how do I tell if they are overweight? [pics added]

[SheepGirl]

Can you body condition score them?

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Her goats look to be about a 2.5. It is to hard to learn how to determine their BCS without having a good amount of knowledge about it and either watching videos or having someone show you how to determine it. So if you can not figure it out don't worry about it, Vickir. Pictures can not teach it as well as being shown.

 

[SheepGirl]

I would have to disagree. Determining body condition scores is very easy...you can study diagrams and read books and learn what each score is if you don't have somebody to teach you. The diagram I posted tells you how to determine BCS and what to look for.

They are not close to ideal (3), even as a dairy goat IMO. If you look at the pictures of the goats, you can very easily see the transverse process, which looks rounded more so than protruding. Plus their spines are noticeable, even from the back. I can make out ribs in some of the pictures, which leads me to believe they have no to little fat cover. While 'dairy character' is a thin/lean animal, I personally think that her goats are at 1.5s or 2s, which still is a little too thin for a dairy animal. But it's nothing a little feed can't fix

 

[TGreenhut]

Momma Goat gets her 3rd dose of Ivomec this week and Daisi and Dafni get their second dose.

I am feeding Purina Goat Show (16% protein), Sweet mix (12% protein) (but only because they are eating so much Goat Show I have to do something different (and they seem to like it better - duh - it's got more sugar in it and alfalfa pellets. I'm mixing it this way: Up until a few days ago Dafni and Momma Goat were eating 12 cups each per day (4 cups of Goat Show, 1 cup of Sweet Mix, 1 cup of alfalfa pellets) on the stand and Dafni was getting 3-4 cups per day (1 cup of Goat show with a 1/2-1 cup of Sweet Mix and Alfalfa mixed together). The boys were getting 3 cups (1 1/2 cups of Goat Show and 1/2 cup of Sweet mix and 1 cup of alfalfa pellets).

The last couple of days I have been mixing everything together and feeding them in the main feeder - 8 cups of Goat Show - 4 cups of Sweet mix and 4 cups of alfalfa.

I'm very uncomfortable with feeding them all together in the main feeder (I feel like I'm neglecting them), so I'm going to feed individually in the mornings and put feed in the main feeder in the evening and see how that works.

They also get 2 flakes of hay a day (or more or less depending on how much the eat) and are on about 60 X 40 (and we will be doubling that this weekend). I've noticed since I've started worming them their coat is getting shiner and softer so maybe I just haven't given them enough time to start putting weight back on since worming? (They had never been wormed and I think Momma Goat was pretty bad off by the time I figured out what was wrong.)

It's gotta be worms. If they hadn't been wormed before that's what probably caused the loss of weight. This sounds just like what was happening with my doe when I first bought her. I was feeding her a ton but she wasn't gaining any weight. She was probably a score of 1.5 to 2 for awhile. I even wormed her multiple times with chemical wormers. But then I found out that she was wormed with the same type of wormer all her life so her body had built up resistance to that wormer. As soon as I figured this out I started her on an herbal wormer (Molly's Herbal Worm Formula Kit) because there isn't any sign of worms being able to build up resistance to this herbal wormer (and in my opinion, herbal wormers are more desirable than chemical ones for many reasons- read more about them here: http://www.fiascofarm.com/herbs/mollysherbals.php/categories/worm-formula-detailed-information). Right away the worms were flushed out and GONE and she is putting on weight so quickly now!

So maybe the wormer you just used is going to make ALL the difference because they needed to be wormed and your goats are gonna start putting on weight! But if your goats don't look like they are putting on any weight within a few weeks, I would consider using an herbal wormer because that really worked for me!

I wish you the best of luck!

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Her goats look to be about a 2.5. It is to hard to learn how to determine their BCS without having a good amount of knowledge about it and either watching videos or having someone show you how to determine it. So if you can not figure it out don't worry about it, Vickir. Pictures can not teach it as well as being shown.

x2

 

[Vickir73]

Thank you SheepGirl!!!! I would say at first Momma Goat was a 1, but now that she's been wormed, she's at least a 2. Dafni and Daisi are a 2, but still need 2 more rounds of Ivomec. This was VERY helpful!! Thank y'all so much. I will finish the rounds with Ivomec and continuing with the feed schedule I'm on and once I feel that are at a 3, I'll level off the feeding and reduce as needed.

They were pregnant (and never wormed) when I got them and then when Momma Goat kidded, I think she was just overcome with worms-she became skin and bones. I know they get skinny after kidding, but she was really, really bad. I'm glad I found this site and began worming when I did 'cause I'm pretty sure I would have lost her.

Thank y'all! Thank y'all!! Thank y'all!!