weaning bottle kids

[BeardedChick]

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Thanks for the noise warning about lambs, Kristen. Hopefully you will get an answer to your question.

Please - someone

SMACK me unconscious if I ever decide to bottle feed lambs!

 

[ksacres]

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Most of the time we keep giving them the amount they are getting or even increase it a little. Does usually peak at about three months fresh (depending on your lactation curve), if they were on the does, they'd be eating more. But we generally have PLENTY of milk, it's illegal to sell in WY (though we do ocasionally sell some), and we don't use much ouselves. If you don't have that much or need it for something else, it wouldn't hurt them to cut it back as long as they are good sized.

We don't like to feed grain to our kids, so the milk keeps them growing well.

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Nope, not to early. Depending on the kid and how much they eat at one feeding, we go from 3-4 bottles a day to twice a day feeding at 2-3 weeks. Sometimes earlier, sometimes LOTS later for smaller kids or dainty eaters.

 

[BeardedChick]

Thanks KSA!

 

[ksacres]

<<<---- blushes

 

[MandyH]

Why h*ll no they ain't dainty eaters LOL!!!! But neither am I and somebody would be hurt if they quit feeding me. I just feel horrible that they scream everytime they see us, but I know they associate us with feeding time. They nibble on the grass ALL day but aren't eating much hay or grain. DH says they will eat when they get hungry enough.

edited because I must be kin to Debi, I can't spell today!

 

[Haviris]

I don't even start the weaning process until 12 weeks, and I keep mine on 4 bottle until atleast 8 weeks, and 3 bottles until atleast 12 weeks. I actually base my weaning on each individual kid, I start weaning w/ the kids seem ready, and I know they are ready by the way the eat, once they start playing around w/ the nipple before sucking, and if they are in a large area once they stop meeting me at the gate. Those are the best indicators that they are ready to start weaning. And when grown (and generally by 6 months) my bottle babies won't take a bottle. I have one doe that was not raised by me that wants the bottle. Atleast that is how I handle my keeper kids.

On the other hand last I knew my bottle cow would still take a bottle! She may not now, it's been along time since she's seen one, but I know she would well after she was grown!