Kids ready?

[MissJames]

At what age are Pygmy Goats weaned and ready to go to a new home?
I just put a deposit on 2 newborns and I'm seeing mixed info.I wamt to make sure they are with momma as long as they need to.

 

[helmstead]

8 weeks min

 

[redhen]

i think i bottle fed mine for to long, but, my pygmy and french alpine goats wernt fully weaned until they were 3-4 months old....but the last month or so was really only a comfort feeding type thing, like at night time....

 

[MissPrissy]

Truthfully it depends on where you are what the set up is. I wouldn't sell one and take it from its mother before 8 - 12 weeks.

We have a variety of dairies here where I live. All kids and lambs are taken from their mothers at 2 days and then bucket/bottle fed. If you don't mind having a bottle baby you can get those relatively inexpensively.

Hand raised kids have a very different personality and handling compared to those raised by their mother.

 

[cutiepieacres]

We wean ours at 8-12 weeks minimum. It depends on how they are eating and growing. Just make sure they are eating hay really well and are up to date on their CDT. Wethers usually are closer to the 12 weeks or older so that we can wait until then to band them so that they are as big as possible.

as far as pygmies go I have quite a few who act like "bottle babies" that were momma raised, as long as you interact with them a lot they are very quick to become spoiled rotten and cuddly. They have been bred for their outgoing people loving personality as well as their cobby pygmy type bodies because they are primarily pets.

 

[Haviris]

I generally send my kids to their new homes at 10 weeks (occationally I'll need to keep on longer), I like to have the kids separated from their mom's about a week before they are picked up. 8 weeks is the bare minimun I will take one from it's mom, that would normally be a buckling that is alittle too mature! If I'm keeping the kid I try to leave them as long as possible, usually as long as I feel comfortable w/ bucklings, and around 5-6 months w/ doelings (I wouldn't wean them at all, but I have seen some w/ to strong a bond, and I want them to be able to live w/out each other). Bottle babies are weaned no sooner then 3 months, and usually around 4 months depending on the kid (I wait til they let me know they're ready).

 

[MissJames]

Thank you all.I was told they would be ready at 8 weeks and wanted to make sure that wasn't too soon.She did say the doeling might be a little longer so she could be sure it was eating properly.Thanks!