The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: fifixx on April 24, 2013, 06:44:05 pm

Title: Tips for weaning
Post by: fifixx on April 24, 2013, 06:44:05 pm
I haven't ringed the males this year - not sure why, but now I need to wean the 8 week old males as 2 are definitely interested in the whole female population of the shed!

I'm lambivacing and worming tomorrow, I was going to wait another week, but slightly worried after reading how 7 wk old males can be fertile so will it be OK to wean them at the same time?  I'm going to leave the female kids in, so some mothers will have none, some one and some 2....and some of the triplet male kids are still tiny so I wonder if I could leave them a bit longer - or is that just asking for trouble?

I should have ringed them at birth!


Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: Dogwalker on April 24, 2013, 08:57:47 pm
Don't want to read and run but don't know the answer.
 
Will the females be fertile at this time of year?
Worming and vaccinating may be enough stress in one go without weaning as well but then again if you're going to wean in a weeks time it might be best just to get it over with in one go rather than prolong it.
You'd need to watch the does for mastitis especially if you're taking triplets off suddenly rather than more natural gradually reducing milk demand.
just my thoughts, someone who knows a bit will come along soon with words of wisdom. :)
Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: wytsend on April 24, 2013, 09:18:07 pm
I would take all the larger males out now in one hit.............preferably out of earshot of the mothers.   They may thank you for taking the little horrors away !!!!!
You could leave the smaller ones for a bit longer but watch them carefully.
You will soon see which mothers are bothered.......most willnot be........you will have to milk the ones without any kids of course.
Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: fifixx on April 25, 2013, 08:11:25 am
I'm going to stick to lambivac and wormer plan for tomorrow but tonight when I bring them in I think I'll make a biggish pen in the barn and put the 2 big boys in it for the night. Then they can still see their mums and lie next to them with just a (very high!) hurdle between thembut not be a risk...then if that works I'll wean them and a couple of others at the weekend.
Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: fifixx on April 25, 2013, 06:49:50 pm
With much running and then god-almighty kid-goat yelling when caught, we managed to put the 3 biggest in a small pen until tomorrow when they will go to a different field.  they seem fine and their mum's aren't really bothered, one is lying on the other side of the pen with her female kid, but one is miles away (probably thankful).  We tried putting one of the smaller (but same age) boys in but we took him out as he is much smaller than these 3 and have given him a week's reprieve!
Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 25, 2013, 11:46:34 pm
They look quite a good size and pretty content.
Title: Re: Tips for weaning
Post by: fifixx on April 26, 2013, 05:40:16 pm
Whew, everything (41 goats in all) vaccinated, wormed and anti-cocci'd.  boys still in mini-pen and other goats out all day - will bring them all in and the boys will go to the field tomorrow - I thought they seemed quite chilled, so letting them have a quiet day because of all the hullaballo.....

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