New goat owners - hello and advice requested :)

[Ajp23]

Hello from Dallas! My family recently got 8 week Pygmy/Nigerian dwarf crosses we will be raising as wethers. I hope to learn a lot here and contribute as I learn!

I do have a concern about one of them and would love advice. Like I mentioned, he is 8 weeks old and currently still on a bottle but beginning the weaning process in the next few weeks. He also eats orchard/Timothy hay, forages on the land and has access to sweetlix minerals. He seems to have a much rougher coat than the others and has thinning hair around the shoulders. He behaves normally, no poop issues so I’m wondering if it’s possible for him to have a copper deficiency at this age?

I would say the main things I’ve noticed are a rough and thinning coat, and what seems to be fishtail based on pictures I’ve seen in my research. He seems too young to have a copper Bolus but how else to address the issue?

Thank you for any help!! I’m excited to learn more here.

 

[Mini Horses]

Deworm him. . In fact do both of them

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Good advice above!

Here's another thing you might want to think about...do you notice him scratching? Wouldn't be a bad idea to check his coat for lice.

Goat Lice Management — Forth Valley Vet Clinic

here are two types of lice affecting goats in Tasmania: the biting louse and the sucking louse. These lice are small (only 1 to 2 mm long) and are grey or cream in colour. Goat lice affect only goats. They may survive on sheep for about 5 to 7 days, but not propagate. Lice from cattle do not affect

www.forthvet.com.au

 

[Ajp23]

Deworm him. . In fact do both of them

Thank you! Is there a product you recommend for his size and age - he’s only around 17 pounds.

 

[Ajp23]

Good advice above!

Here's another thing you might want to think about...do you notice him scratching? Wouldn't be a bad idea to check his coat for lice.

Goat Lice Management — Forth Valley Vet Clinic

here are two types of lice affecting goats in Tasmania: the biting louse and the sucking louse. These lice are small (only 1 to 2 mm long) and are grey or cream in colour. Goat lice affect only goats. They may survive on sheep for about 5 to 7 days, but not propagate. Lice from cattle do not affect

www.forthvet.com.au

Thank you! I’ve checked thoroughly and haven’t seen anything on him but I’ll keep looking just in case!

 

[rachels.haven]

Ultraboss is fun. You're going to have to do some math as a goat owner.