What were we thinking?

[Hens and Roos]

that makes sense, friendlier and easier to handle is a good thing!

 

[Southern by choice]

Working on an update...

 

[goats&moregoats]

How do you all bottle feed? I mean what method. I bottle fed two last year. Actual bottles. This year I have the potential of having up to 12 kids. Should I try the nipple bucket? Does this get the same effect as with a direct bottle?

Another note: Last year I had the two Feb. babies. This year Jan & Feb. The barn is nice and cozy. It's the walk to and from. This years set up is even better as far as in the barn.

 

[goatgurl]

if you have that many babies then a lambbar would definately work best for you. when i was feeding that many i had the bucklings and doelings in separate pens and used the buckets. it worked well and yes bucket fed babies are as tame and friendly as bottle babies because your still the mama even if you are a bucket mama

 

[goats&moregoats]

Thank you for your response Goatgurl. I was thinking that it would work the same. I was told today by one of my goats(sent her a pic of goat at 2 months prego. She is huge already.) previous owners that she dropped quads last year, and the other one I got from her had triplets last year and quads the year before. I love the friendliness of my bottle fed babies. I had two dammed raised and they were not near as friendly. They were ok, just not near as friendly. So I was wanting to bottle feed all this year.

 

[OneFineAcre]

We are going to stick with having kids starting the first week of March through late April and then Dam raising them.

Most breeders that show as we do pull the kids and bottle raise primarily to help keep udders balanced. But, we haven't had a huge problem keeping them even.

It is only logical that if you take the baby from her mom and you bottle or bucket feed them, you become their mom and they are going to be very friendly to you. But, I don't want to be their mom. Besides, if you spend some time with the kids when they are young, they will be plenty friendly.

As far as them always being friendlier, I don't agree with that, or at least it isn't my experience. I've got 9 milkers now, 4 that were bottle raise, and 5 that were dam raise. The friendliest one (Zamia) was bottle raised, but there isn't any difference in the others. I don't know if I could take it if they were all like Zamia who is all on you when you come in the pen.

 

[Southern by choice]

I did do an update under articles. It explains our journey into this new world of pulling. LOL We are still in the experimental phase but have some very interesting observations. Dispelled some ideas I had about the process and has given a broader perspective.
We like to share all we can in hopes it may help someone along the way. IMO there many ways to raise goats and doing what works for you is most important.

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/dam-raised-bottle-raised-trough-raised-pulling-kids.29995/

 

[babsbag]

I have only bottle raised when necessary and most of my goats are brats. Not so much hard to handle but hard to catch. Being that I am starting a dairy I have toyed with the idea of bottle raising kids and keeping them and replacing my wild gals. I still might, just can't decide. They will come for grain and to get milked with no problems though, bottle raised or not and since I machine milk even that isn't a problem.

Any that I buy will be bottle kids. I bought two mature does last year that were bottle raised and they are like dogs, they follow me everywhere. Definitely easier when you need them NOW.

But to be honest I have not spent much time with the kids, I was working full time so it was hard, i.e. impossible. I was told that there is a bonding age with kids, they said around 10 days old. So I guess if you are going to pull after a few days with mom you might still get that bonding experience with the kids. No experience, just what I was told.

I have a few more months to contemplate what to do next year. Eventually when the dairy is done the kids will be sold ASAP so I can have the milk. That part of raising goats and having a dairy makes me a little sad.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I have only bottle raised when necessary and most of my goats are brats. Not so much hard to handle but hard to catch. Being that I am starting a dairy I have toyed with the idea of bottle raising kids and keeping them and replacing my wild gals. I still might, just can't decide. They will come for grain and to get milked with no problems though, bottle raised or not and since I machine milk even that isn't a problem.

Any that I buy will be bottle kids. I bought two mature does last year that were bottle raised and they are like dogs, they follow me everywhere. Definitely easier when you need them NOW.

But to be honest I have not spent much time with the kids, I was working full time so it was hard, i.e. impossible. I was told that there is a bonding age with kids, they said around 10 days old. So I guess if you are going to pull after a few days with mom you might still get that bonding experience with the kids. No experience, just what I was told.

I have a few more months to contemplate what to do next year. Eventually when the dairy is done the kids will be sold ASAP so I can have the milk. That part of raising goats and having a dairy makes me a little sad.

If you are going to have a dairy, you will have to pull the kids. But, you will not be able to sell all of your kids, you will need to keep some for herd replacements. Most commercial dairy's give milk replacer after a few days of colostrum. There is also a "calf starter" feed that has milk. We give that to our kids sometimes, and even sometimes to does to boost milk before a show.

 

[Southern by choice]

I know that is the usual but at the same time I know of 2 small dairies averaging 20 goats or less that do not sell their kids right away. One dairy feeds kids milk from the does, no replacers the other dam raises. Because they are small dairies they can breed the does at different times and always have the milk available for cheese and kids.
It does make sense to sell them right away though.