Well, we brought our boys home thursday and they are aout 6 weeks. They arent really interested in the bottle, we try a few times a day. they are eating a little grain and hay. We weighed them tonight so we can monitor them better. We are new to goats and overwhelmed with all the information. Shoul I be concerned that they dont want the milk? they are warming up to us and arent crying. Any info is greatly appreciated.
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I never heard of anyone selling dam-raised kids earlier than 8 weeks until I started this group, and now sadly, I hear it far too often. It may not sound like a big difference, but 6-8 weeks is when kids are growing their fastest, so they REALLY need the protein and calcium that they get from milk. There simply is not any forage or grain that has what they need. New people mistakenly assume that if kids are eating food, they can be weaned, but nothing could be further from the truth. Kids are eating within a few days of birth, but the vast majority of their calories need to come from milk because it is so nutrient dense.
Perhaps the breeder is new? If you can't get the kids to drink milk one way or another, maybe they could keep the kids a few more weeks so they can continue to nurse? Kids also handle the stress of weaning better when they're older.
agree with Margaret - do you have a Pritchard nipple? maybe a pan is the answer. this is what I came across online before
Homemade milk replacer for kids:
1 c. nonfat dry milk
3 cups warm water
1 lrge egg
1/4 c. whipping cream
1 scoop Calf Pac (I would assume you could just give probios)
mix - do not microwave.
this lady says egg has all the essential amino acids, fatty acids and vitamins except Vit C.
maybe they would like that?
I too, assume they were not bottle fed. At 6 weeks they not only should want their bottle but need their milk. It isn't necessary to put them on a bottle now, only to have to wean them in a few weeks but I would at least give them their milk in a pail or bowl. They DO need the milk.
I lost several kids a few years back that were beautiful, fat and seemed totally healthy with good fecals that had been off the bottle for about a week and were about 10 or 11 weeks old. The vet said the only thing he could find wrong was low blood sugar which he says was because they needed their milk to keep their sugar up in this heat we have. I have my doubts about that but am very leary of weaning kids to early.
I know almost everyone weans by 8 weeks, some a little later, a few a little earlier but frankly I feel they should not be weaned until at least 3 months.
If I buy any babies I am going to request they wait til then and I am not going to rush my kids out so young. If anyone wants or needs to get them I will suggest they continue some form of milk until at least 3 months because I look at it this way, if they are raised naturally in a herd mom is not likely to wean them that early.
To each his own, I just don't do well having to deal with that "what if I had waited a few more weeks kind of feeling". It hurts to beat myself up like that over something I could have so easily did differently and it certainly doesn't hurt to wait so why take the chance.
at six weeks I would think they would still be wanting a bottle. Were they bottle babies??
When I brought my buck kids home at 8 weeks they were being bottle fed and I continued until they were almost 4 months (shhhh.) I was giving them 2 bottles a day - and then towards the end switched to warm water - was the easiest way to move them at night. if they arent interested in bottles - I would assume they werent being bottle fed.
Congrats on your boys. :-)