Bottle-feeding baby goats can be fun and rewarding, but to be successful, adhering to a schedule is necessary. Included is a chart outlining a sample bottle-feeding schedule for Boer and Nubian goat kids showing what to feed, how much, and how often, based on the kid’s age. Equipment recommendations and information on weaning are also provided.
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We prefer dam-raising the goat kids born on our farm, but sometimes bottle feeding is necessary.
When a mother goat rejects her kid, isn’t producing enough milk, or the kid needs a little extra tender, loving care those kids turn into bottle babies.
Bottle-feeding baby goats can be fun and rewarding, but to be successful, adhering to a schedule is necessary. Below is the schedule we use to meet the nutritional needs of the Boer or Nubian bottle kids that we raise. Please note that these amounts are appropriate for standard sized goats, and not miniature breeds.
For more on why we love dam-raising, click here to read our other article!
What to Bottle-Feed a Baby Goat
Baby goats need to have colostrum for the first 24 hours. Colostrum is the first milk produced by the mother and is thick, yellow, and packed with nutrients and antibodies that the baby needs to survive.
The best source of colostrum is the kid’s mother. If you are planning to bottle feed exclusively, you can milk the dam and feed the colostrum to the babies. If that is not an option, colostrum from another dam can be given. We freeze extra colostrum and save it for bottle babies. As a last resort, kid colostrum replacer can be used. Make sure it is specifically formulated for goats and follow the package instructions carefully for mixing.
Once the baby goat is a day old, it can consume whole milk. The best option for bottle feeding baby goats is using fresh goat milk, but whole cow’s milk (red top) is a suitable alternative. In the past, I have doctored up whole cow’s milk from the store by adding one cup of heavy whipping cream and a couple spoonfuls of plain yogurt to it. The heavy cream adds fat and the yogurt provides some probiotics.
Again, as a last resort, kid milk replacer can be used. Make sure it is specifically formulated for goats (not calf milk replacer) and follow the package instructions carefully for mixing.
Bottle-Feeding Equipment for Baby Goats
To bottle-feed a baby goat, you need to have a bottle and a nipple. We prefer to use 20-ounce plastic pop bottles and Pritchard nipples. New Pritchard nipples need to have the tip cut with scissors or an X cut into the end with a razor blade before use. These nipples are long, red, and teat-shaped and the plastic base has a ventilation hole and screws right onto the top of a bottle. They work great!
Most of our kids prefer the Pritchard nipples, but we keep a few other types on hand for the finicky eaters. We have black rubber lamb nipples and gray replacement lambar nipples that we try when a kid is not keen on the bottle.
It is imperative that you keep your bottle-feeding equipment clean to keep your baby goats healthy. A bottle brush and dish soap work well for daily cleaning. You can also run your bottles and nipples through the dishwasher.
Bottle-Feeding Basics
Kids should only be bottle-fed when they are healthy. If a kid is cold, not able to stand, and in poor condition, refrain from feeding him and seek veterinary care.
Before bottle-feeding a baby goat, the colostrum or milk needs to be warmed to their body temperature which is around 102 degrees. To warm bottles for our goats, we run a sink full of hot water and put the full bottles in it (make sure they stay upright) for about 10 minutes. I would not recommend using a microwave because it is easy to scald the milk and it depletes nutrients.
Some kids like to be held like a baby while they are being bottle-fed, while others like to stand on their own feet. You will quickly discover how your kids prefer to be fed. For tips and tricks for bottle-feeding difficult kids, click here to read our other article.
Bottle babies always seem hungry, don’t let them fool you! You might be tempted to overfeed your bottle goat, but that is not a good idea. Overfeeding can lead to floppy kid syndrome, bloat, gastrointestinal upset, enterotoxemia, and even death. Maintain a schedule and only feed at the recommended frequency and amount to avoid preventable health issues.
Starting at two weeks of age, you can introduce your bottle-fed kids to solid food. Providing fresh water, free-choice hay, and a small amount of grain is recommended. It will be several weeks before they consume solid foods in any noticeable amount.
Bottle-Feeding Schedule for Baby Goats
Included below is our bottle-feeding schedule for Boer and Nubian goat kids. It shows what to feed, how much, and how often, based on the kid’s age.
It is important to note that all kids are different and these are just general guidelines that have worked for us.
| Age | What | Amount | Frequency |
| 1 Day | Colostrum | 2-4 ounces | Every 4 hours (6 times a day |
| 2 Days – 1 Week | Milk | 4-6 ounces | Every 4-6 hours (at least 4 times a day) |
| 1 Week – 3 Weeks | Milk | 6-12 ounces | Every 6 hours (4 times a day) |
| 3 Weeks – 6 Weeks | Milk | 12-16 ounces | Every 8 hours (3 times a day) |
| 6 Weeks – 10 Weeks | Mik | 16 ounces | Every 12 hours (2 times a day) |
| 10 Weeks – 12 Weeks | Milk | 16 ounces | Every 24 hours (once daily) |
Weaning a Bottle-Fed Baby Goat
You can wean a bottle-fed baby goat as early as 8 weeks old, but they grow bigger if you prolong milk in their diet a few more weeks. We wean most of the kids on our farm when they are between 10 and 12 weeks old.
Weaning a bottle-fed kid is easier and less stressful for them than weaning those that are dam-raised. To wean a bottle kid, simply reduce the amount of milk that you provide at each feeding and then gradually omit feedings. You don’t want to stop bottle-feeding abruptly because it will shock their digestive system. The rumen needs adequate time to adjust to dietary changes.
At the time of weaning, the kids should be consuming plenty of water, hay, and rationed grain. In addition to their regular feed, baby goats should have access to salt and loose minerals. For more information on options for providing minerals to your goats, click here to read our other article.
Mother, farmer, author, and teacher by trade… She loves tending to things and watching them grow!