Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Raising Kids
Kids, unlike sheep, do not maintain a lasting relationship with their mothers. If left to grow up
in the herd, they spend much of their time with other kids, returning to their mothers only to
suckle, and becoming independent when the milk dries up. After they have had their early co-
lostrum, dairy kids can be taken from their mothers and raised together in a separate nursery
area. They will sleep a lot during the first two weeks of life, then become increasingly active.
Change their litter often, and give them plenty of opportunities to exercise. Kids love to play
on an upturned box, a platform, or a barrel laid on its side.
The nutrition and care kids receive during their first year determines how healthy and pro-
ductive they will be later in life. Kids need to spend as much time as possible outdoors. Be-
cause their young bodies are susceptible to worms and parasites, they should be separated
from adult goats in a pasture that has not been grazed for six months or more. If this is not
possible, a paved run that can easily be cleaned is the next best alternative. Many goat keepers
use portable hutches as kid shelters that can be moved to new pasture for each new group of
kids.
Keep a health record for each kid, beginning with its birth weight, height at the withers, and
heart girth. Weigh the kids every two weeks. An easy way to weigh a kid is to step on a bath-
room scale without the kid, then step on it again holding the kid, and subtract the first weight
from the second.
Spend at least ten minutes a day with your kids and handle them often so they get used to co-
operating with people. Talk to them and use their names so they learn to come when called.
Put a collar on each one, and use it to move the kid where you want it to go. When you need
to inspect a kid or perform a procedure, sit down and hold the kid on your lap or between your
legs.
Feeding kids
Goat keepers swear by a whole range of feeding programs and schedules, most of which seem
to work well. The most important thing is to be consistent and stick to the same method and
feeding schedule every day. Most kids begin eating their first hay after one week and can be
weaned from milk entirely at 8 weeks.
Bottle or pan feeding
