First-timers with 5 month olds

[tabetha]

Hi,

We are first timers, who've successfully weaned our babies and I wanted to check to make sure we were giving them the right feed. We have two boer girls, they are pets.

We feed them alfalfa hay, (3-4 times a day, we can not give them free choice, they are getting fat and seem to eat as much as we give them!) and have minerals and baking soda out for them.....

Are we missing anything? Are we giving them the 'premium hay' when we should be doing something less, or is this good since we dont do grain?

Thanks so much for your time and input!

 

[ksalvagno]

Congratulations on your new goats. Since these girls will be just pets, you could probably feed them a grass hay or alfalfa/grass hay mix. Giving them the minerals and baking soda is great - keep doing that. Some people don't bother with the baking soda but that is up to you. The minerals are critical to have. Also grain is a supplement. If the girls have good condition (not skinny), then they really don't need grain.

 

[tabetha]

How much hay do you give? Like I said, if I were to give free choice hay, my girls would bloat themselves in the first day!

 

[ksalvagno]

I give free choice but my goats don't over eat on it.

 

[Roll farms]

I agree, grass hay or a grass / alfalfa mix hay should be plenty, especially if they're leaning toward the porky side.

Mine don't get any grain and little hay, if there's plenty of good pasture, unless they're preggo / in milk.

 

[Shootingstars]

to BYH!

I am fairly new here myself and have Nigerian dwarf goats. Mine are fed a flake of grass hay morning and night. I also give them a little goat chow because they love it so much.