for people who love the littlest dairy goats
How much water should 4 does (2 pregnant, 2 that are 9-months old) be drinking daily if it is about 40º during the day? They don't seem to be drinking very much, but I've never had Nigies before.
They have been here 5 days. Is there anything I should be looking for?
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all I know is I give mine hot water morning and night - only 2, so I think it is ok to spoil them. ^^ there will be plenty of water in the bucket, but when I bring the hot stuff - if they're thirsty, they come over and drink quite a bit.
I do put a little apple cider vinegar in it, not really enough to do anything more than likely, and they get tired of the taste and if I notice they are reluctant to drink, I switch for a couple of days to just plain hot water.
I think we pretty much spoil our goats. lol. ^^
Ok, so since I have about the equivalent of 3 pregnant does, if they are only drinking about 2 inches from the top of a 5 gallon container in an entire day, is that ok?
We give them fresh warmish water every morning and check it in the evening.
I would like to put vinegar in it, but I will wait until they drink more first.
Ok, so since I have about the equivalent of 3 pregnant does, if they are only drinking about 2 inches from the top of a 5 gallon container in an entire day, is that ok?
We give them fresh warmish water every morning and check it in the evening.
I would like to put vinegar in it, but I will wait until they drink more first.
Wow, I will see how I can remedy this. We have had snow on the ground until yesterday, but it's nearly gone now, so they may have been eating that. This morning when we let them out, I stood and watched them and only one goat went over to the water when my son put the warm water in it.
I think I will get a smaller container for starters. This is one of those big black rubber ones.
Thank you!
Karilee
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
No, that's not enough. I was about to ask if they could be eating snow, but not if it's 40 degrees, right? You need to change the water in the evening. They will also probably drink more if it's warm in the winter. My individual does in the kidding pens drink 1/2 to 1 gallon a day. The three together are finishing off four gallons.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
Ok, so since I have about the equivalent of 3 pregnant does, if they are only drinking about 2 inches from the top of a 5 gallon container in an entire day, is that ok?
We give them fresh warmish water every morning and check it in the evening.
I would like to put vinegar in it, but I will wait until they drink more first.
Wow, I will see how I can remedy this. We have had snow on the ground until yesterday, but it's nearly gone now, so they may have been eating that. This morning when we let them out, I stood and watched them and only one goat went over to the water when my son put the warm water in it.
I think I will get a smaller container for starters. This is one of those big black rubber ones.
Thank you!
Karilee
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:No, that's not enough. I was about to ask if they could be eating snow, but not if it's 40 degrees, right? You need to change the water in the evening. They will also probably drink more if it's warm in the winter. My individual does in the kidding pens drink 1/2 to 1 gallon a day. The three together are finishing off four gallons.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
Ok, so since I have about the equivalent of 3 pregnant does, if they are only drinking about 2 inches from the top of a 5 gallon container in an entire day, is that ok?
We give them fresh warmish water every morning and check it in the evening.
I would like to put vinegar in it, but I will wait until they drink more first.
I too, dump water every evening. I have a gallon bucket in the stall for 2 goats, it is usually never more than 1/2 or a little more empty. ??
Thank you everyone!
I have switched to a smaller bucket and we filled it up with hot water in the morning and they are still not drinking very much. I don't know what else to do. We do have snow on the ground here and there, maybe they are eating that?
It's really cold here, about 20º today and 6º right now... don't know if that makes any difference.
I've never had this problem before. My other goats never got hot water and they drank all winter. =) We just went out to crack the ice when it froze and fill it up when it was low.
These are not acting sick. They are eating fine. They look great. Am I being overly concerned?
Thank you everyone!
I have switched to a smaller bucket and we filled it up with hot water in the morning and they are still not drinking very much. I don't know what else to do. We do have snow on the ground here and there, maybe they are eating that?
It's really cold here, about 20º today and 6º right now... don't know if that makes any difference.
I've never had this problem before. My other goats never got hot water and they drank all winter. =) We just went out to crack the ice when it froze and fill it up when it was low.
These are not acting sick. They are eating fine. They look great. Am I being overly concerned?
Good news! Last night I decided to try one more thing. We took a second small bucket of hot water inside the shed where they sleep at night and let them in (since it was so cold) and they drank more than half of it! I don't know why. Maybe because it was in out of the wind? Whatever reason, we are going to keep one in there while it's cold. I don't really want them in there during the day normally since they have an outside shelter, but I do want them drinking water. =)
Thanks again for all your help!
Karilee
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2-quart milk pail
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