I just got my 2 wethers home. They are 4 weeks old. So far they haven't taken to the bottle.
Any suggestions on what/how I should feed them? I live in NYC so there isn't any grazing. They are inside goats. I keep reading about the various percentages/nutrients/supplements.
Currently they are eating sweet grain (with a mineral supplement added) and Timothy hay. I am just not sure what the best thing to do is. Any other tips for maybe a treat for them? Aside from goat treats which I have.
I give my pig a fantastic mix of fruits, veggies, etc. with his feed. I would love to do the same for the goats, if they like it.
Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!!
Replies
That was my thought too, Deb... I hope they aren't dam raised, and just now being introduced to the bottle...
I can't imagine that bottlefed goats would refuse a bottle. I sincerely hope they were not taken away from their mother and given to you. If so, you could have a HUGE job on your hands to get them to take a bottle -- and they could also wind up malnourished. Kids need milk for a minimum of two months. They are just now entering a very rapid growth phase. This is the time when their mother would be at her top production to keep up with their needs.
What were they fed at their previous home? How were they fed?
What are you trying to give them now? Did the breeder give you any of the milk that they have been consuming?
How are you trying to feed them? If they were bottle-fed, is it a different nipple or bottle than what was being used?
We need details before we can help.
Timothy hay is pretty good stuff. They are pretty young, and not normally an age I would say should not be bottle feeding in some way, but if they aren't interested, and they are eating what you're giving them without issues... they might be ok? Someone with more experience than I have will be able to tell you better... but for now, if they are doing alright with the things you mentioned, they aren't in danger of starving.