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Feeding an FF

Posted by Katharine Norton on January 31, 2015 at 8:01am in Kidding

Hi there,

I have a doe just kidded her first, and she is SO hungry!  It is dry season here (Nigeria) so there is no grass.  However, I can give her veg scraps, bean pods, ground maize, dried peanut leaves and some fresh leaves.  She just loves the maize and would eat and eat it, to the point that she won't eat her favourite leaves because she knows there is maize hiding around somewhere!  I picked up with minerals that you can just leave them out for goats to take when they need them, but is it true with food as well?  Should I feed her what she wants, because she knows she needs it, or do I need to regulate what she is being given?  Should I leave out loads of food so she eats and has leftovers so I know she's had enough, or should I ration it? 

Thanks for any advice

Katharine

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Replies

  • Katharine Norton February 6, 2015 at 3:56am

    Hi Glenna, the black one kidded, here is the link from when I posted....

    http://nigeriandwarfgoats.ning.com/forum/topics/baby-frankincense

    Wow, looking at the photo there I can't get over how much he has grown in just a month!  She just had the one, but then its her first so I guess that's typical.

  • Glenna Rose February 5, 2015 at 9:12pm

    Sweet!

    I must have missed it if you posted.  How many babies did your FF have and which one is she?

  • Katharine Norton February 3, 2015 at 5:02am

    Thanks Emily!!

  • Emily February 2, 2015 at 1:27pm

    They are so pretty Katharine! 

  • Katharine Norton February 2, 2015 at 6:05am

    2771475306?profile=RESIZE_1024x10242771475391?profile=originalHi Michael, here are our 2, how do you think they compare?  I read that the Nigerian goats in America were bred over many years - I guess the ones here have not been selectively bred so much so maybe they're a bit more rough and ready.....

    Thanks again Patty, I'll keep a good eye on her.  I forgot to add to the food list that people here encouraged me to give them salt and locally made potash which help the rumen. 

    Thanks once again for the tips, I love the blog!!

    Katharine

  • Michael Garwood February 1, 2015 at 8:24pm

    Katherine,

    I know this is not a response to your questions, but is there a chance you could post a photo of your "Nigerian" Nigerians?

    Most curious how they look in comparison....

    Thanks,

    Michael

  • Patty Meyer February 1, 2015 at 3:43pm

    Katherine, you're welcome.  I'd be very careful with any grain that's ground.  It is harder on their system if it's ground.  It causes bloat more easily.  They need roughage that their rumen can work to digest.  Just go easy on that grain.  I'd make sure her belly is full of good roughage from plants/hay before giving her the grain, and only slowly go up in the amount you're giving.  If you go slowly, you should be able to tell if she's doing well with it.  Very best wishes to you. :)  When you really start getting the milk, you'll be so happy it won't matter if they think you're crazy. :)  You're in great company here!

  • Katharine Norton February 1, 2015 at 12:36pm

    Thanks Patty, "adventures" is a good way to describe it!  I'd love to find an organisation here that teaches about goats - I have a few neighbours I can ask the ocassional thing, but no-one is milking them, they think I'm mad!  Maize is corn - I think - its not sweetcorn, its a bit tougher and chewier than that.  I think the part they are eating is husks from the grain, but I'm not exactly sure as its all ground up.  I'll keep an eye on Zeeray and see how she goes!!  Thanks for your comments, Katharine

  • Patty Meyer January 31, 2015 at 8:27pm

    It really depends on what the foods are.  Maize is corn, right???  Or, like corn?  Is it the actual grain, or the plant itself? I'd say that most anything that is green browse you should be able to let her eat all she wants.  There are things even then that will possibly cause a problem for her if given too much of.  I have done that to my girls.  When they're able to graze an area with lots of things in it, they never seem to eat too much of anything.  If they're in a dry lot situation and dependent on you bringing them things, then they might eat too much of one thing.

    Grains are different than browse though.  She could definitely eat too much of any grain, and if left to her own devices she most certainly will.  That could cause her some extreme discomfort, and could even kill her.  With straight dried corn (if that's what the maize is), I'm not sure how much would be good for her as I've never used much corn, but if it were me I'd start with about 1 to 1.5 cups in the A.M. and P.M. and see how she did.  She will act like she's starving any time she sees grain, because it's like candy to her.  Irresistable!  Watch her body cindition and go from there.  If she gets diarrhea stop the grain until it goes away, then start again with less and increase slowly.   If she starts to get soft stool and you see undigested grain in it, cut back a little bit.  

    I'd concentrate on the browse as much as possible and increase that before the grain.  It sounds like you should keep up with the minerals because it's hard to regulate what they're getting without a proper grain mix for goats.

    I'm sure you'll get some more answers to help you out here as well.

    I wonder if you could find an organization that works with people in your area, teaching them to raise goats.  That might really be helpful for you since your part of the world has some unique challenges that most of us here might not be familiar with. 

    I must say, I've been enjoying hearing about your adventures with the goats. :)

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