Sigh . . . apparently Purina has created another Noble Goat feed in addition to the medicated feed that is already pretty popular. It is not medicated and is made specifically for goats in milk. It's called Noble Goat Lactation High Fiber, and here is the info from Purina:
http://goat.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/PRODUCTS/NobleGoatLactationHighFiber/default.aspx
A couple things to keep in mind about this one. Like the medicated Noble Goat, it contains almost half as much copper as Purina Goat Chow. It is meant to be a "complete feed," meaning that your goat will only need 1-2 pounds of additional forage per day, which a goat could easily get on pasture. In fact, if they are on pasture, they might not eat as much of this feed as they need to get the nutrients they need. There are no feeding instructions on that web page, but it sounds like the recommended amount of feed will be quite high. Although the original Noble Goat feed appeared to be inexpensive compared to Goat Chow, the goats actually needed to consume a lot more of it to get the same nutrients, actually making it far more expensive to feed per head.
To confuse people even more, it looks like the bag is exactly the same as the Noble Goat that is currently on the market. I've pulled out the feed tag that I have in my files and realized that it actually is called "Purina Noble Goat Grower 16 DQ 0.0015%" so buyers will have to look at the feed tag on the bottom of the bag to know what they are buying. (The DQ part is for the decoquinate that is the medication in the feed.) On the Noble Goat Grower tag, it says, "Do not feed to goats producing milk for food," which we know SO MANY people don't see!!!
Noble Goat Lactation is only available in certain markets, and I didn't see it at Tractor Supply yesterday, so if any of you see it in your stores, could you check it out and let us know what it says on the tag (on the bottom of the bag) for feeding recommendations? I'm sure we'll start getting questions about it when it's more readily available.
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I would get a bag of what they are use to and give them that same amount for a week or so, maybe 2 and then wean them down 'til it runs out. Yes! I agree that they will have enough stress and changes and it certainly will not hurt to give them one more bag.
I "SEE" it. Things like that work good for "CREEP" feeders too! For anyone who doesn't know those are feeders that little animals can eat from but larger animals can't fit their heads into. That late hour stuff does it to me too!
Considering some of the things that have happened with pet/animal food the last few years, I would really want to know where Purina (who was one of the offenders) gets their food (all parts of it). Too much of our animal food is starting to have ingredients from China with horrible results for some of the animals.
I consider myself very fortunate that the grain mix I buy is grown and mixed locally by a decades-old family business. Most of their hay even comes from their own farm. It is my hope, even prayer, that they will be there for at least as long as I have my precious little charges.
With that said, regarding a feeder, is there any reason why old pitchforks could not be incorporated into a feeder? I can see the points of the tines fastened securely between two boards (1x4s) and being the front where the hay is accessed. The other three sides (and top part of the front) could be plywood or other wood and could even have a hinged roof that extends over far enough to protect the opening from the rain. With the pitchforks, one can choose the spacing, even use a stall fork if the distances are better. While typing, I'm thinking something like that could also be worked out with aluminum electrical conduit spaced properly - therein lies a danger, too many ideas. I'll blame the late hour.<g>
Sorry I didn't see your earlier post. Is there an unmedicated "grower"? A wether really doesn't need any grain-based feed at all. They do fine on pasture and grass hay.
Kathy Ballance said:
I see nothing wrong with that, in fact it sounds really cute. I would make the holes a little small because they ravel and will get bigger on there own. In fact, if I could find some I could put those in my kidding pens, but I don't know where I can get them around here. I will start checking. In fact that reminds me of something else I thought of and have not done yet that will work. I will have to fix one up and make you guys a pic. It is a really weird one!
Has anyone used a hay bag? Is there any reason we cannot make our own out of a burlap bag?
Yes it is plastic and I suppose like anything there are always some risk involved but I haven't given it any concern because mine have all kinds of plastic water buckets feed containers other hay containers and I have never seen any sign of them eating on this stuff. They all seem to be busy eating hay, tree bark, leaves and browse and chewing their cud etc. to be concerned with eating plastic. I don't guess this is a real common problem, since I haven't noticed people complaining. Is eating things like plastic a sign of a mineral deficiency or something. I mean I know they love to MOUTH everything or FEEL IT with their mouths, but goats really don't eat everything!
Margaret, I just saw your hay basket. Is it made of plastic? Is there a need to be concerned abt the goats chewing on the basket? My does had access to an empty plastic kitty litter bucket (It was filled with dirt and grasses) last week and they chew it to pieces--I was afraid one of them might have injested pieces of the plastic, but so far none of them have been ill. Do you not worry about them chewing or eating the plastic?
Margaret, this was dry and crunchy. Also our ocean water here in Maine is very cold. I've been in southern ocean water and it's way too warm for me.
How beautiful! I am glad they liked it. I too recently brought home a handful of SOMETHING but it was straight out of the water and not dry and they did not seem interested so I figure either I brought home the wrong kind of weed or they only want it if it is dry!
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