Inexpensive housing

[Ferguson K]

We plan on putting 4 kids to a pen on the bucket. That way there's not as BIG of a risk that one gets more than the others.

The thing is, when does have multiples there's already one getting more than others do what's different? Thats the way i see it. Just watch and see whose falling behind and give them extra.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I agree K. I can't do 4 kids per pen but if I have any falling behind I will pull them out and give extra.

@Green Acres Farm We have done that, I call it joint-custody Get them on the bottle ASAP, once they find the udder/teat it can be hard to get them on a bottle.
I don't leave the milk out free choice, but yes it can spoil. I know some people put ice packs in the milk to keep it cool. I personally don't like the thought of feeding cold milk to kids, but some have good success with it.

 

[babsbag]

I leave milk out for kids. I only put ice in it if it is hot outside. (Look all those "i" words. ) At night I will fill the bucket and leave it until morning. Then I rinse and refill. When I had a job to go to I would leave milk with an ice pack in it. I only give my kids warm milk for about the first two weeks and then they get it cold so they ice makes no difference.

If you are feeding a bunch of kids I suggest more than one bucket. That way you can fill one, take it to the barn and bring the other one in to clean. Also buy the tubing brush and the one way valves.

http://www.caprinesupply.com/produc...-caprine-style/caprine-feeder-tube-brush.html

http://www.caprinesupply.com/produc...ne-style/one-way-valve-for-caprine-tubes.html

If you know how to weld you can make a bucket holder by welding the bucket holder onto an automobile rim. Works great.

http://www.caprinesupply.com/produc...bucket-holder-for-caprine-feeder-buckets.html

 

[misfitmorgan]

You don't. That is the down side of using the bucket.
The breeders that I know who have used it have good success with it, but many leave the milk out free-choice.

Wow the first sentence i wrote......fail

Thanks for the info though!

@Goat Whisperer, how do you leave milk out free-choice? Won't it spoil?

I'd like to bottle feed some this year. Would it be possible to train a kid to the bottle AND let it nurse on its mama?

I don't want to pull kids from a doe who has kidded before...unless maybe there were multiples... But it would be great if I could do both and get extra milk for us + friendlier kids!

Our doe's wont let them nurse as soon as the formula gets thru their system...cause they dont smell like them then. If you sharing custody maybe that works out then i dunno...maybe it depends on the goat?

 

[Green Acres Farm]

Our doe's wont let them nurse as soon as the formula gets thru their system...cause they dont smell like them then. If you sharing custody maybe that works out then i dunno...maybe it depends on the goat?

@misfitmorgan, your does who refused to let the kids nurse- were they first time or experienced mothers?

 

[misfitmorgan]

We have had it happen with both FF and experienced. We have 2 does that dont seem to care they will let anyone nurse on them but the rest if it doesnt smell like them they dont want them nursing. I have milked out the doe some and bottle fed that to the kid of course when the udder was to full at birth or something and they seem fine with that.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

We have had it happen with both FF and experienced. We have 2 does that dont seem to care they will let anyone nurse on them but the rest if it doesnt smell like them they dont want them nursing. I have milked out the doe some and bottle fed that to the kid of course when the udder was to full at birth or something and they seem fine with that.

Did you use actual goat milk or powdered formula? Just a thought that maybe if you used the mama's own milk she would still accept the kid.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

Is it okay to partially milk out a doe right before she kids or should you wait until after? Sorry for the dumb question...

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I always wait until the doe if finished kidding.

 

[Mini Horses]

Momma will cut them off from nursing when full. The cooler milk in the lambar will help to keep them from overfilling to a degree. The youngest ones will nurse more often, less at a time, so it's important to keep the ages separated due to amounts they need and time between feedings. As they age you can just put the lambar in there at certain times, for a shorter time. You can keep some bottles of water in the freezer & just drop one in.....or heat the water, drop it in. ( I've put frozen bottles in chicken waterers, horse troughs, etc. in summer)


Because I have fewer does/kids, those I separate are bottle fed by hand. I use mom's milk. My does are heavy milkers, so the reason to separate are for my own milking training, use, routine for the does. Plus, you get to really play with the kids and have friendly kids. Another thing that helps me make the decision is what my own "off-farm" work looks like. Will I have the time in the AM-PM & in between? Of course, this is also determined by who is kidding and when I'm more likely to "share custody" in some seasons.