December 22nd, 2024

From Bottles to Hay: How to Feed Your New Baby Goat
When you bring home a baby goat from Last Chance Ranch, they will be bottle-trained and require milk for at least 8 weeks, with 16 weeks being the ideal timeframe. To support healthy growth, development, and future breeding success, it’s important to follow a structured feeding plan that includes milk, hay, minerals, and fresh water. This guide outlines the best practices for feeding your baby goat while following our experience and recommendations at Last Chance Ranch.

 Bottle Feeding Your baby goat provides essential nutrients and helps build a strong bond between you and your baby goat. Here’s a detailed feeding schedule to take your baby goat all the way to weaning:
0-4 Weeks

• Feed every 4 hours, 6 feedings spread out over 24 hours.
• Sample Schedule: 5 AM, 8 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM, 11 PM.
• Use warm milk and follow the order of preference for milk sources:
  1. Fresh, raw goat milk
  2. Store-bought pasteurized goat milk
  3. Whole cow's milk
  4. Goat milk formula (optional—discuss with your vet).

While goat formula is more affordable and accessible, we don’t have direct experience with it, but it remains a viable choice for some goat owners. 4-6 Weeks

• Reduce feedings to every 6 hours, 4 feedings throughout the day.
• Sample Schedule: 6 AM, 11 AM, 5 PM, 9 PM.

6-12 Weeks

• Feed every 8 hours, 3 bottles in a 24-hour period.
• Sample Schedule: 11 AM, 5 PM, 9 PM.

12-16 Weeks

• Reduce to every 12 hours, 2 feedings each day.
• Sample Schedule: 11 AM, 9 PM.​

16 Weeks and Beyond

• Continue to reduce feeding frequency until your goat is fully weaned off bottles.
• Gradually transition to eating hay and solid food exclusively.

Here is a helpful chart from Little Avalon Farm:

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Introducing Hay to Your Baby Goat
By 3-4 weeks, your baby goat’s rumen is functioning and able to digest hay. However, even before 3 weeks, goats begin nibbling hay, which helps prepare their rumen for solid food digestion.

• Why Early Hay Introduction Matters:
  Baby goats practice nibbling hay to stimulate and develop their rumen, even if they aren’t digesting it fully yet. This early practice sets the foundation for efficient hay digestion later on.
• What Hay Should You Feed?
  At Last Chance Ranch, we feed our baby goats a mix of:
  • Alfalfa
  • Orchard or Bermuda Grass Hay

Offer hay in small amounts to encourage interest and ensure proper rumen development.
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Loose Minerals
Providing loose minerals is critical for overall health and development. At Last Chance Ranch, we recommend:

• For Breeding Goats: Use Duraferm loose minerals.
• For Pet Goats: Use Sweetlix Meat Maker or Milk Magnum loose minerals, as these are formulated specifically for pet goats rather than breeding stock.

Always make sure that fresh, free-choice minerals are available at all times to meet your baby goat's nutritional needs.

Fresh Water
Goats need fresh, clean water at all times. This is especially important as goats transition to solid food, supporting proper digestion and nutrient absorption. Always ensure that your baby goat has access to fresh water, whether during milk feedings or after nibbling hay.
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Supplements
Depending on your baby goat’s growth and development, you may want to add vitamin or probiotic supplements to her diet. Consult your vet or breeder to choose a supplement that best matches your goat’s specific needs and health goals.

Goat Formula Option
Although we don’t have direct experience with goat formula, it is a viable choice for many breeders. Goat formula is often more affordable and readily available, making it a convenient substitute. Talk to your vet to find the best formula for your baby goat’s needs and development.

Final Thoughts
We at Last Chance Ranch recommend following a structured, balanced approach that prioritizes healthy growth and development. With a combination of:

• Milk feeding (bottle-fed)
• Hay (first-cut alfalfa and orchard grass)
• Loose minerals (Duraferm or Sweetlix options)
• Fresh water

you’ll be setting your baby goat up for success, whether you’re raising her for dairy, breeding, or companionship.
By following these feeding guidelines, you'll ensure your baby goat grows strong, healthy, and ready to thrive in any goat-raising goals you have. If you ever have questions or need advice, we’re here to help—let’s raise strong, happy goats together! 🐐

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