Hello all,
Well, I brought home our 2 little doe girls last night at 9 weeks of age. The breeder gave me 2 gallons of milk and suggested to continue through 3 months. I set up a temporary lodging in a heated garage and felt I would keep them there until it stays warmer at night (now getting down to 32).
So, my question....I have not been lazy and promise I have read through the forums for answers first.
My problem is that there is so much varying information and I am confused with so many considerations.
I want to be concise so others can find this forum and get complete answers. so...here goes:
Scenario: 2 baby does that just left mom:
Hay:
1. Type: right now I have timothy and alfalfa: What's the difference? How much/how often?
2. I have purina Goat minerals and Sweetlix meatmaker: placed in open pvc pipe free choice. Is this ok?
3. I have baking soda set out free choice. Do little ones need this?
4. I have read "goat rashion", "grains", Purina Goat Chow. Is that all the same?? How much should I feed per day in specific quanitity? I have Purina Goat Chow....do I need grains as well or is this the same (sorry for the density.....My first ruminants)
5. I got Kelp.....How much, how to feed, how often?
6. I got vitamin B fortified. It comes in an injectable bottle but was told to feed by mouth. how much, how often??
If we could get some experienced voices, then I am willing to type a summary at the end of the blog so all other nubies/greenhorns like me can find this forum and be relieved.
Patches and Peaches are doing great (see photos to make sense of names)...a little freaked out from being away from the heard. They were with 4 mom's and at least 8 kids. Quiet for them in the garage. Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks all!
Steve
Replies
Hej from Sweden,
I just love this site! I just read your entry and thank you so much! Great information!
KSweden
Great information Deborah! Thanks for taking the time. I feel much better knowing that they are getting all that they should. They are so precious, and my little girl Ava, in the photo, absolutely loves them. We have limited her contact so the kids don't get to stressed. I did get one of them to take a bottle, the other insists on taking it out of the pan. As long as they are getting it, I suspect is does not matter right? I have 2 gallons of goat milk , after that based on the blogs I read, it sounds like cow's milk would be the next best choice. Is this correct? So far they are getting milk in the am and pm. fascinating little creatures! The tri-colored kid jumped form almost stand still and landed on top of the dog house as if it was no effort at all. Surprised me! That means she could jump over the play yard that is the same height, but they are in a heated garage, so no tragedy if she does for the time being. I have read and taken your recommendation on the Goat perma-netting from Premier. Got a great charger and I think it will do great to move them around the very steep back yard. This site is such a great resource!! Thanks again for the time and kindness!
Steve
1. Type: right now I have timothy and alfalfa: What's the difference? How much/how often?
Hay is fed free choice. Alfalfa has more calcium. It's fine for growing babies, but I don't normally feed it to dry does after about six months if I have grass hay available. Timothy is a good grass hay.
2. I have purina Goat minerals and Sweetlix meatmaker: placed in open pvc pipe free choice. Is this ok?
Yes. Minerals are fed free choice. You only need one type of mineral, but I don't think it's a problem to have both available. You can see which one your goats like best.
3. I have baking soda set out free choice. Do little ones need this?
Any ruminant that is getting grain should have baking soda available free choice. It helps keep the rumen balanced.
4. I have read "goat rashion", "grains", Purina Goat Chow. Is that all the same?? How much should I feed per day in specific quanitity? I have Purina Goat Chow....do I need grains as well or is this the same (sorry for the density.....My first ruminants)
Purina Goat Chow is a specific feed. There is also Purina Noble Goat and Dumor Sweet Feed for goats and many others. You only need to feed one, and just make sure it has at least 35 ppm copper, which Purina Goat Chow does. Kids only need 1/2 to 1 cup a day. I base it on their body condition. If they're in good shape, 1/2 cup a day is plenty. You can split it into two feedings.
5. I got Kelp.....How much, how to feed, how often?
Kelp is ideally fed free choice. If they haven't had it, they'll eat it like crazy, and it can be hard to believe that at some point, they'll calm down and stop eating it like candy. But they do. I only have to refill the kelp about as often as I refill the minerals. It's a good source of iodine.
6. I got vitamin B fortified. It comes in an injectable bottle but was told to feed by mouth. how much, how often??
I've never supplemented on a regular basis with Vit. B, and I've never heard of a recommendation to do so. People usually just give it to sick animals to help boost their overall system.
Hope that helps!