Ideally, weaning

Creamers · #1 06/05/11, 10:36 PM

I have a Nigi buckling - he is a future second herdsire here. . .
he is 13 weeks old - I normally leave does on the bottle until 20-24 weeks -
but with him being a buck. . .not sure. . .haven't bottle raised any beyond selling before.
So. . .would you recommend - IDEALLY - keeping him on the bottle for another 3 weeks or more or weaning him now?
I don't care to keep him on the bottle if it will really benefit him.

KimM · #2 06/05/11, 11:06 PM

I wean my bucklings/wethers at 8-10 weeks IF they're doing well eating feed and hay. I have a tiny guy now that was half his other 3 brother's size, he's almost 10 weeks old, and even though he's drinking water and eating his feed and hay well, he'll still get 2 bottles a day for a few more weeks since he was lagging a bit. So for me it depends on thier size and development.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 06/06/11, 06:51 AM

It can only help him to keep getting bottles.

Backfourty,MI. · #4 06/06/11, 08:31 AM

Last year I think my bucks were about 12 weeks old when they no longer got any milk.
They grew up nicely after that. Not sure about the one's I sold but haven't heard back from the guy either so I'm assuming they did well too.

This year my wethers are going to be weaned about 10 weeks old becuase they are sold & she's anxious to take them home. They are all eating well & growing nicely at 7 & 8 weeks now.

Cannon_Farms · #5 06/06/11, 08:49 AM

milk helps with those yuckie coccidie meds at two months of age. If youve got the milk use it, you wouldnt take a 5 month old baby off formula/milk

Creamers · #6 06/06/11, 09:50 AM

Sounds good - I don't usually wean till much older - but with him being a buckling - wasn't sure if the the milk after 12 weeks would matter a whole lot -

Cannon_Farms · #7 06/06/11, 10:40 AM

a great deal, you want the boys to grow out just as good as the girls. The one doe I sold to your friend who is smaller was weaned too early then not given proper food, dont ask me what her daughters issue is

Creamers · #8 06/06/11, 11:08 AM

Adinah? Yep - she is a little runt - lol

LomahAcres · #9 06/06/11, 05:29 PM

Ideally - feed him as much milk as he'll eat as long as he'll eat it. My breeder bucks don't get weaned until at least 6 months of age, or perhaps not until 10 months if I am using them to breed this year. More milk will only give you better and faster growth.