When to wean??

[Jenn27]

My bottle Fed kid us about 6 weeks. When and how should she be weaned? She is not even a little interested in feed. Hahaha We do try to keep feed out for her.

 

[samssimonsays]

What kind of goat is she?

 

[TAH]

What kind of goat is she?

x2

 

[Latestarter]

Some wean any/all goats at 8 weeks. Others say that dwarf goats @ 8 weeks, Minis at 12 weeks, full sized breeds at 16 weeks. There's a lot of varying ideas/beliefs/opinions. I guess it has to do with if your goat has started eating hay/grains/feed yet or not, as well as how the animal is doing with growth and development. "Slow" developers will probably benefit from additional bottle/nursing/milk time. If the animal is already eating hay and doing well, then maybe weaning sooner isn't a big issue.

 

[Southern by choice]

How any bottles are you giving per day?
How much in each bottle.

Our schedule is what @Latestarter mentioned.
We have all 3 sizes and it works well for us.
It is however tapered... example - our standards may still get a bottle at 14 weeks but it is only 1 per day... and we are reducing amount so they wean completely at 16 weeks.

The nigies are on 1 bottle day at 6 weeks. By 8 they are done.

 

[Jenn27]

She's getting two cups twice a day. She is a mix between a full size goat (mama) and a Nigerian pygmy goat.

 

[Jenn27]

I'm just nervous about doing it since we lost her sister because she wouldn't take to the bottle. I don't want another one starving.

 

[Southern by choice]

As long as there is milk she is not going to be as interested.

Leave out 1 cup high quality feed in a bowl. Put out some tasty hay (alfalfa or orchard or mix) . You can still give 2 bottles day but reduce amount now. Give 8oz am/pm instead of 16. Keep her there for a week. At 7-8 weeks go to one bottle ( 8oz) .
IOW give her the opportunity to eat something.

 

[Jenn27]

As long as there is milk she is not going to be as interested.

Leave out 1 cup high quality feed in a bowl. Put out some tasty hay (alfalfa or orchard or mix) . You can still give 2 bottles day but reduce amount now. Give 8oz am/pm instead of 16. Keep her there for a week. At 7-8 weeks go to one bottle ( 8oz) .
IOW give her the opportunity to eat something.

Thank you. I will do that.