Farmer Kitty
True BYH Addict
It's my mother's fault! I inherited it from her. Besides, age is creeping on all of us.....wynedot55 said:come on kitty your not that old
Good Grains
- Thread starter alba
- Start date
Farmer Kitty
True BYH Addict
Hmmm, word association.wynedot55 said:
Now, back to topic.
pattyjean73
Chillin' with the herd
My memory sucks. I can't blame it on age. I'm only 35. And I've had memory problems for 35 years. I blame it on my mother. She's never had a good memory either and I think she passed that trait on to me. However, I am somewhat pretty organized. And I use outlook calendar like i breathe air. I write everything in it and have it send me reminders. This works pretty good for me on the days I remember to look at outlook tasks. sighssssss
Now back to grains...
I've heard alot of talk about feeding grains to goats. I've gone out and bought my new herd what I believe to be pretty decent grains. That is... they're not the cheapest available, not the highest available and they're made specifically for goats. Now I would prefer some that is labeled MEAT goats specifically but this will have to do for now.
But now I'm confused. Seems like with more research more questions pop up and more confusion. There's a topic here about "flounder" and I've looked it up and read several articles about it. Main cause of flounder is feeding too much grains (as I understand it). I'm trying to fatten up my herd. Seems to me they are all a bit underweight. I've been feeding alot of small meals of grains to my herd. Mainly for socialization, but also to help put some weight on them. It seems like a good 50% or better of the grains are going to waste.
So I have two questions.
1. How much grains should I be feeding my meat goats?
2. What is a good way to decrease the amount being wasted?
Now back to grains...
I've heard alot of talk about feeding grains to goats. I've gone out and bought my new herd what I believe to be pretty decent grains. That is... they're not the cheapest available, not the highest available and they're made specifically for goats. Now I would prefer some that is labeled MEAT goats specifically but this will have to do for now.
But now I'm confused. Seems like with more research more questions pop up and more confusion. There's a topic here about "flounder" and I've looked it up and read several articles about it. Main cause of flounder is feeding too much grains (as I understand it). I'm trying to fatten up my herd. Seems to me they are all a bit underweight. I've been feeding alot of small meals of grains to my herd. Mainly for socialization, but also to help put some weight on them. It seems like a good 50% or better of the grains are going to waste.
So I have two questions.
1. How much grains should I be feeding my meat goats?
2. What is a good way to decrease the amount being wasted?
Farmer Kitty
True BYH Addict
Not sure on how much to feed goats but, in putting weight on any animal, I would advise to go slow and steady. Don't try to push to much as that is where problems arise, IMO. 
As for grain waste? Are you using a feeder of some sort?
As for grain waste? Are you using a feeder of some sort?
pattyjean73
Chillin' with the herd
I have a metal trough with 4 sections. Originally I had it on the ground and of course they walked in it and urinated/deficated in it so I moved it up off the ground. That seems to have helped to some extent but not totally. I think I may still be feeding them too much. I'll start putting only small amounts in there and not add more until they've eaten it all. Maybe that'll help. Is there a better feeder?
Eventually, I'd like to put inidividual feeder buckets up at "stations" so I can clip each goat to his/her station and feed them that way. Several reasons for this. It seems bucks need to be feed differently than does (pregnant, nursing, or milking does that is). Also, I'll be able to determine which goat eats how much. But at this time I haven't been able to do that. I would have a community mineral bucket and a community baking soda bucket... or can I just mix the baking soda in with the minerals?
Eventually, I'd like to put inidividual feeder buckets up at "stations" so I can clip each goat to his/her station and feed them that way. Several reasons for this. It seems bucks need to be feed differently than does (pregnant, nursing, or milking does that is). Also, I'll be able to determine which goat eats how much. But at this time I haven't been able to do that. I would have a community mineral bucket and a community baking soda bucket... or can I just mix the baking soda in with the minerals?
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
If you are feeding grain, you really should consider speeding up the individual stations......it could be a simple thing to set up, as you described. Better to back off with the grain, or eliminate it altogether, until you can figure this out. The dominant ones are likely getting unsafe amounts while the more timid ones may be getting hardly any. Goats also don't like dirty food unless they are starving, so well-cared for goats won't eat food that they've put their own feet into. That they are wasting food says they are well-fed!
