How to Teach a Kid Goat to Drink Water

Teaching a kid, or a baby goat, to drink water requires time and patience. It is not a straightforward process because it is mainly a skill that it learns by itself, or from copying other goats. However, you can assist the kid goat so that it wants to drink water, and knows where to get it from. That way, you can ensure it can look after itself and be a happy member of the herd.

Things You'll Need

  • Large bucket
  • Shallow metal container
  • Baby bottle
  • Cable ties
  • Water
  • Pinch of salt
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a bucket with fresh water against a wall of the kid's pen. Secure it to the wall to make sure it does not tip over when knocked by the kid or any other goats.

    • 2

      Fill a metal container with warm water. Go to the pen with this vessel and an empty baby bottle, normally used for feeding the kid milk.

    • 3

      Hold the nipple of the baby bottle to the mouth of the goat. Just as it begins sucking, push the bottle down into the warm water to change the position of the goat's head. Entice it to the warm water.

    • 4

      Try and get the kid to drink from the metal container by repeating Step 3 several times until it understands that it is able to drink the water instead of sucking from the bottle.

    • 5

      Add a pinch of salt to the water if the goat is not enticed into drinking it. The salt will make the kid thirstier, and it will be encouraged to drink the water. Do this once every couple of days.

    • 6

      Lead the kid goat over to the bucket of water, and splash the water around a bit so that it feels it on its lips and nose. Do this every morning, lunchtime and evening so that it becomes familiar with the sensation of the water, and where to find it.