Alright Goat People!!! I Need Help!!! *edited with new pics pg4*

[pardygwyn]

When I was bottle-feeding, I popped a lamb nipple onto a 16-oz plastic pop bottle and offered a full bottle of warmed milk twice a day. She didn't always drink it all, but I always offered that much just in case.

An important question: is he wethered? Because if that little fella still has his tackle on, you might be in for a very stinky treat this coming fall.

 

[Hound]

You'll have to work with him on bottle feeding, give him the goat's milk. Don't ever let him get into the chicken feed, not now or when he's grown. It can kill him.

If you're going to buy replacer make sure it's suitable for kids not calf milk replacer. If I were you I wouldn't buy any though and i'd keep using goat's milk (btw where are you getting goat's milk at this time of year?). Replacer just isn't as nutritious and will often cause scours. It may also cause him digestive problems if you transition him to replacer close to weaning age. Just keep him on goat's milk (not the canned stuff) for another 3-6 weeks then gradually wean him.

ETA I feed my large breed kids 16oz three times a day, so i'd try maybe half to two thirds of that amount.

 

[Crazyland]

We drink a little goats milk as a treat. $3 for a quart is expensive when $3 will get me a gallon of Cow's milk!
I just happened to have some in the house. You just buy it at the local store.

I will make sure to get more milk into him then.
At the moment he is snuggled into his bed after just going outside to go potty.
I really need to charge my camera battery!

 

[Hound]

It is expensive to raise any animal properly.

 

[Crazyland]

Yes it is.

But it is so worth every penny we spend on them.

 

[biomistake]

I can verify what Hound said about chicken feed. One of my kiko bucklings literally tore into my chicken house by destroying the pop door then squeezed himself in... there went a lot of money and a lot of heartache.

 

[lasergrl]

Whole grocery store cows milk is THE way to go, from a human baby bottle,or a pritchard nipple, or bowl. Unpasteurised cow or goat milk could give him a disease if he already doesnt have them. Cows milkis way better then powdered replacers (even kid milk) that tends to give them bloat and scours. Dont forget to get him banded if you dont want a stinky buck when he grows up.
He should be eating hay by 3-4 weeks too, and a little bit of goat feed is ok too, though many people never give males a bite of corn or grainto avoid deadly bladder stones (urinary calculi).
Good luck! and PICTURES

 

[Hound]

Cow's milk is nutritionally quite different to goat's milk.

Nutritional properties of goat milk vs cow's milk

Property: fat (lipid) content

•Goat milk is higher in total fat.
•Goat milk is much higher in medium chain triglycerides (MCT), associated with numerous health benefits.
•Goat milk has a smaller fat globule size that enhances digestibility.
•Goat milk fat does not clump together, keeping it more homogenized and also aiding digestibility.

Property: protein content

•Goat milk contains more protein per serving.
•Goat milk contains higher levels of essential amino acids.
•Goat milk contains a percentage of proteins with different structures than cow's milk proteins. These differences enhance the digestibility of goat milk protein, and cause fewer allergenic reactions.
•Goat milk contains a percentage of proteins with different structures than cow's milk proteins. These differences enhance the digestibility of goat milk protein, and cause fewer allergenic reactions.
•Goat milk does not contain agglutinin like cow's milk. Agglutinin is what makes the fat in cow's milk separate from the other components.
•Goat milk contains much lower values, and in some cases, none, of the protein alpha-s1-casein. This protein promotes the formation of a hard curd from the milk, slowing digestibility. It is also a major allergen in cow's milk.

Property: carbohydrates

•Goat milk has a lower carbohydrate level, almost all of which is due to less lactose in the milk. The inability to digest lactose is a common condition, and milk with less lactose is helpful for those individuals.
Property: vitamins
•Goat milk supplies more vitamin A. Vitamin A in goat milk is not in the form of beta-carotene as it is for cow's milk. This different form of vitamin A is what makes goat milk whiter in color than cow's milk.
•Goat milk supplies substantially more niacin (B3) and B6.
•Goat milk is lower in folic acid (B9) and B12.
•Goat milk has comparable amounts of the other vitamins.
Property: minerals
•Goat milk is higher in calcium.
•Goat milk is higher in phosphorous.
•Goat milk has substantially more potassium.
•Goat milk has more iron and copper.
•Goat milk has more magnesium.
•Goat milk has substantially more manganese.
•Selenium in goat milk has been shown to have more antioxidant activity.
•Goat milk has comparable levels of zinc and sodium.

Pasteurised milk also lacks important enzymes; it is a 'dead' food, that is why it lasts longer.​

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I'm no help with your little one, as I got my wether and yearling at age 6 months.

I can suggest though since you have a boy is to give him goat mineral that has ammonium chloride in it to prevent crystal build up.

When I got my goats at age 6 months, I bought this: http://www.shanestack.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-19972

It's the only goat mineral at my feed store that has the ammonium chloride in it. I sprinkle one scoop on top of their chow twice a day.

They are brother and sister and insist on sharing one bowl that just has a scoop from a margarine container. I started sprinkling raw apple cider vinegar over the top of the goat chow so the minerals would stick, otherwise it falls to the bottom. The raw apple cider vinegar is acidic so it's another good thing to help the boy from developing crystals and they seem to love it. They now lick out the bowl. I then sprinkle a handful of black oiled sunflower seeds which is high omega 3's which is good for shiny coat and strong hooves.

 

[Crazyland]

I picked up the kid and goat food this morning. He is very happy with it. He was outside earlier munching on the brush he could find. He still hates the goats milk. I did not try the cows milk since I do have the goats milk.
I'll check for the minerals for him.
He will be getting fixed as soon as I decide what to do. Banding seems so harsh but certainly cheaper than surgical castration. But then Surgery...

This is the little fella.