Put the minerals in one container and the baking soda in another, so they can get what they need, when they need it, on an individual basis. The two items are for completely different purposes, and they won't be able to self-medicate if it is mixed.
I use a mineral feeder from TSC that was about $5 and has two compartments that are a perfect size. All four of my goat share one feeder (for the minerals, I mean), and there is one with just baking soda in my one other stall, whoever is confined still has access to the minerals once a day during turn-out time.
Only my lactating goat gets any grain, and it is a scant double handful twice a day.
Put the minerals in one container and the baking soda in another, so they can get what they need, when they need it, on an individual basis. The two items are for completely different purposes, and they won't be able to self-medicate if it is mixed.
I use a mineral feeder from TSC that was about $5 and has two compartments that are a perfect size. All four of my goat share one feeder (for the minerals, I mean), and there is one with just baking soda in my one other stall, whoever is confined still has access to the minerals once a day during turn-out time.
Only my lactating goat gets any grain, and it is a scant double handful twice a day.
D Bar J Acres
Exploring the pasture
Cool, a new goat forum!
The term is FOUNDER, not flounder (isn't that a fish?!). I know for a fact horses founder, think cattle can too. It is caused by a rich diet, or one that is made rich too quickly, i.e. no grain to two pounds a day.
For grain and alfalfa pellets, we use 4" pvc pipe with caps on each end, then take a jigsaw and cut it in half lengthwise. We make ours in 4' sections. Next take a 2"x6" board and make two pieces about 12" long. Cut a "V" into one end of each. Then screw these 2x6 boards onto two 2"x4" board, roughly cut 20" long each. So imagine you'll have an upside down "T" with the 2x4 on the bottom and the "V" end of the 2x6 pointing up. Then you'll want to take your PVC section and set it onto the wood pieces with the wood towards each end and screw the PVC down to the wood. You then have little troughs for the goats to eat grain out of. They last pretty long. Mine are 4 years old and starting to need replacing of the wood.
ADM has wonderful pelleted goat feed. Quality ingredients with no animal products or urea. They have a dairy line and a meat goat line.
You should watch the molasses intake on your goats, something which Purina Goat Chow is loaded with. Causes acidosis of the gut, which can lead to bloat and death.
Chicken feed is terrible for goats - it has MEAT products in it and some is medicated. Why even go there?
The term is FOUNDER, not flounder (isn't that a fish?!). I know for a fact horses founder, think cattle can too. It is caused by a rich diet, or one that is made rich too quickly, i.e. no grain to two pounds a day.
For grain and alfalfa pellets, we use 4" pvc pipe with caps on each end, then take a jigsaw and cut it in half lengthwise. We make ours in 4' sections. Next take a 2"x6" board and make two pieces about 12" long. Cut a "V" into one end of each. Then screw these 2x6 boards onto two 2"x4" board, roughly cut 20" long each. So imagine you'll have an upside down "T" with the 2x4 on the bottom and the "V" end of the 2x6 pointing up. Then you'll want to take your PVC section and set it onto the wood pieces with the wood towards each end and screw the PVC down to the wood. You then have little troughs for the goats to eat grain out of. They last pretty long. Mine are 4 years old and starting to need replacing of the wood.
ADM has wonderful pelleted goat feed. Quality ingredients with no animal products or urea. They have a dairy line and a meat goat line.
You should watch the molasses intake on your goats, something which Purina Goat Chow is loaded with. Causes acidosis of the gut, which can lead to bloat and death.
Chicken feed is terrible for goats - it has MEAT products in it and some is medicated. Why even go there?
- Thread starter
- #39
SO there is no specific need to feed grain to goats? I am very new to goats, mine have free choice hay and get a lot of browse. Am I wasting my money on grain?( they actually don't really eat it anyway but I felt that it was important to them). They are in good conditon and they are just pets, a wether and a doe. I never plan on breeding my doe. So if her condition looks good, there is no reason I must provide them with grain?
