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Weaning

Posted by Bruce Ashbrook on June 1, 2013 at 8:03am in Goats 101

I have two Buck kids . They are 8 and 10 weeks old.At what age should they begain weannning .They are Browsing,eating ADM goat pellets and nibbling on Timothy hay.they are free choice on the hay and Browse.Pellets are only fed 1 handfull in the pm.They also have access to mineral and a salt/alfalfa mix

What would be a good procedure for weaning,Both Kids are active and growing no digestive problems as I find firm little pellet deposits everywhere.LOL

Please advise ,  Bruce

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Replies

  • Bruce Ashbrook June 2, 2013 at 12:08pm

    Thank Y'all for the info. Some know that I'm just starting out and do appreciate all the advice You are willing to share .

    The bucks are from Double Durango and I plan on going back in Aug for a doe,as I've had such good luck with these two at which time I will seperate ,if they aren't 20 lbs they are awfully close. 

    Bruce  I need to do some photos.

  • Margaret Langley June 1, 2013 at 1:12pm

    Well, don't I feel like a dufus! It never occurred to me we were weaning bottle babies here. Thank you Deborah! Yea, I would def. wait 'til at least 3 months but also until big enough, like Deborah said. Cause with a bottle you don't have to worry about the age/breeding aspect! An I feel that all those young'uns no matter what species need that protein and calcium for their bones, teeth etc.

  • Deborah Niemann-Boehle June 1, 2013 at 12:23pm
    If I remember, they are bottle babies ... so you just gradually decrease the amount of milk they are getting. Typically they are getting 24 ounces (3 X 8 ounces) at 2 months. I usually drop down to two bottles a day around 8 to 10 weeks (8 ounces each) and around 3 months, I drop to one botttle of 8 ounces once a day. Their eating solid foods has nothing to do with their readiness to wean. It is about how big they are. I am not a fan of weaning kids before they weigh at least 20 pounds, but 25 makes me happier. Less than that and they really need the protein and calcium in the milk for proper growth.
  • Margaret Langley June 1, 2013 at 12:19pm

    Are you going to be milking the moms? Most people separate the kids at night and milk in the morning and leave kids with mom during the day. If they only have one kid that can be started a few weeks. SOME people completely wean bucks at 8 weeks for fear of them breeding back with mom or sisters, however I and plenty of others feel that that is HIGHLY Unlikely and that they need their milk until 12 weeks. If those are the only 2 bucks you have to keep together what I would do is separate them now at night and then when they are about 10 and 12 weeks or maybe a week older you can keep them separated. Just one way of doing it. Sounds like they are doing great!

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