grain for weaned kids

[VA Susan]

We just got two 8 wk old doelings. One is an unregistered Oberhasli, and the other is an Oberhasli/Alpine cross. How much grain should we give them? The owner has been giving them about a cup a day but since they aren't getting any milk now, won't they need more grain? We're giving them Sweet Mix from Tractor Supply and they have free choice hay and we take them up to our pasture that is full of briars and small trees for a couple hours a day to browse. Thanks.

[copperpennykids]

Sounds about right. Hay and browse are the staples, but the grain helps the rumen develop and should provide some extra vitamins and minerals. Keeps them growing well, too.

[VA Susan]

Thanks for your help, Camille.

[VA Susan]

The reason I asked is because they devour their grain. I think they would easily eat another cup if offered.

[mygoat]

I would increase the grain, personaly. I think milk nutrition needs to be replaced by other nutrition after weaning if you want continued good growth. Here, we let the doelings into the milkroom for a while daily to eat out of a pan for several minutes. We don't really measure, just let them eat till they loose interest. Most people that measure seem to get doelings up to 1lb grain/day each. Any transitions ought to be done SLOWLY.

[motdaugrnds]

I like to give my weaned kids grain too. I have 8 of them; so I separate them from their dams (and from the sire), place 3 cups of assorted grains (mixed) into each of 3 pans and then let them all 8 eat out of those 3 pans together. This along with their usual browse and bits of milk the extra nurturing dams permit them to have has kept them growing nicely.

[Squeaky McMurdo]

I give my two weaned doelings their grain free choice. I'll ration it once I notice them getting greedy about it but right now I have a gallon bucket half full out there for them to nibble on at will and it lasts about 3 days.

[GoldenWood Farm]

My kids still on the bottle get free choice grain right now . I would like Donna said up their grain intake slowly. My kids started from 3 weeks on with free choice grain so it was never an issue. They also have 24hr access to pasture, grass hay and Chaffhaye so they pick and choose what they want.

My girls are between 2 1/2 month up to 4 months of age and as everyone gets older I will be restricting their free feed grain but for now it works and they are growing like little weeds .

Justine

[VA Susan]

Thanks, everyone for your comments. This is a great place to ask questions.