What should a 4 week old be eating?

[Brandon.b.]

WE got another goat and my family was wondering what exactly should a 4 week old goat be eating the lady had him on 2 2pint bottles a day she said he needs to be introduced to hay now so we did he is verry little interested what should he be eating? He is only getting 2 2pint bottles of formula a day how could i get him interested in hay when to intoduce goat feed?

 

[elevan]

Mine are about that age (but are dam raised) and are starting to eat hay well. The doeling is starting to be interested in her mama's grain too...but the buckling is not yet showing interest in grain. They are both, of course, still nursing.

 

[Brandon.b.]

Well when we got him she said we should start introducing him to hay how could i incourage him to eat the straw? should i let him have some feed see how he acts if he eats it should i start transfering him over to feed?

 

[elevan]

You should make the hay available (straw imo is just a filler) all the time.

Whether to grain or not is a personal preference but if you choose make it available in small quantities.

I don't bottle feed so I can't offer any advice there. My dam raised kids will wean at approximately 8 - 12 weeks old.

I personally don't feel that they should be removed completely from milk too soon...so 8 weeks would be the earliest I would wean imo.

 

[Brandon.b.]

She said to bottle feed him 2 a day so he gets feed that and has all the straw/hay he can eat/have is that all he should be having what is he is just introduced to hay and not eating it much should i give him 3 bottles of furmula a day he is all the time hungry?

 

[ksalvagno]

I put out grain and hay for my little ones. They picked at it at first but now eat it. You just have to give him time. They play with it at first and then slowly start eating it. Before you know it, he will be eating it just fine. I wouldn't give a kid any straw, only hay. I would also put out water for him. Once again, he may not drink much but it is there for him to try and eventually get used to drinking.

 

[20kidsonhill]

You can wean at 8 weeks, if you are happy with the amount of hay and possibly grain he/she is consuming ,some people wait until 12.

just provide some tender hay, like timothy hay, or good 2nd cutting grass hay and, and a half a handful of goat pelleted feed in a dog food bowel. he wont eat but a piece or two at first, and just barely nibble the hay, but in a couple weeks he will get the hang of it. by 8 weeks he should be looking forward to a little grain. Put fresh grain out everyday.

Not everyone puts them on grain, but if you don't you probably should bottle feed until 12 weeks, and make sure they are on good pasture or very good quality hay.

If a male, and you choose to give him grain, he needs to have grain that contains Ammonia Chloride in it. Most Pelleted goat feed has it, but you need to read the label on the bag.

 

[Brandon.b.]

Um,sorry but i dont know much but what is different between straw and hay how do i know what i have?He tried water drunk a little blew some bubbles then looked up at me .sorry im kinda new.

 

[20kidsonhill]

how much milk is in the bottle?

 

[Brandon.b.]

he gets 4 cups a day 2 at a time that is what she told me i dont feel that it is right he is always hungry and he drinks it super fast.