Do Baby Goats Need Water? (Answered!)

 

In some cases, giving a young mammal water too early in development can be detrimental to their health, but for others it’s perfectly fine and sometimes necessary.

Where do goats fall in this spectrum?

While it’s well known that baby goats live on their mother’s milk like other mammals, you may also be wondering, do baby goats drink water?

This also goes for babies that are bottle fed, whether they’re drinking real goat milk or a milk replacement.

It’s not really until they transition to eating a diet of pasture and pellet that they’ll need to majorly supplement their water intake.

 

At what age do baby goats drink water?

For the first few weeks of a baby goat’s life, they will get most of their necessary water content from their mother’s milk.

In between feedings, a baby goat may pause activities to quench its thirst or satisfy curiosity by drinking water.

You can start to transition baby goats away from dependence on their mother at around 6 to 8 weeks of age, when they will begin eating a diet similar to that of an adult goat.

This is also when they’ll start to rely on water as their main source of hydration, though some may show interest in it sooner.

Regardless, it’s important to make sure that they have water available to them no matter what stage they’re at.

This shouldn’t be a problem because they will live alongside postpartum does for a majority (if not all) of their young lives.

 

How much water do baby goats need?

After 30-45 weeks of age, baby goats will drink an average of 2 gallons of water per goat per day.

This amount will differ based on activity level, breed, and age.

It can be a hard transition for some baby goats.

Water just isn’t as enticing as the milk or formula they’ve subsisted on for the first few weeks of their life.

Some kids will take to water much easier than others, but there will also be some days when even the thirstiest kid isn’t very interested in drinking water.

At that point, you may have to intervene and make a few adjustments to attract the babies to the water trough and ensure that they’re drinking.

There are a few tricks you can use to get them to drink more water.

 

How do I get my baby goats to drink water?

Baby goats risk dehydration if they don’t stay adequately hydrated.

For this reason, it’s important to ensure that kids of the appropriate age are drinking water daily.

Make sure water is always within their reach by supplying them with more than one water source.

A bucket here, a trough there, and a rubber tank nearby will increase the odds that they will stop playing and exploring long enough to take a sip or two.

You can also add molasses, honey, or sugar to the water to entice them to drink.

Goats, like humans, have a sweet tooth and will happily drink water if it tastes good to them.

Add a few tablespoons per gallon to encourage them to drink.

You may have to lure them to the water by offering a sample of the sweetener or the sweetened water at first, but once they figure out that they have a treat available to them, it will probably be hard to keep them away.

 

Can baby goats drink water from a bottle?

Technically, yes. Baby goats can drink water from a bottle, however, it’s usually best to avoid this unless you’re concerned about low water intake and suspect that the goat is dehydrated.

Otherwise, in normal circumstances, you can offer it to them in buckets and troughs like adult goats.

As long as they can reach the water and the container is regularly cleaned and filled with fresh water, it’s okay for them to drink.

It’s recommended to keep baby goats away from natural freshwater sources, especially ones with running water, until they are strong enough to swim or stand up if they should fall in.

If you do decide to offer your kids water from a bottle, be cautious.

A few sips at a time are okay if they are struggling to drink water from other sources, but don’t let them suck down a whole bottle the way they’re used to if they’ve been bottle fed milk or formula.

Why?

Too much water is dangerous for goats, in the same way, it’s dangerous for most other mammals.

Overhydration and water intoxication are both dangerous possibilities that a goat can face if allowed to drink too much water.

 

What are the signs of water intoxication in baby goats?

Water intoxication occurs when a goat drinks too much water and upsets the body’s natural balance of minerals.

This disrupts their natural bodily processes and puts them at risk for serious illness or even death.

To keep your baby goats safe, you should familiarize yourself with symptoms of this potentially fatal condition.

Water intoxication can happen to any goat, no matter how they’re drinking it, but it’s more common in young goats drinking water from a bottle.

If you notice any of these signs in your baby goats, contact your veterinarian immediately to determine whether or not you need to seek treatment.

Whether your baby goats are newborns or already a few months old, they can drink water and should have it on hand at all times.