Picking up my first baby tomorrow!

[SouthernChaos]

Hi all!
Although I live on a farm and have Hereford hogs, chickens, turkeys and dogs, I am new to goats and will be picking up my new little buckling in the morning. He lost his mom and the owner has been bottle feeding him. He was born on January 29, 2014 so he is only 6 weeks and 2 days old. The owner told me that he is eating some grain and nibbling on hay and that he would no longer take his bottle. My question is 1) is he old enough to be on just grain and hay? 2) will a baby goat drink milk from a pan or dish like a dog would?
He looks very healthy and hardy in the picture she sent me. I just want to make sure he is fed properly and does not get sick. I bought alfalfa hay and 16% All Goat grain for him. Any advise would be appreciated!
Thanks!

Tianya

 

[PotterWatch]

He is adorable! I have a six week old buckling as well and he is still on a bottle twice a day as well as eating hay. I know people who wean from milk at 6 weeks, but I personally think that is too young. I don't wean mine until 10-12 weeks. The few time I have sold bottle babies and they have been weaned earlier, I have seen them later on and they never seem to be as big and hearty as the kids I hold back and continue bottle feeding until later. Are you getting any other goats? That baby is going to be very lonely if he doesn't have a goaty playmate. I won't sell a single baby to anyone who doesn't also have other goats because goats need companionship.

 

[elevan]

I would also buy a bit of grain and hay from the seller to mix with what you have for a few days.

We always weaned ours at 8 weeks, so try to get him to take some milk if even from a dish for a couple more weeks.

 

[SouthernChaos]

Thank you! I will try the milk. She tells me that he refuses the bottle now but we will try
I am planning on getting two little does also. I would never want him to grow up alone!
Thanks again!

 

[rebelINny]

He is very cute! Congrats and good luck.

 

[SillyChicken]

Do you plan on breeding him? If not, have him castrated! Cause the boys can be smelly and pushy! I believe you will also need minerals available to him.
And yes, he will be lonely without another goat. He's a cute little Lamancha!

 

[SouthernChaos]

Well we went to get the little Lamancha/boer cross and ended up getting a boer doeling and baby buck!
The are so stinking adorable! The little doe was bottle fed so she gets in your lap and loves attention. Baby boy is friendly too. I love them already!! So precious Jodie and Sam!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

AWWWW! The are so cute! Congrats!