I have just started my herd and I just wanted to hear from everyone on what you feed your herd.I have dumor goat pellets and a few alfalfa pellets. I have just started to add a little purina goat chow too.
We have 8 does, 2 bucks, and a few kids now. It is very cold this year in Chicago area.
Here is what we feed in Lake Sai Farm:
We purchased the organic grains in bulk, then mixed them with organic kelp, molasses. They also have free choice of Golden Minerals, and organic alfalfa hays from local farmers. They are dewormed once a week with organic herb mixed. They are pretty spoiled, but the milk is absolutely delicious. They are little mamas feeding our whole family, from cats, dogs, chickens, and us all loving their milk...
hay should be the first preference for food from what I have read. I fed orchard grass/mix for quite some time. I notice now (3 years down the road) after they have eaten a little grain - they always want the rougher field hay - timothy/fescue mix..... As a mainstay - I feed orchard grass - very little grain (with vitamins/black oil sunflower seeds) A member on here - Jane Wagman - only feeds her goats hay when it rains and they can't forage - and alfalfa pellets on the milk stand (goats in milk) - her goats look awesome. My goats love as a treat - apple, carrots (cut up) - banana peels.
My 2 kids are still on bottle ,but I've introduced them to Timothy hay and ADM Goat pellets because of the pellet analysis which has all that is required ,, and the Lady I bought them from said so LOL
What I do is from 5 to 6 months, I slowly begin to decrease the amount of feed I give until I'm not giving any. I continue to feed them their hay at the regular feeding times, and if you want you could give a small treat, like a carrot stick or apple slice, cellery stalk, kale leaf or organic banana peel...something to take the place of the grain they expect. The five to six months is just a general guide. If they look healthy and in danger of getting a bit plump, I decrease it sooner. If they're on the bottom of the pecking order, and getting less food than the others, I might give them a small handful of grain separately for a while longer.
You haven't mentioned hay, but I assume you are feeding them as much as they want of some type of a grass hay? That is very important, of course, because they're a ruminant animal and need the long fibers in the grass hay to develop their rumen and keep it working properly. I'm sure you already knew that though. :)
Hi Polly! Welcome to the wonderful world of Nigerians and to this group. If you add your question to the forum section, in Goats 101, you'll probably get a lot more responses.
Grain and alfalfa should be used for feeding kids under about 6 months and does in the late stage of pregnancy or in milk. So, if that's what you have, the feeds you're using sound good, I think. I don't know about the dumor, but the purina goat chow is a good choice. I'm pretty sure the dumor feed comes in medicated and unmedicated, so be sure to check that out and don't use the medicated feed on does in milk if you're planning to drink it.
If your goats are dry does, bucks, or young stock over 6 months, all they need is a good grass hay, loose minerals made for goats fed free choice, and fresh water. If they are does and doe kids, you can supply baking soda free choice as well. This will help with the rumen pH. Bucks, however, shouldn't have it as it can increase the risk of urinary calculi.
You can feed a small amount of black oil sunflower seeds if you'd like as a treat, but small. Like a tablespoon a day. They will help supply some minerals and vitamin E.
If you have more questions or want more opinions, just add this question to the forum and more people will see it. :) Best wishes!
Comments
We have 8 does, 2 bucks, and a few kids now. It is very cold this year in Chicago area.
Here is what we feed in Lake Sai Farm:
We purchased the organic grains in bulk, then mixed them with organic kelp, molasses. They also have free choice of Golden Minerals, and organic alfalfa hays from local farmers. They are dewormed once a week with organic herb mixed. They are pretty spoiled, but the milk is absolutely delicious. They are little mamas feeding our whole family, from cats, dogs, chickens, and us all loving their milk...
hay should be the first preference for food from what I have read. I fed orchard grass/mix for quite some time. I notice now (3 years down the road) after they have eaten a little grain - they always want the rougher field hay - timothy/fescue mix..... As a mainstay - I feed orchard grass - very little grain (with vitamins/black oil sunflower seeds) A member on here - Jane Wagman - only feeds her goats hay when it rains and they can't forage - and alfalfa pellets on the milk stand (goats in milk) - her goats look awesome. My goats love as a treat - apple, carrots (cut up) - banana peels.
I just started breeding nigerian /pygmy goats, what is the best feed for them?
My 2 kids are still on bottle ,but I've introduced them to Timothy hay and ADM Goat pellets because of the pellet analysis which has all that is required ,, and the Lady I bought them from said so LOL
What I do is from 5 to 6 months, I slowly begin to decrease the amount of feed I give until I'm not giving any. I continue to feed them their hay at the regular feeding times, and if you want you could give a small treat, like a carrot stick or apple slice, cellery stalk, kale leaf or organic banana peel...something to take the place of the grain they expect. The five to six months is just a general guide. If they look healthy and in danger of getting a bit plump, I decrease it sooner. If they're on the bottom of the pecking order, and getting less food than the others, I might give them a small handful of grain separately for a while longer.
You haven't mentioned hay, but I assume you are feeding them as much as they want of some type of a grass hay? That is very important, of course, because they're a ruminant animal and need the long fibers in the grass hay to develop their rumen and keep it working properly. I'm sure you already knew that though. :)
Hi Polly! Welcome to the wonderful world of Nigerians and to this group. If you add your question to the forum section, in Goats 101, you'll probably get a lot more responses.
Grain and alfalfa should be used for feeding kids under about 6 months and does in the late stage of pregnancy or in milk. So, if that's what you have, the feeds you're using sound good, I think. I don't know about the dumor, but the purina goat chow is a good choice. I'm pretty sure the dumor feed comes in medicated and unmedicated, so be sure to check that out and don't use the medicated feed on does in milk if you're planning to drink it.
If your goats are dry does, bucks, or young stock over 6 months, all they need is a good grass hay, loose minerals made for goats fed free choice, and fresh water. If they are does and doe kids, you can supply baking soda free choice as well. This will help with the rumen pH. Bucks, however, shouldn't have it as it can increase the risk of urinary calculi.
You can feed a small amount of black oil sunflower seeds if you'd like as a treat, but small. Like a tablespoon a day. They will help supply some minerals and vitamin E.
If you have more questions or want more opinions, just add this question to the forum and more people will see it. :) Best wishes!