In what circumstance do baby goats need to be bottle fed?
Our philosophy is that goats are basically just little humans. And just like a human infant, there can be many reasons for a kid to need bottle feeding. Momma goats are usually very good and capable mothers, even when they have four babies to feed. But sometimes because of the health of the baby, or the timing of its purchase, a baby goat needs to take a bottle either as a supplement or entirely.
For example, our little Frankie was so young when we brought him home and we were able to bottle feed him for a few weeks. He still believes I’m his mom and is very attached to me because of it. We love our bottle fed baby!
What can I give them if I don’t have the mother’s milk?
When we brought Frankie home, we were told simply to combine a mixture that added up to:
1/3 half and half
2/3 whole milk
Note: this is not 1/3 cup, but simply 1/3 of the mixture according to the amounts laid out in the chart below. So a 2 week old might get 1oz half-and-half plus 2oz whole milk.
Keep in mind that this is just a recommendation given to us by other dairy goat farmers that worked for us! Always research and pay attention to how your baby is receiving the milk mixture you choose to give them.
How often should I bottle feed my baby goat?
This chart can help you navigate feeding your baby goat during the day. Unless a baby goat is in poor health, they usually don’t need to be fed at night.
| Age | # of Feedings | Amount |
| 0 – 2 weeks | 4 | 2 – 3 ounces |
| 2 – 4 weeks | 3 | 5 – 6 ounces |
| 4 – 6 weeks | 2 | 10 ounces |
| 6 – 8 weeks | 1 – 2 | *see below |
By the time your kid reaches 6 – 8 weeks old, they should be working towards weaning off their mother’s milk, or off the bottle, in this case. Around 6 weeks, you’ll want to start diluting the milk with some water and start decreasing the amount given to the kid. Every few days you can just decrease the amount by an ounce and see how they kid does.
What are common mistakes when bottle feeding?
Overfeeding is hands down the easiest mistake to make. Baby goats have no control when it comes to bottled milk, and will drink until it makes them sick. Once it’s learned how, your baby goats will suck down that bottle like its been stuck in the Sahara desert all year. It’ll be empty in 10 seconds and your heart will hardly be able to handle how funny and cute they are while drinking. But if you follow the chart above, you can rest assured that those begging little goat eyes are nourished enough and do not need more milk until the next scheduled feeding.
When can kids start eating grass, grain and hay?
They will actually start to follow their mom’s lead and test their browsing skills as young as a couple of days old. This is perfectly fine for a healthy kid! You can also offer your bottle-fed babies hay and clean water in their first week so that they can acclimate to the foods they’ll need to eat once weaned.
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