How, and how much do you feed your goats?

[Chris]

I honestly cant tell if im starving my goats, or if they are just spoiled?
They get there two cups a day and hay now only when it is raining, but every time they finish they scream and search there buckets for more. I usually go over to the rassbery patch and give them a few handful's of berrys, and then maybe a tomato if I feel generous, and they scoff them right down!
Little Annie is never interested in the berrys or tomato, but my boy Chooch LOVES them and devours them.
Do you think there just spoiled, or are they just really hungry?

What does 2 cups of your feed weigh?
It is had to judge a amount of feed by cups, you should be using weight of feed and not volume of feed.

Chris

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

Are they growing? Can you see their ribs? It really depends on if they are too thin or not. You have to adjust things as you see fit. If you feel they need more, then maybe increase the grain a little or give them more "grain" by increasing it with alfalfa pellets. Like give them their 2 cups of grain and another 1/2 cup of alfalfa pellets. Or just put out more hay. I am one who likes to give grain to growing kids but you do have to be careful just how much you give.

Nope, no ribs or prominent hips, there still getting bigger and Chooch is getting rounder. Little Anne looks a bit on the leaner side but she never eats a lot. She prefers the wild rose bush.
Seven also looks leaner, but she always finishes Annies food.
I'll take pictures of them,

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

Ok, I just took pictures.
This is Little Annie:

This is my boy Chooch

And this is Seven:

I have never heard of weighing the food? The cups I use are orange mugs, I just checked them with a kitchen measuring cup and they are the equivalent of four cups. They each get one twice a day.
I'll dig out the scale and see how much the food weighs.
*edit* I also felt them over, and there is a nice covering over there ribs. I have to press to feel them individually. Thats a good thing right?

 

[marlowmanor]

I'm no expert. But they look like happy, healthy goats to me!

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

I'm no expert. But they look like happy, healthy goats to me!

Oh phew....
I was very worried for a moment, thank you for the reply!

 

[marlowmanor]

I'm no expert. But they look like happy, healthy goats to me!

Oh phew....
I was very worried for a moment, thank you for the reply!

I had a similar worry the other day. Except mine looked fat! I was worried I may be feeding them too much. I still have to get pictures of mine to get opinions. I'm not as worried though, I think the one I was worried about just had a belly full of browse the day I noticed how fat she suddenly looked.

 

[Chris]

Ok, I just took pictures.
I have never heard of weighing the food?

Everything that has to do with feeding livestock should be done by weight the reason is because different feed weight differently just like different grains weight differently. You and I both can be feeding a 16% feed but unless the ingredients are the same there will be some difference in weight.

Chris

 

[ksalvagno]

They look fine to me. You could probably even cut back a little on the grain. You definitely don't want them to get overweight.

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

Ok, I just took pictures.
I have never heard of weighing the food?

Everything that has to do with feeding livestock should be done by weight the reason is because different feed weight differently just like different grains weight differently. You and I both can be feeding a 16% feed but unless the ingredients are the same there will be some difference in weight.

Chris

Interesting. Thank you for that, that was a good lesson!

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

They look fine to me. You could probably even cut back a little on the grain. You definitely don't want them to get overweight.

Double phew...
There looking chubby then? Uh oh! No more treats for them hehe.