How to Wean Kits
📝 Summary
Normally owners consider weaning kits around one month of age. Weaning eases the doe's burden and supports the kits' growth, since milk alone can no longer meet their needs. Here is how to do it.
1 The Purpose of Weaning
After birth, kits get nutrition mainly from milk, so weaning timing matters — not too early, not too late. Normally weaning starts at 30–35 days. It eases the doe’s burden and fits the breeding cycle, but more importantly, growing kits need more nutrition that milk alone cannot provide, making weaning necessary.
2 Weaning Methods
The two main methods are one-time weaning and split weaning, chosen by the kits’ strength and size. If the litter is small and uniform, use one-time weaning — separate the whole litter from the doe at a suitable time.
Split weaning suits numerous, uneven litters: wean the stronger kits first and let weaker ones nurse a few more days, then wean them once stronger.
3 Weaning Precautions
Do not move just-weaned kits out of the original shed at once; keep them there a few more days, because they are timid with poor adaptation and a sudden move causes stress — lowered activity, poor appetite — even easy death.
During weaning, watch the kits daily for abnormal behavior. Feed easy-to-digest, nutritious food in small, frequent meals so they adapt gradually, then increase by size.
About 3 days before weaning, reduce the doe’s concentrated and succulent feed and switch to quality dry hay to help her stop lactating and prevent mastitis.
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