Weaning age?

goatkids · #1 05/28/09, 04:52 PM

OK... so my first time weaning and selling kids. I had thought that kids should not be weaned until like 8 weeks, but one lady who came to look at the little doeling I am selling (like 6 or 7 weeks old) gasped when I said she wasn't weaned. She said they had a little 6 week old at home (weaned I'm guessing). I am weaning the doeling right now... separating her at night, and during the day now too. So, I wanted all of your expert advice. If I am wrong, then I want to do better on the next kids that are coming... otherwise, I just wanted to make sure I was right. So, thanks in advance for your advice.

mary,tx · #2 05/28/09, 04:57 PM

8 weeks is very minimum on weaning. I weaned my first kids at 8 weeks because that is what I had read in a book, I guess. Then I found out that most people don't wean before about 12 weeks.

Now my minimum is about 10 weeks, but usually I wean closer to 12-14. I do think 8 is a little on the early side.

kreddish · #3 05/28/09, 05:22 PM

My little pygmy baby Daisy... is going thru the natural weaning process with mom now at 10 weeks old (not bottle fed). She is nibbling on everything the mom does and even drinking water, and licking the salt block on her own. But even at 10 weeks... she still nurses on the mommy. I would say 12 weeks should be the minimum. Hopw this helps

Rockytopsis · #4 05/28/09, 06:18 PM

I do not wean before 3 months.

Goat Servant · #5 05/28/09, 06:28 PM

Rockytopsis I do not wean before 3 months.

Same here. Once I let a couple go at about 10 weeks. They did not thrive as well as the ones who were left on their dams till 3 months.
Last month I had some FFA kids needing market wethers. I insisted that they stayed on their dams for at least 2 months.
Dont let her gasping faze you. Do whats best for your animals.

correction; that was 12 weeks, a couple weeks short of 3 months.

Rockytopsis · #6 05/28/09, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

Dont let her gasping faze you. Do whats best for your animals.

OH I could not agree more. Well said.

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #7 05/28/09, 06:55 PM

You coupl that you are new, along with your first sales, you simply need to give these goatlings the time on milk they need. You won't be able to answer the hundred questions they will give you as the kids aren't growing like they should, get diarrhea etc... And stress is huge in just weaned kids, are they really eating good? You have to exchange all the calories and calcium they are getting in milk to something else, hopefully really good hay and grain, or super alfalfa, if not the kids will fail to thrive. IF you give them the good start and send them home with some of what they are used to then it's the new owners fault if they don't continue your wonderful care.

Unless on bottles so the new owner can continue them on bottles, dont' sell dam raised kids until they are eating well and weaned. You can't set a hard and fast date on that but certainly not before 12 weeks. Some kids, high multiples may need longer. Vicki

chamoisee · #8 05/28/09, 07:08 PM

Weaning at six weeks? Not if you want them to grow out well and be good milkers, and especially not if you want to breed them as yearlings and save yourself a year of feeding a non-milking animal.

Goat Servant · #9 05/28/09, 07:53 PM

If they go early and dont do well its your reputation on the line.
It doesnt matter if they dont know how to raise properly, if goat doenst grow well, your name is going to be brought up as a questionable breeder.

goatkids · #10 05/29/09, 11:32 AM

Thanks so much all of you!! I'm glad I was on the right line in the first place, and I think I will wait longer too... because they are triplets. I don't think I will sell to this lady anyways, she kept telling me about MY goats... lol. She told me my doe due July 4th (I saw her bred) will have kids anytime because she is "swollen"-- I told her I would keep an eye on her. LOL. She is not swollen. I have been watching her. Anyway, thanks again... I'm so glad I was able to come here and get ya'all years of experience!
Mandi

Susan n' Emily in TN · #11 05/29/09, 09:45 PM

My little snickers was not ready at 8weeks. In fact I went back and bought her mom the next day. She was so depressed , not eating, just standing there crying. Within 24 hrs of having her mom back she is unbelievable! She is nibbling on everything and doing well. I think I too will not release a baby without it's mom tip at least 12 weeks. Together I bet it could be much earlier. (all my one week of experience, LOL) susan