join the herd or build their own pen?

dixiegal62 · #1 05/13/08, 07:15 AM

we have 4 bottle babies all born the end of Feb. They are all in a stall in the barn but it worries me since its starting to get pretty warm here in the south and it seems it would be healthier for them to be in the fresh air with plenty of fresh food instead of being cooped up all the time eating hay and of course feed.

I have read plenty of posts saying to put them in the herd when they are old enough to fend for themselves but honestly I just done know whats considered old enough. They are being weaned now and eating fine, and are the same age as our babies raised off the mothers who are outside who all seem to be able to hold their own with getting butted by the other adult goats.

I tried doing more searches on this subject this morning but for some reason I keep getting errors when trying to search. I dont know if our best option would be just to build another fenced in area to get them outside or just try putting them with the herd while continuing finishing off weaning them.

topside1 · #2 05/13/08, 07:42 AM

Dixie, they probably should have been released months or weeks ago depending on their age. The longer you wait the tougher it will be for the bottle babies to adjust to barnyard peaking order/butting order system that's presently in place....they will adjust, they also have quickness on their side....release the hounds...

Jyllie63 · #3 05/13/08, 02:06 PM

We've only had one baby born so far. He's 9 days old and has been in with the other 2 pregnant does AND 4 alpacas since he was born. We haven't had any problems yet and I'm hoping it stays that way!

If it were me, I would definitely start letting them out with others to graze and maybe keep them in their own stall at night until you see they are all getting along during the day.

**mygoat** · #4 05/13/08, 02:18 PM

I've moved kids 'in' to the main pen as early as 2-3 weeks as bottle babies and as late as 3-4 months. Sure, they're gonna be scared, lost, and probably bullied but that's unavoidable and just normal goat behavior. They'll be fine within a few days.

If your barn or pastures are overcrowded, the more likely new herd members are to be beaten up or become injured at ANY age.

Freeholder · #5 05/13/08, 02:38 PM

I put bottle babies in the big-goat pen as soon as they are able to avoid being stepped on -- usually by the time they are a couple of weeks old. I haven't had any problems from doing it this way. I don't want to put them in until they are thoroughly convinced that milk comes from a bottle, otherwise they might start rooting around and nurse one of the milking does.

Kathleen

LomahAcres · #6 05/13/08, 02:48 PM

If it's not that much for you to do, I would put up another pen of their own.

We have a somewhat larger herd, and to babies in with the big girls it would only mean constant abuse.

I like to keep them separate so I can keep a closer eye on them, and don't have to worry some much about them getting hurt, or about them picking up more worms from the moms. They go on clean pastures every spring, and don't go in with the big girls until just before breeding.

That said, I also have two does with very strong mothering natures I know would take over and get them nursing, even 3 month old bottle babies.

Rockytopsis · #7 05/13/08, 02:53 PM

Dixiegal, no matter what you do they will be at the low end of the totem pole. If there was a way you could put them with the "other" babies and let them play for a while it would help them to adjust to herd life. The will form their own little pack for the most part. And also no matter what you do there will be some pushing and shoving, but they will adjust.

dixiegal62 · #8 05/13/08, 04:39 PM

thanks everyone. we put them in the pasture and all went well, in fact my herd acted scared of them,lol. We had a bit of fussing at dinner time but it wasnt real bad, the worse part is having to hear the bottle babies cry for me all day

they got loved on through the day but are pretty much just crying. I hope it only lasts a few days!

Backfourty,MI. · #9 05/13/08, 09:15 PM

I would also start putting them with the herd during the day & putting them back in their stall at night for a few days till you feel better about it. We dam raise our kids & keep the doe's & her babies seperate from the others for a few days or a week then start putting them together during the day, etc. Those little babies know how to run really fast if they need too. They need to be in with other the other goats,