Our 2 sets of triplets are close to 2 months old. They are with their mothers all day, have free choice hay and graze in the field for about 1/2 hour a day when we take the herd out to graze. They seem to be growing well and looked well fleshed out. Should we be giving them any grain? How much? They will go to new homes at about age 10-11 weeks. How much grain should they be getting then? Thanks everyone for the help!
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We didn't give grain to kids the first few years we had goats, and they all did great -- at least the ones that stayed here, because they were on mom forever. However, if they're going elsewhere, it's probably a good idea to get them used to grain because you don't know what type of environment they're moving into. If they are in an environment that has a heavy parasite load, the added calories from grain helps them to maintain body condition -- even when using dewormers. There is at least one study on wormcontrol.org where they had four groups -- one with grain and no dewormer, one with grain and dewormer, one with no grain and no dewormer, and one with dewormer and no grain. The ones with grain gained weight better than the groups without grain regardless of dewormer status. I think this study was also done with COWP as the dewormer, but it's been a few years since I've read those studies. That's the main reason I started giving grain. So, if you find yourself needing to deworm a lot, the situation might be helped by simply adding grain to the diet. If you have another way to boost nutrition and calories -- high quality browse, for example -- I suspect that would work just as well.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
What is the reason it is recommended to give them grain? Mine are very healthy looking and not the least bit skinny, so I don't see what they would need it for? To me, it seems like an extra cost,but I am willing to hear if I can learn something from this.
What is the reason it is recommended to give them grain? Mine are very healthy looking and not the least bit skinny, so I don't see what they would need it for? To me, it seems like an extra cost,but I am willing to hear if I can learn something from this.
In my current system, does give birth in individual kidding pens and stay in there for 1-2 weeks, depending upon how soon I'll need that pen again. They get their grain in there twice daily, and within a few days, I see the kids nibbling at the grain. (Unlike humans, kids are born with teeth.) When they're moved into nursery pens, they continue eating the grain in their larger group of 3-4 does with kids. If your doe normally gets all of her grain on the milk stand, you could offer the grain to the kids when they're separated from her overnight and first thing in the morning before they're re-united. If they don't start eating it, you could put a pan of grain in there with mom and the kids, and they should start eating it quickly when they see her eating it. Once they start eating it, they'll probably turn into little grain monsters. :) I give 1/2 to 1 cup of grain per kid, per day, so 1/4 to 1/2 cup twice a day.
everything I have read online say to give them grain/hay etc. I left them with Mom and Auntie and when Mom got grain - the little ones, with no table manners, had their face in it and same with hay - if Mom was eating they usually stood in the middle of what she was trying to eat. I have been feeding the Mom 1/4 c. of Calf Manna like Deborah has mentioned she was doing with the new Moms because of their weight loss issue the first 6 weeks fresh. Now her coat has a shine to it and she has turned around on the weight loss thing and looks really good. The kids are now 8 weeks old today. I have read online somewhere it was suggested that kids being weaned be given bout a teaspoon of Calf Manna in their grain.
And the loose minerals are available always and the kids have been nibbling on that for quite some time also. That's what I am doing - but, no expert for sure.
I bought some bucks that were under 8 weeks old and had to bottle feed them for a few weeks. When I weaned them at 8 weeks old, I did it suddenly - no more bottle and only hay. They are now 10-12 weeks old and seem to be growing fine... but others may have different input on how they do/did things.
Thanks for your reply. They certainly don't seem like they need the grain now, but I wondered if they will when they go to their new homes and get suddenly weaned and have only hay and no milk. If that's the case I'd rather start them on a little now to prevent an abrupt change. I guess what I am really asking is how people handle diet and weaning when weaning occurs when a kid is sold at 11 weeks instead of weaned by the dam. I want to feed the kids whatever diet will put the least stress on them for the transition.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said
Mine have eaten grain when they are young, but I don't give it to them unless it's a really cold night. I save the grain only for the does who are in milk or everyone gets a little bit on those below zero nights. Partly due to cost, partly because I just don't think they need it if they have good hay.
Mine have eaten grain when they are young, but I don't give it to them unless it's a really cold night. I save the grain only for the does who are in milk or everyone gets a little bit on those below zero nights. Partly due to cost, partly because I just don't think they need it if they have good hay.
I'm pretty sure they can/will eat grain when you feed their mom's. As far as I know, if you allow them in with their dam when you're feeding HER grains, they'll eat also as they are able/ready. If you've been separating them while the dams eat their grains, I'd just stop doing that. The doeling I'm waiting to pick up from my breeder has been eating grain since she was little... not a lot at first, but she was allowed with the other goats when they were getting grain, and she'd try it. From what I hear, she's eating pretty regularly now. She'll be 2 months old in June.
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Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
everything I have read online say to give them grain/hay etc. I left them with Mom and Auntie and when Mom got grain - the little ones, with no table manners, had their face in it and same with hay - if Mom was eating they usually stood in the middle of what she was trying to eat. I have been feeding the Mom 1/4 c. of Calf Manna like Deborah has mentioned she was doing with the new Moms because of their weight loss issue the first 6 weeks fresh. Now her coat has a shine to it and she has turned around on the weight loss thing and looks really good. The kids are now 8 weeks old today. I have read online somewhere it was suggested that kids being weaned be given bout a teaspoon of Calf Manna in their grain.
And the loose minerals are available always and the kids have been nibbling on that for quite some time also. That's what I am doing - but, no expert for sure.
Thanks for your reply. They certainly don't seem like they need the grain now, but I wondered if they will when they go to their new homes and get suddenly weaned and have only hay and no milk. If that's the case I'd rather start them on a little now to prevent an abrupt change. I guess what I am really asking is how people handle diet and weaning when weaning occurs when a kid is sold at 11 weeks instead of weaned by the dam. I want to feed the kids whatever diet will put the least stress on them for the transition.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said