The new babies have arrived!!! Pictures/Questions.

[aggieterpkatie]

I don't know about you all, but I waited until 14 weeks to band my buckling and my bander would absolutely not fit over his testicles. If I wait again, I'll do it by 9/10 weeks at the very latest.

 

[Missy]

I have been trying to weigh the positives against the negatives. In my opinion, the positives for keeping the horns out weigh the negatives of keeping them. The neutering is not in question. It will be done.

They had the bucklings on whole cows milk and I got some to bring home with me. Yoda is content to drink the milk from a dish. Worf, not so much. bottles were the one thing I did not get however her has been doing very well with a sports bottle licking it as I gently squeeze, or sucking it from a dish as long as my finger is in place and he can attempt to latch onto it

 

[Roll farms]

I will never have another goat w/ horns - if I can help it. The damage they do to eachother and our barns / gates / fencing far outweighs the 'joy' of letting them keep them.
Not to mention, dehorning makes them much safer to be around.

 

[Mossy Stone Farm]

oh i agree i have a NO horn policy here.... I have seen the damage to fences, barns and each other....

With that said i have not been able to do the deed myself.. Thank goodness i have a friend who can , she does an awsome job and the kids are back to playing and jumping in no time...

I however take a few days to get over it LOL!!!!!

your boys are beautiful, i love those crosses.... cuties for sure..congrats!

 

[20kidsonhill]

All our goats have horns and we have several children around them. I haven't had an issue with it. perhaps it depends on the breeds, the type of horns they have. LIke the nigerians' horns go straight up, that maybe would bother me more than the boers that curl around some.

 

[freemotion]

I have been trying to weigh the positives against the negatives. In my opinion, the positives for keeping the horns out weigh the negatives of keeping them. The neutering is not in question. It will be done.

They had the bucklings on whole cows milk and I got some to bring home with me. Yoda is content to drink the milk from a dish. Worf, not so much. bottles were the one thing I did not get however her has been doing very well with a sports bottle licking it as I gently squeeze, or sucking it from a dish as long as my finger is in place and he can attempt to latch onto it

You can get regular baby bottles for humans at the grocery store or WalMart and cut an x in the nipple and use that. Or you can usually find nipples that fit on soda bottles at the feed store. I read something.....no idea where, it was a few years ago....that said that head position while drinking milk was important for goats/sheep and bucket feeding was not recommended....I think it had to do with which stomach compartment the milk went into and also future rumen development. Bottle feeding will also really bond them to you. It is so sweet when they gaze into your eyes while taking the bottle.

I thought they looked a bit younger than 3 weeks in those photos.

 

[PattySh]

oops double post

 

[PattySh]

They are adorable. I agree they look younger than 3 weeks. Do they have horns popping out yet? I'd call the goat farm and see what kind of nipples the boys are used to and buy the same. Personally I would not allow horned goats around young children. I banded my one goat with horns after I got poked in the arm several times while putting her grain on the milk stand. Even tho she is very gentle I was worried about the grandchildren getting hurt. I have banded very big testicles on goat kids. I did a 6 month old nigerian recently, had to slip each side in at a time but it worked. If they are going to be pets, don't do them too soon. Also get their overeating/tetanus shots into them, bottle babies are delicate creatures.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Very cute Congrats!

 

[MysticScorpio82]

They are both cuties! I have to say, Worf looks like such a tyke! Lol!! Congratulations!