for a normal newborn—don’t start there if you don’t have to.
Use a nipple with a very slow flow.
Aspiration is a real risk.
If they’re struggling, go slow. You can increase flow later.
Tube Feeding:
Sometimes necessary.
If they’re too weak to suck, tubing can be the safest way to get nutrients in.
But it has to be done correctly.
Learn how to do it properly for your species—and have the equipment ready.
A choking premie won’t recover.
Monitoring: Don’t Guess
Weigh the baby before the first feeding.
That’s your baseline.
From there:
• Weigh morning and night
• Track progress closely
This tells you if they’re getting enough, if you’re overfeeding, and if something is going wrong early
Overfeeding is a major risk in premies.
Use a feeding chart—and consider staying slightly under rather than pushing too hard.
If they’re gaining steadily, you’re on track.
Health Risks: Stay Ahead
Premies are vulnerable.
Their immune system and gut are both underdeveloped.
That means:
• Keep them away from sick animals
• Maintain clean handling (wash hands, clean tools)
• Stay on top of vaccines (on an adjusted timeline)
Gut health is critical.
Start probiotics immediately—and continue regularly.
Watch closely for:
• Loose stool
• Smell changes
• Color changes
If something looks off, act fast.
Common threats include:
• E. coli
• Coccidiosis
• Other bacterial infections
Waiting is not an option here.
Hydration
Diarrhea is extremely dangerous in premies.
If it starts, you may need to rehydrate.
Options:
• Add small amounts of unflavored Pedialyte to milk feedings
• In severe cases, administer SQ fluids
Don’t overload them all at once.
Small, repeated support works better.
Adjusting Expectations
One of the biggest mistakes people make:
Treating a premie like a full-term baby.
Don’t.
Their body isn’t their age—it’s their development.
If they were born two weeks early— add two weeks to vaccination schedules, add two weeks to weaning timelines, and adjust everything accordingly
That adjustment alone can make a huge difference.
Final Thoughts
Premies are time-consuming, exhausting, and not always successful. But they can be incredibly rewarding. If you can get them through the first few weeks, they often turn into something special.
Just remember:
They need help—every step of the way.
Your job is to give them the best chance possible to turn that little bit of fight into a full recovery.
How do you handle premies? I'd love to hear what works for you. Reply to this newsletter or leave a comment below.
