Getting our babies tomorrow!!! [PICS ADDED!!!]

[BJnMe]

Hi! I am a new member here, and a new goat "parent!" Tomorrow, we are getting two Nubian bucks that are two weeks old. Their current mom has been bottle feeding them a mixture of vitamin D milk and powdered goat formula (mixed with water) three times a day. Now, I have already picked up a bucket of formula for them, but am really wondering about the store-bought/meant-for-people milk. Should I continue with this as it is what they are used to? Or should I just go with the formula? I know I should also be offering them hay and grain at this age, too, right? I didn't see any evidence of this at their current home, but want to be prepared when they get here.

Thanks,

Tina

 

[Ariel301]

Welcome to goat ownership!

As for food, I'd get whole raw goat milk if it is possible, obviously that is the best...if not, you can use whole cow milk from the store, or milk replacer meant for livestock from the feed store. Human baby formula probably isn't a good choice. If they are doing well on their current formula, you can stay with that, or gradually change them to something different (you may get a little tummy upset with the change, but it clears up in a day or two)

You can offer them hay or grazing time at that age, they will nibble at things. They probably don't need grain, I don't grain my male goats at all, and my does only when thin or milking.

If these are just going to be pets, you want to get them neutered when they are a couple of months old. Bucks don't make great pets, especially in breeding season when they are stinky and peeing on themselves.

You will also want to start right away training them to behave correctly--do not encourage them to head butt you (even though it is cute at that age, it is not cute when they are 100+ pounds! Especially if they are horned.) Do not allow them to jump on you, also...basically anything you will not want them doing when they are big, don't let them do now. It is much easier to stop it when they are very young and smaller than you!

 

[BJnMe]

Thanks for the information! The formula I picked up is actually the milk replacement, same thing as their current owner is using. I was mostly concerned about store-bought milk. I believe the reason the current owner is using a combination of milk and milk replacer is to cut down on cost.

I really originally wanted one male and one female so I can try milking and cheese-making, but these two little guys just happened to come along at the right time for the right price. We will still get a female (next spring maybe), but I didn't want to take just one of the little guys (I would hate to think he would be lonely!), so we are getting the two. Probably, we will neuter the little guy, and keep the other one intact.

I really wasn't planning on goats until next year, but when the right deal comes along, sometimes you just have to go for it, right?

So, instead of taking the winter to do my research, I am now going with a crash-course!

 

[Roll farms]

When I don't have enough milk to go around, I generally just buy / use Vit. D milk at the big chain stores (cheaper that way, you can buy several gallons and freeze it until you need it.)

I started w/ replacer years ago, and had kids scour, but when I switched to vit D milk only (suggested by a dairy goat farmer to me) the poops stopped...so I haven't fed replacer in years.

I think mixing the two will be ok, since it's what they're used to...just remember to not mix it heavy on the powder....I'd even use a smidge less than it calls for.

They have really improved the quality of 'good' replacers since then, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be used...but our kids do fine on whole milk, AND it's cheaper....so using replacer just doesn't make sense for me.

 

[BJnMe]

I am thinking maybe we will go fifty/fifty with the replacer and whole milk until I go through this first bucket, then start cutting back on the replacer once we start on the second bucket of replacement formula, until we are down to just regular vitamin D milk. As you said, it will be a lot cheaper!

 

[mistee]

i too just use store milk as replacer always caused scours for me too..

have fun w/ them!

 

[Ariel301]

"Crash Course" is how I started too...my husband and I were moving out of the city into the country, and he said one day in the car, "We should get some animals". I say, "Ok, what kind of animals? We've got two cats, a parrot, a horse, and fish." He says "Sheep. Or maybe goats. You should look for some." Ok....so I go looking around. There was a lady I knew in a town 5 hours away (14 hours from our new place) where my mom lived who had goats for sale. I talked to her on the phone, told her I'd buy three. We moved, drove back for the goats and picked them up having never seen them before, and the lady also gave us a free baby buck, 12 hours old. (Little did we know he was also very sick!) We had to keep them at an RV park (my mom's work) for three days while we waited on getting all the paperwork in order to cross state lines....we had to learn quick about goats! It took me four days of trying to get them milked out, meanwhile they were getting fuller and fuller and grumpier and kickier and my hands were getting swollen and red...I finally got it though.

 

[Griffin's Ark]

If you use replacer, you have to insure that there are no ingredients that are not from milk. That is the best way I can describe it though of course there are additives that won't be milk... you have to have at least 20% milk protein and 20% milk fat. If the fat or protein is not from milk you will find yourself dealing with scours on a continuing basis. Also make sure none of the proteins are from plants! Goats cannot process soy proteins and when you see plant protein on the label it usually means "Soy".
The most important thing to watch is, "What goes in must come out." Scours is bad but constipation can be worse. Both will kill a young kid quickly.
With Nubians we feed 4 times a day, 12 ounces each feeding until 4 weeks and then 3 times a day 16 ounces each feeding until 8 weeks, then twice a day 16 -20 ounces each feeding until 10 weeks, then Once a day until 12 weeks, when they are weaned. A lot of people only go to 8 weeks, and you can do that, but you will get much better development feeding out to 12 weeks. I guess it depends on how much time you have. Last year we started bottle feeding in January and did not finish until July, but goats are our farm's primary income and our customers can see a difference in our goats as compared to other goats in our area. We love Nubians, but you have to be prepared for the drama! Enjoy! Chris

 

[aggieterpkatie]

People have success with different things. I feed replacer, because whole milk in our stores around here is $4/gallon and the good quality milk replacer is cheaper. If the whole milk was cheaper, I'd probably feed it.

 

[warthog]

"goat parent', 'goat ownership'

Thinks somebody should tell you, you don't own them, they own you

Seriously they are wonderful animals, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy them. Good luck.