Grain

I am picking up my goats tomorrow. One of the bucklings I had reserved died of pneumonia, so I may get his half-brother who is 3 y.o. My question is this: when I was talking to the breeder I am purchasing from, she told me she feeds Noble Goat to the boys and 12% All-stock to the girls, plus BOSS and oats. How can I wean them of all this grain?! The bucling is 4 months old, so I can see him needing grain for another few months, but I thought bucks didn't get grain unless they were seriously breeding a whole herd o' does. And from what I have read here and elsewhere...does get grain in the last few weeks of pregnancy, then serious grain during lactation. Right? So now I have Noble Goat (16%!) and All-stock and BOSS on hand since they've been used to it...and alfalfa pellets and timothy/alf hay...so what do I do? I'm afraid to just cut them off completely. Stress of moving (2 hour drive) and new pastures (full of lespedeza, which she does not have). Deborah, Cheryl, Rachel, anyone...help?!

Do they need hay if they are on pasture? If I'm outside, they congregate at the gate and baa at me (how to you spell a goat noise?) and act like they are starving...with half an acre of pasture right behind them! Sissy's bag looks like it is about 1/5 the size of the udders I have seen in pictures of does in milk. Also, when we put them in the barn last night (the girls) it doesn't appear that they ate any hay. So this is what everyone got this AM...boys a handful of Noble Goat and a handful of BOSS and some alfalfa pellets, plus top dressed vits/probios type powder. Girls each got a handful of 12%all-stock plus a handful of BOSS and some alf pellets and powder. The buckling looks *round* to me but I have no comparison. The buck acts mildly depressed. The girls want out because apparently the grass is always greener...I did let them out for a little while last night, which nearly gave my husband a heart attack until he realized I was the pied piper of goat land if I shook some grain at them.

Replies

Jackie K July 9, 2011 at 2:49pm

Everyone is doing well. The buck has perked up a lot. We bought him a picnic table today to play on and shade under. It is SO hot and humid here, everyone is panting. It drives me nuts when they lay in the sun and pant, with shade two feet away! The buckling has never been anything but perky...he just looks like he swallowed a small soccer ball. The breeder told me to worm everyone again 10-14 days after I brought them home and to use valbazen so I am going to have to order that online. And a drencher, as I assume one uses a drencher to get it down their throats. I have noticed a few clumpy poos, but from what I read the whole moving stress could cause that. All my worrying aside, I absolutely adore my little goaties! I will post pictures when I figure out how...good thing I have a teenager!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle July 7, 2011 at 9:31pm

Yes, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Sounds like either they don't like your hay, or they don't need it. They don't necessarily need hay if they have free access to pasture, especially if they're not milking. Keep an eye on the boys. You can post pictures if you're worried that they don't look right.
Jackie K July 7, 2011 at 8:38am

Do they need hay if they are on pasture? If I'm outside, they congregate at the gate and baa at me (how to you spell a goat noise?) and act like they are starving...with half an acre of pasture right behind them! Sissy's bag looks like it is about 1/5 the size of the udders I have seen in pictures of does in milk. Also, when we put them in the barn last night (the girls) it doesn't appear that they ate any hay. So this is what everyone got this AM...boys a handful of Noble Goat and a handful of BOSS and some alfalfa pellets, plus top dressed vits/probios type powder. Girls each got a handful of 12%all-stock plus a handful of BOSS and some alf pellets and powder. The buckling looks *round* to me but I have no comparison. The buck acts mildly depressed. The girls want out because apparently the grass is always greener...I did let them out for a little while last night, which nearly gave my husband a heart attack until he realized I was the pied piper of goat land if I shook some grain at them.
Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres July 6, 2011 at 10:55pm

woops! Sorry I didn't specify the weaning on dry does... I meant that.

I actually HAVE heard of guard emus. lol I hear they are really good at it too!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle July 6, 2011 at 6:17pm

Congratulations!

Depending upon when that doe freshened, she might have more milk than you think. They all look pretty loose when kids are on them, so if it fills up by morning, you can milk her if you want. You might be able to milk her just once a day. Or if it doesn't fill up, then don't worry about it. If she's only giving them 1/2 cup a day, you can just stop. That's not a lot.

No worried about overeating on pasture unless they're on an alfalfa hay field or something super rich. But if you have a typical pasture salad bar with a lot of different grasses and weeds, they'll do just fine. If you have bushes or small trees, they'll be like kids in a candy store.
Jackie K July 6, 2011 at 3:58pm

Well, everyone is home! They are all happily grazing away in their new pastures. She was feeding 1/2 to 1/4 cup a day (1/4 cup to the small doe and buckling). One of the does is not completely dried off...has been still letting her kid nurse occasionally! Very slack udder. I assume I just don't touch it and start decreasing the grain, right? Also, can they overeat on pasture? How do I prevent it if they can? Thanks for all your help!
Deborah Niemann-Boehle July 6, 2011 at 10:51am

If those does are not currently in milk, I'd probably follow Rachel's suggestion and half the amount of grain every few days. They should be fine. In fact, they're probably overweight if they're dry and getting grain.

And no, I have never heard of a guard emu! That sounds interesting.
Jackie K July 6, 2011 at 7:57am

I won't know the exact amounts she is feeding until I get there later this morning. As for the ages of the does, they are 4, 3 and 1+. The two older does have had several kiddings and have been milked...the younger doe is small and has not yet been bred. It is weird-I have dogs, cats, horses and chickens-I've given birth and got my son to 17 with no major mishaps (knock on wood!) and I am a registered nurse. And I am scared to freakin' death that I am going to kill these goats! Really idiotically, trembling frightened. I'll probably have a nervous breakdown if I try to get a guard llama. I *really* want this to work out, I really want us to become more self-reliant.

On a side note...some guy has a herd of goats next to the Tractor Supply store here and in addition to Pyrs he has a guard emu! Anyone ever heard of that?
Deborah Niemann-Boehle July 5, 2011 at 8:21pm

How old are the does, and/or what's their breeding/milking history?
Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres July 5, 2011 at 6:21pm

Can you share the amounts she's been feeding?

I have not had to wean from grains, but if I were to try, I'd start by giving 1/2 amounts, and making sure their hay is available at all times. Then I'd reaccess every week or few days and keep 1/2ing the amounts until they are off grains, and onto what you want them to be on. You're right that the younger buckling needs to be on grains for a few more months.

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