water for bottle babies?

[redfarmhouse]

Ok, this may be a stupid question but I don't want to make any stupid newbie mistakes (although, I'm sure I will). Do I need to put a water dish in the bottle babies pen? They will be 10 and 12 days old when we bring them home on Sunday. Also, when do I start offering grain or hay?

 

[phoenixmama]

Offer water and hay from the time you have them. They may or may not touch the hay for a little bit, but definitely have it out. I wouldn't give them grain, but that seems to be a personal preference for people. I also offer alfalfa pellets, but again...that's another personal preference depending on feed costs and personal opinions.

 

[themrslove]

I would start offering hay right away. And yes for water.
Our bottle babies we have all the same free choice things that the "big goats" have. Water, hay, alfalfa pellets, minerals...etc.

 

[freemotion]

Yes, by that age they should be eating a little and tasting the water.

 

[Ariel301]

Mine start showing interest in water, grain, and hay (whatever mom's eating since I dam-raise my kids) usually from 4-7 days old. I keep a shallow water dish in the doe/kid pen when they are little so they can drink from it but not drown in it. They will share their moms' food as well. I don't normally feed grain specifically to my kids, but they do nibble at the does' food and that's fine.