How much hay?

[christy_was_here]

I'm back with another hay question....

2 nigerian wethers, 2nd cutting grass hay, how many flakes a day per goat? They will have access to browse, not just a grass pasture.

Thank you!

 

[20kidsonhill]

I find that as our pasture comes in, the goats stop eating hay all together and just play in it and waste it. We don't feed any hay May through NOvember, unless we are dry and the pasture doesn't keep up.

I would say put out one flake in the morning and if they eat it, put out a 2nd flake in the evening, if they are wasting it, just put out half a flake.

 

[RabbleRoost Farm]

Or you could do what I do, just throw a bunch of hay into their feeder and let them use the waste as bedding.
Hey, it works as long as your aren't afraid of wasting some. Goats don't even LIKE the super expensive hay... Mine prefer the stuff that's all coarse to the bales sold for horse owners. Go figure. :/

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I fill the manger and let them have that free choice. And whatever they waste..well they sleep on.

I hate to see them waste. But thats just the nature of goaties.

 

[christy_was_here]

Awesome! Ya'll are great. Thanks for all the advice!

 

[AlaskanShepherdess]

I feed my 5 Nigies 1 flake in the morning and one in the evening. There is a little waste, but hardly any, a strand here and there. Course each flake is not an even amount. Sometimes I feed them a flake in the morning and by afternoon they are coming up on my back steps to let me know they are still hungry!

I just feed them whatever amount they are satisfied with. If I feed them as much as they will eat they will eat nearly double what they are satisfied with!