When is it too early to sell mama?

[Buster]

A friend is coming by to purchase most of my goats, but I want to keep a few of the doe kids. They range between 7 and 11 weeks old.

So, where would you put the cutoff for the keepers? I'm keeping the three legged mama and her triplets, but the other two kids will either go with their moms or stay by themselves. This would obviously be cold turkey weaning.

Thanks in advance.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Are they eating grain/hay? Drinking water?

Normally we let ours stay at least 12 weeks. Some longer, if they are small or are not eating a good amount of feed and hay.

 

[Buster]

They are eating feed and hay and drinking water just fine.

 

[freemotion]

Can you put the friend off for one more week, maybe? That would be better if you can't wait three full months. Many people successfully wean at two months. If it is very cold where you are, keep that in mind, too. It will be very, very stressful for the babies when the mamas leave and they will be vulnerable for a bit afterwards.

If the doelings are keepers, really, you want them to have the biggest advantage possible. Put the buddy off for a month if you can if it is cold there. You'll be feeding the does for him so that is an advantage!

 

[jodief100]

What kind of goats are they? I will not wean any younger than 8 weeks and prefer to wait unitl 12. I only do it at 8 weeks if they are eating hay and grain and drinking water and I have a compelling reason to do it early. Mine are full size meat goats, it may be different for other breeds.

Weaning is a very stressfull time for them. I recomend only doing it if they are very strong and healthy to begin with.

 

[20kidsonhill]

We wean at 6 to 8 weeks, as long as they are on grain you should be fine. I would either feed free-choice grain until they are a little older, or feed grain twice a day making sure there is enough grain to last atleast 20 minutes or so, and have out good hay all day long.

But if you have any doubt about any of them eating grain and hay well, I would wait, if at all possible another week or two, Like freemotion said, warmer weather is on the way.

 

[Buster]

We are predicted 70 to lower80s for at least the next week or so, if that helps.

I guess it has come down to one mama and her kid, really. Either I keep the kid,or sell or keep both. The size of his trailer may be a deciding factor, as he will be taking at least 6 adult goats and one kid, along with 5 turkeys and a few roos.

 

[julieq]

We wean our ND bottle babies at eight weeks.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I hate to wean any earlier than 8 weeks.

 

[Buster]

8 weeks it is, then. Since she is the youngest at about 7 weeks, she either goes or stays with mama. I guess I could bottle feed???

But even the concept makes me tired and bored.

The triplets are staying here with mama Tripod, which leaves the oldest buckling to decide on and he is easily above your threshold.

Thanks for your kind assistance. I'll let you know how it shakes out.

[I'm keeping these yung'uns more to train my GP puppies than anything. Give them some babies to bond with while they grow up. Otherwise I would just start from scratch as this is my learning herd.]