House training a 1 month old Pygmy goat?

[enola]

Maybe you should try googling the effects of alfalfa on male goats. Reading information from Agriculture Universities may change your mind. For your goat's sake, I hope it does.

 

[MaLoTu]

Maybe you should try googling the effects of alfalfa on male goats. Reading information from Agriculture Universities may change your mind. For your goat's sake, I hope it does.

Yes, I will. Most information online says that they eat alfalfa, though, in my defense. I have a lot of grass for him to browse on also. He really isn't eating solids yet so I am open to suggestions.

This exemplifies my sentiments... you are automatically assuming that I am going to go against you, I am not. I am reading and doing research.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I feed mine a good grass mix hay which can contain some alfalfa but straight alfalfa isn't good for goats. I know they feed it to milking does but non productive animals need less protein. Goats do best on second or third cutting of hay as it's softer and less stems. I currently have 13 wethers, I have never experienced stones and I believe it's due to a hay and pasture diet. Mine enjoy tree trimmings, especially willow. I also feed a good loose mineral made for goats and free choice baking soda. Just sharing.

 

[Stacykins]

A responsible breeder will never sell a single goat unless the buyer already has goats. The breeder told you precisely what you wanted to hear in order to make a sale.

You won't find advocates on keeping single goats here or on Backyard Herds. You might find limited anecdotes where an animal may appear to do well as a single. If you are at all familiar with evidenced based research, you'd know that those stories are not good evidence for goat care.

 

[MaLoTu]

A responsible breeder will never sell a single goat unless the buyer already has goats. The breeder told you precisely what you wanted to hear in order to make a sale.

You won't find advocates on keeping single goats here or on Backyard Herds. You might find limited anecdotes where an animal may appear to do well as a single. If you are at all familiar with evidenced based research, you'd know that those stories are not good evidence for goat care.

You are more than likely right about the breeder. I just wish that you would have presented me your opinion in a way that I can come to a logical conclusion on my own. I never said that I wouldn't get another goat, nor did I claim to be an expert. In fact, all I did do was ask a simple question about potty training (because I have seen reports of both yes and no to my question) and about formula.

 

[MoonShadows]

Without reading all the other posts, why would you keep a barnyard animal in the house? Goats have survived for hundreds of years without our intervention. Is what you are doing for the goat in his/her best ineteret or yours? Just provide the proper outside environment for the goat depending on the time of the year/weather. Don't mean to be critical or combative; it's just that I read too many posts where the "uninformed" treat barnyard animals as if they were the family dog, cat or gerbil. They are not. Pardon me if I offend. I just find too many members on this forum treat their barnyard animals like they are young children; and, this is not only unnecessary, but the animal is not being raised as it was meant to, and will most likely cause further problems down the line.

 

[MaLoTu]

Without reading all the other posts, why would you keep a barnyard animal in the house? Goats have survived for hundreds of years without our intervention. Is what you are doing for the goat in his/her best ineteret or yours? Just provide the proper outside environment for the goat depending on the time of the year/weather. Don't mean to be critical or combative; it's just that I read too many posts where the "uninformed" treat barnyard animals as if they were the family dog, cat or gerbil. They are not. Pardon me if I offend. I just find too many members on this forum treat their barnyard animals like they are young children; and, this is not only unnecessary, but the animal is not being raised as it was meant to, and will most likely cause further problems down the line.

It is definitely not long term. He is bottle fed 3 times a day, currently, and it has been really rainy this week. I am just getting use to the arrangement, but by the weekend he will be in his permanent arrangement, which is a paddock with a shelter in the yard (until he is big enough to roam the gated yard) and a stall in the garage for nighttime (all my animals are enclosed at night).

ETA: even if I ever considered it (which I didn't) it would never work ... they really probably cannot be reliably potty trained, lol.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I do agree with the others that a single goat is not a happy goat (or a happy owner...single goats will cry, and cry, and cry...well hopefully you get the point!) However, I don't want to beat that dead horse any more.

I also agree that alfalfa is not the best choice for your goat. I would recommend some good quality grass hay (like timothy) and I would avoid pellets or grain. I would also consider having him castrated early. As others mentioned, bucks and wethers are particularly prone to urinary calculi, which can be a rapidly fatal (and expensive) condition.

Offer him grass hay early on while you are still bottle feeding him. Do not put water in the bottle. Also, be careful with milk replacers. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as some can cause serious problems if mixed up wrong.

 

[MaLoTu]

I do agree with the others that a single goat is not a happy goat (or a happy owner...single goats will cry, and cry, and cry...well hopefully you get the point!) However, I don't want to beat that dead horse any more.

I also agree that alfalfa is not the best choice for your goat. I would recommend some good quality grass hay (like timothy) and I would avoid pellets or grain. I would also consider having him castrated early. As others mentioned, bucks and wethers are particularly prone to urinary calculi, which can be a rapidly fatal (and expensive) condition.

Offer him grass hay early on while you are still bottle feeding him. Do not put water in the bottle. Also, be careful with milk replacers. Be sure to read the instructions carefully, as some can cause serious problems if mixed up wrong.

I am actually relieved that you recommended timothy because I read that goats are finicky and they dont eat about 90% of the alfalfa because they don't like the sticks. I feel like even though timothy is more expensive, it is leafy and will actually go further and it was my first instinct to put him on that. The guy at the feed store said alfalfa. I didn't buy any hay yet because the breeder sent me home with a flake.

He will be castrated.

 

[MeepBeep]

I am actually relieved that you recommended timothy because I read that goats are finicky and they dont eat about 90% of the alfalfa because they don't like the sticks.

I would avoid a pure alfalfa hay bales but I have no reservations using a mixed alfalfa and grass bale, in fact that is what I use exclusively for my llamas and goats... The pasture has alfalfa and clover growing so hay of a similar mix is a natural winter transition for them... Grain and limited access to water are far more likely to cause urinary issues vs moderate amounts of alfalfa...

As for being finicky, you will never win with goats, they will eat what they want when they want, and in many cases once the hay hits the ground they no longer consider it acceptable food...

If you pay attention to how they eat and what they eat and what they toss to the ground you can shop around for hay from a particular harvest and field that fits the bill just like many horse owners do... Most of this winter I fed a 3rd crop mixed alfalfa that got wet prior to baling so it was slightly dusty (but not moldy at all) it was cheap and they loved it, I just had to restock for spring as I wait for the pasture to mature, and had to get 2nd crop from the same field and they don't like it nearly as much and are tossing a lot of it to the ground as waste... I'm lucky enough to have many hay options direct from the local farmers that allows me to go and see it, touch it and select what I need vs just getting some random hay...