2 questions regarding boer doe and 2 kids

[hayzor]

2 questions regarding boer doe and 2 kids, born Sept 8.

1- When is a good time to wean the kids? Our kids (humans) will be showing them at the fair in April and we want some time to work with them w/o the mother. Both are growing well. The buckling is about 31 lbs and the doeling about 27 lbs. Both are eating grass, hay and grain. I’m thinking about weaning them at the mid-end of Nov.

2- Doe seems pretty skinny. She’s on pasture (Bermuda grass) w/ alfalfa hay and grain supplement. About 2 lb grain/day. Her udder looks very full and the 2 kids a growing like weeds. Is it normal for her to be skinny. She’s 4-5 yrs old. She’s been recently been wormed (2-3 weeks ago). I’m used to her looking good & fat. She looks very healthy otherwise. Does she need more food or do they just get skinny when nursing??

Thanks
Hayzor

[DQ]

some just get thin while nursing. especially if they milk well. make sure she was wormed with something effective. many wormers labeled for goats are not effective anymore. 8 wks is considered the absolute minimum for weaning. 12 weeks is much better. the longer they nurse the faster they will grow. some sort of cocci prevention will be key in getting good growth also. many boer producers feed a mix that is medicated to prevent coccidioses. there is nothing wrong with working with them while they are still nursing mom.