Baby goats are little bundles of fluffy joy – until you wean them, and they pass all hours of the day (and night) calling for their moms.

Whether you’re bottle-feeding or relying on the doe to raise her baby, there comes a point at which the kid must be separated from its primary source of milk, but when can a baby goat leave its mother?

There are a lot of differing opinions about when the best time is to wean a baby goat. Some say 6-8 weeks is ideal, while others recommend weaning by bodyweight rather than age.

So, when can a baby goat safely leave its mother, and what care does it require, before and after that event, to keep it happy and healthy?