Bottle goats and weaning ( sorry so long)

[Kfults]

i purchased 2 baby Nigerian dwarf goats June 1, (51/2 wk old) the owner at sale said they were eating feed and hay.... she had weaned...yea NOPE! They only weighed 5&6 pounds and seemed thin. Never had vaccines or cocci prevention. Developed scours after bringing them home and vet said they had cocci and we treated. 2 weeks later cocci clear from fecal. No worms but vet said worm in a month.
Could only take 4 Oz whole cows milk to start 4xday and we worked up. We vaccinated, offered free minerals, salt lick, Purina grower medicated with alfalfa pellets and all kinds of different hay. They are now 12 weeks old and taking 16 Oz whole cows milk 2xday. It was suggested I bottle feed longer to help them gain weight and catch up. They have had worming med, copper bolus, B complex and selenium supplement. They browse and love the tops of the Bahia grass in their pasture and leaves off brush and oak tree. Still only nibble at feed or hay. They have double in weight at 12 pounds last week and I need to re weigh this week.
Will they eat more hay and feed and minerals as I wean?? They hardly touch the Purina minerals yet eat dirt from crawfish towers! They only nibble at feed and hay. They cry like they are starving when I go outside....
I want to raise healthy goats ( pets) and need advise! I plan to drop them to one bottle a day in a week or so. I have offered sliced apple and banana as treat- they wouldn’t touch it! I don’t know what is normal what is not! Help!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They will eat more as you wean them. They will initially complain loudly. That's what goats do. They will complain every time they see you. It's important you get them eating hay and roughage in general to help them develop a healthy rumen. Go easy on the grains. You are doing them no favor by continuing with the milk. Most goats don't fill out until nearly 2 years of age. You don't want fat goats. That's not healthy either.

 

[cassie]

I can tell you this. I weaned my kids at between eight and ten weeks. I offered them hay and grain from the first week on. They had minerals but they didn't pay much attention to them until they were older. Once weaned they had a salt block.

In your case you can wean them now if they are eating well. You can either reduce the number of bottles per day or just quit cold turkey. They are going to scream no matter what you do. I would feed them some grain twice a day, make sure they have good hay and plenty of clean fresh water. Don't bother with the apple and banana at this point.

Did you get these kids for pets or for a family milk supply? That will make a difference in how you feed them. If you said, I missed it.

 

[Kfults]

I can tell you this. I weaned my kids at between eight and ten weeks. I offered them hay and grain from the first week on. They had minerals but they didn't pay much attention to them until they were older. Once weaned they had a salt block.

In your case you can wean them now if they are eating well. You can either reduce the number of bottles per day or just quit cold turkey. They are going to scream no matter what you do. I would feed them some grain twice a day, make sure they have good hay and plenty of clean fresh water. Don't bother with the apple and banana at this point.

Did you get these kids for pets or for a family milk supply? That will make a difference in how you feed them. If you said, I missed it.

They are pets, I have reduced their bottles to 2 a day and plan to further reduce it next week to 1 a day then cut them off! So far the loss of lunch bottle has not been bad. They forage and Love weeds and leaves from a large variety on the property. Clean water, hay available all the time and a small amount medicated kid feed. I don’t see much hay or feed eaten, assuming the forage eating is good. They like the fresh Bahia growing in the field. I see them chewing cud, which I understand is a good sign. Thanks

 

[cassie]

it sounds like you are doing everything right. Have fun with your goats. By the way, it would be a good idea to teach them to lead and to get used to having their feet handled. It is a lot easier on everyone to start now rather than waiting until they are older, stronger, and more opinionated.

 

[MountainGaurdian]

Make sure to wean them slowly, even though they are plenty old enough we have lost a few babies weaning to fast even though they were well beyond weaning age. Like you we picked up goats from other people that weren't raised quite right.

As for feed, baby goats even adult goats can be quite picky eaters. Can you find a good supply of tender juicy greens that you can pick for them each day? They shouldn't need more than a pound or two a day each tops in the short term and I haven't met even a "picky" baby goat yet that would turn good juicy fresh greens. I have had a lot of trouble getting them to eat pellets and hay though.