Bdding for baby goats

[aggieterpkatie]

I know they may seem young, but 8 week old goats are old enough to be weaned and living on their own. They don't really need babying. I'm really not trying to be rude, I just think you'll be in for quite a surprise thinking these are delicate little newborns. They're not. You'll soon find out 8 week old goats are very active and I'm guessing they'll be way too much for that 4X4 pen.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I have a 4 foot by 4 foot pen they will stay in at night time. Do I need to leave them food and hay at night also during the day time outside?
They weigh about 5-7 lbs. In fact my Miniature Poodles are bigger then they are in height.

You want to feed them grain in the am and eve...and if you bottle feeding..give them their bottle in the am and pm too...they will be full from the bottle then nibble on the grain too...you always wanna leave them with water and hay free choice...important to give clean water every day..goats dont like dirty water..so they wont drink it...its important for you to provide them with clean water daily.

 

[Griffin's Ark]

Remember, these are all opinions and local experiences. We bottle feed to 12 weeks. Our kids get another growth spurt and do not lag behind the dam fed kids. We also love to bring the kids in the house and let them hang out on the linoleum. You know what is going in and what is going out and whether what is coming out is the proper consistency and color. I think you have a good plan.

I stay away from pine shavings. Straw or poor hay is better for bedding in my opinion. Unless you have an overabundance of nice bath towels that you can change and wash. It sure makes clean up easier. We have shifted to bath towels, urine soaked towels are much better that urine soaked hay or straw! Plus you don't have to find something to put the nasty straw/hay in.

Some people have had good results crate training goats. As soon as the goat gets our of the crate it goes outside to do its bodily functions and then you bring them back in. For us it worked with Nubians, but the Obers weren't to good at it.

Have fun!
Chris

 

[princess1952]

Thank you. I have a pen inside with newspaper on the bottom and hay on tp. I was going to use straw but the man said now just a small amount of hay. But my dogs just love the babies. In fact I was holding one and one of th regnant female Poodles was sitting at the end of the chair and another wanted to come up and she growled at the other dog to get down, very protective!!!! I am going to try this housebreakig thanks for any more info you can give me.

 

[savingdogs]

I think goats would be very hard to housetrain. They don't seem to mind being near their own urine and act like they can barely tell they have been dropping nanny berries.

The nanny berries would not be so bad, but their urine smells strong so I would not want them in the house and I have a very high tolerance for animals. I do plan on bringing mine in for milking but that would be for a short stretch of time and in an area where if they urinated or dropped a few berries, the floor could be easily cleaned.

 

[warthog]

I seriously think you are asking for heartbreak if you keep them in the house.

My little one (born here and dam raised) was 4 weeks old on the 21st November, he is lovely, he is cute, he is wonderful. Do I want him in the house NO, NO, NO,.

Babies are so cute, I think we can easily forget that they are goats and should be outside, that is what they need.

My 4 week old, was out with the herd browsing around 2 acres of brush at 1 week old. He is now eating hay, leaves, and a little grain, whilst still nursing from his mum. They need to learn what being a goat is all about and they can't do that indoors. They are not cute little puppies to be pampered. Yes give them all the attention and love you can, play with them enjoy them, but do it outdoors.

With regard to feeding, the bottle baby I had last year at 8 weeks old, got free choice hay, free choice water, free choice minerals a bottle in the am, a bottle in the pm and after each bottle was offered a small amount of grain. He took less and less of his bottle each day, at 9 weeks I cut it down to one bottle in the morning, at 11 weeks, he went cold turkey, and he never cried once for a bottle, but you have to make sure they are eating properly on other things.

What milk are you feeding them BTW goats, cows or milk replacer.

None of that is meant in any rude way, it is just my experience and you should do, as we all do, what works best for you, and I wish you good luck. Enjoy your goats.