Kids in the General Herd

[Blue Ridge]

At what age do you put your kids in the general herd?

We have 7 does and 3 kids in the general herd. The buck & wether is in a separate pasture.

The does are 3 Nigerian Dwarfs, 1 Oberhasli, and 3 Fainters. All are fairly calm, with the NDs being the most likely to butt.

The kids are NDs.

We believe the fencing can hold them now, but I'm sure that the little ones will show us our faults.

We also have a Pyr which has been very protective of the kids when we have them out, while in attendance.

Thanks!

[mygoat]

Whenever it is convenient to do so, here. We free feed the kids grain, so until we have most of them sold and we are down to the 'keepers' we keep them all in another pen. Once we're down to the keepers, it becomes easier to just bring them to the main pen and let those ones into the milkroom 1x per day for grain as there's usually only 1-2 keepers. Usually this is at 3-5 months of age, depending. So long as you monitor them and there is space in the housing, they ought to be fine.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Two days old.

[dozedotz]

We do not put the kids with the adults until they have kidded the first time. We separate the doelings from the bucklings at about 8 weeks - they go to separate areas with no adults. This year we only kept one doeling. Since she did not have a buddy we selected our smallest and one of the youngest adults who also happens to be very gentle and put them together for the winter. That has worked out with no problem. I still prefer to have at least 2 together of about the same age until after they kid out the first time...then they go to meet the big girls and learn the routine. We have a small herd anyway so it is not like they are going to have to contend with 40 other girls. They do share fences with the older girls and they do go on walks with me all summer and fall...so they do know the older does and they even take a few bumps, but not when they are pregnant.

[wintrrwolf]

Well for one I guess it depends on your set up. If the young ones do not have a momma to look out for them I would wait until at least 2 months. If there is an area they can escape from the adult's then you could do it at a younger age.
Last year I blocked off a corner of the goat area with couple of pallets the spacing in these pallets were bigger so the babies could slip in and out but the adults couldn't reach in, this is where the babies could sleep undisturbed and eat. After awhile the kids became more confident and started eating with the adults.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I also get my doe & kids back in with the herd as soon as possible after kidding, like Alice I try for 24 to 48 hours or as soon as the kids are nursing well & bouncing around.

If I was to bring in babies from another farm that I bought with out the doe I would wait at least until they were a minimum 3 months but also make sure they have places to get away from the bigger does'.

[Tango]

Wow, the replies show a good variety of purpose and goals. Very informative reading- a good refresher course for me too. Thanks. Makes me rethink my first pasture should be fenced in goat fencing with the smaller stays so I always have a safe place for the kids. Good job everyone.