[Heyup]

I've had my two lovely wee wethers for just under a week; they were acquired from another forum poster  .  They're sweet boys, very well-grown, and altogether a delight to have around.  They're approximately 12 weeks old but are behaving a bit like overgrown babies as they were separated from Mum just before I got them.  They're eating extremely well and getting an occasional 'comfort' bottle of milk replacer (when they start latching onto my fingers and thumbs I figure it's something they'd enjoy, bless...). 

I've been spending a lot of time with them 'gentling' them and getting to know them, as they were part of a large group who needed new homes and I'm not sure they've had that much one-to-one human contact before.

Obviously, I need to be able to get close to them to carry out ordinary 'husbandry' duties; worm them, hoof-trim, vaccinate etc.  I've plenty of experience with tame adult goats but these are my first little ones.

Is there any tasty treat your goat absolutely loves?  My dear-departed pack goat  would do anything for a tiny corner of a hobnob biscuit, and if I waved a banana at her she'd come flying down the field with ears a-flapping... 

The new-some two-some aren't quite as easily won over / impressed, so I'd love to know what you other goat-keepers use as a tasty treat that can't be resisted!

Please let me know so I can continue to tempt my gorgeous boys to rush up to me without disappointment!

[Bumblebear]

Bananas win everytime.

[mojocafa]

I would go with bananas too & Sultanas

[sokel]

Yes bananas here aswell skins aswell as the flesh  , we buy them in by the full boxes 

[jaykay]

Sultanas here.

One of my new boys already digs in my pockets for them 

[benkt]

Comfrey - we have a large bed of it just opposite the gate to the goat field and pulling a few stalks off and dangling them over the gate always brings them running.

[Anke]

Yes anything green like branches, comfrey here too, thistles etc... but also bananas, apples, toast, with a bit of honey on (if goat is off colour for example), oat cakes, haven't tried raisins yet...
 
If they are still only 12 weeks old they would do well on some milk, maybe a couple of bottles a day....

[fifixx]

willow branches - and, bonus, it apparently has a calming effect!

[plumseverywhere]

Bind weed, willow, rose bush leaves, a tiny bit of biscuit or cracker, chopped up carrot.

[Carl f k]

Holly and rich tea bikkies

[Lesley Silvester]

Mine like the rich tea as well. And sultanas, bread, bananas (My friends save banana skins for them), cake, apple, carrot.

I've read a lot on here about weaning at 12 or 15 weeks. I have always left mine with mum and let them wean themselves and both give up suckling at around 6 months. I bought in my last kid at five weeks and bottle fed her until she decided to give up at seven months, although the last month I gradually watered down the milk until she was drinking water from the bottle.

[Heyup]

Many thanks to all for all your suggestions....  Bananas I knew about (and my two boys aren't as enthusiastic as my maiden doe used to be) - but sultanas are going down a treat!

I'll be trying apple and carrot and rich tea biccies etc. too.

Mad Goatwoman of Madeley...  Thanks so much for your advice!  I was led to believe that a lot of dairy-type goats are weaned at approximately 8 weeks - please do correct me if I'm wrong.

I would have taken Mum with my wee lads, but she was a much more viable prospect for a new home in full milk, without wethers attached (could have been different if they'd been nannies)...  Hence me acquiring the boys, whom I want for pasture maintenance and to become pets / pack / harness goats - we can all dream!!

Isn't it just lovely how goats assert their personalities so rapidly?  Timothy, one wether, wants a lot of playtime and stroking already (neither were bottle-fed as kids), whereas his rather more timid little bro (Bertie) really does like a bottle at least twice a day...  If it's out of sight of his disdainful brother, who won't touch a plastic nipple??!!

Hey ho!

[Lesley Silvester]

Goats are wonderful and yes, they do have their very different personalities.

[cuckoo]

Mine love the flavoured horse treats but they are a bit pricey when you need to divvy them out to 38!

[kim]

My lot love monkey nuts  in shell