Weaning Dairy Kids...when do you do it?

[ONThorsegirl]

I was just wondering at what time you guys wean your kids?

I'm going to be breeding my Nubian again and I know I got lots of time, but I'm going to wean the kids before I did them last time..I think!

Melissa

[BlueHeronFarm]

We are going to wean any kids we keep earlier this year, too.
We let some go almost 4 months last year and weaned others at 2 months. They all grew the same. Since that milk is our income, we plan to only raise one or two and wean them early.

[moonspinner]

My sales kids are weaned around 9 weeks. Kids I keep I allow to nurse on mom pretty much as long as they want. Some of my moms cut off kids right at two months while others much more generous. The far end I've found is about 8 months, though by that time you're just looking at a quick slurp a couple times a day. One of my goat buds reports one dam still allowing a kid to nurse at two years!
I do find my own kids seem to be healthier and more robust, but that might just be a subjective observation.

[ozark_jewels]

I leave my dairy doelings on milk as long as I can. Usually between 3-6 months depending on circumstances and availability.

[mygoat]

I will keep doelings on milk as long as I can this year, but probably no longer than 4 months. The bottle raised bucklings and meat dairy wethers will be on milk till 3 mons. Mini meat wethers will be dam raised and will be allowed to be on their dams till I butcher them.

[copperpennykids]

We raise big heavy milking Saanens. We bottle feed everything, and they are weaned between 12-14 weeks of age. Our kids grow beautifully and are many times much bigger than other kids in their class.

Weaning sooner helps them get on solid food and start developing their rumen. And of course more milk for other projects.

Camille

[Charleen]

copperpennykids - With a name like this, you should have Oberhasli!

We bottle raise all doe kids and bucks that are reserved. We wean between 2-3 months but provide hay, grain & water starting at about 2 weeks of age, so they are well on their way to eating right before weaning.

[ozark_jewels]

My kids are chowing down on hay/browse/alfalfa pellets by three weeks of age so I do not think that weaning early helps them eat solids. Weaning dates are personal preference. Whatever works for you.

[dkdairygoats]

You can wean as early as 6-8 weeks but I like to go to 12 weeks. I try to judge by size and body condition more than age...small kids I let go longer and bigger ones I take off milk sooner. My kids usually start eating grain/hay by 2-3 weeks of age as well...they get that free choice with the milk.

[FarmGirl18]

I generally wean my doelings anywhere from 3-4 months old. The wethers I usually wean at 8 weeks, just because I'm not concerned about their growth as much.

[xoxoGOATSxoxo]

I keep the kids on their moms, who are impatient and wean them at about 8 or 9 weeks. If the kids always have good hay available and are given some grain, then they grow very nicely.