The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Bluff on April 04, 2017, 07:51:32 pm
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I am sure this is a stupid question but I can't find the answer anywhere.
At what age do I need to make water available to the kids? The waterfor our does is high enough up for them not to poop in it meaning the kids can't reach. Thank you
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I would have some in reach from even a couple of weeks old. They may just be tasting rather than drinking it but they do put their noses to it occasionally. And if not then, when?
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I don't put in water very early. My goat kids are on 4 x 500ml milk until three months old, so I will normally start to put in a bucket a couple of weeks before the milk fees are reduced to 3 x 500ml. By that time they are old enough not to mess around with it too much and danger of drowning is less. Just the way it works for me.
PS.: My kids are inside until 12 weeks as well.
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Thank you. It's the fear of drowning that stops me putting it out for them earlier.
Don't feel quite so daft now :D
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I give mine access to water quite early, from week old.I use small clip on plastic poultry dish which clips on to side of large dog crate which I use for young kids next to mothers pen, and hay between crate and shed wall also same clip on dish with creep. Now at a month old kids have own pen and bucket of water, hayrack plastic tub nailed to wall to hold creep, bucket of chaff to pick at.
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Thank you. It's the fear of drowning that stops me putting it out for them earlier.
Don't feel quite so daft now :D
I think it's only at birth or when they are finding their feet there would be a risk of drowning. But useful to know when others offer water, i leave kids on their mums, and some of the buckets are a bit high, but I'll let them out with mums when weather is nice, and I'll take note if they are playing with the tub outside.