MrsNetty
Exploring the pasture
I have a small herd of ND's instead to browsing through the woods they cry and want me to feed them pellets. Is there something i need to do to fix this any advise is appreciated.
How to get my goats to browse more?
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frustratedearthmother
Herd Master
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Stop feeding them pellets...? 
babsbag
Herd Master
When I first opened up the pasture that had browse in it I had to take my goats out to browse and they wouldn't stay without me; I felt like Heidi. Finally they realized that there was good food out there and they would go alone, but I don't think it reduced their hay consumption by one little bit. They are eating machines.
goats&moregoats
True BYH Addict
Mine are the same right now, especially the young ones, but older ones are almost as bad. If I stay out with them they are ok for about 15 minutes, then it's a race to the dry lot. Kind of amusing to watch. I believe with more and more time out they will adjust. It's open pasture right now, so they aren't left totally unsupervised anyways, but I try to do little chores that need to be done. It turns out to be unproductive. I also believe that once it is totally enclosed and the dogs are out with them, they will settle down. So as with many things with goats...time.
babsbag
Herd Master
My dogs go with my goats but after they do the patrol and deem it safe they will often head back to the barn. The goats see the dogs heading for the barn and they do too, it is comical to say the least. The goats did a great job a limbing all the oaks and clearing all the poison oak, but they really aren't out there often.
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MrsNetty
Exploring the pasture
I've tried to stop giving them grain but they lay and wait by the feed trough all day. Then when I go outside they scream for me to come feed them.
babsbag
Herd Master
Screaming goats make me crazy and they seem to know that. Get some ear plugs and let them go a little hungry, it might work. But I find that my goats want to browse on their schedule, not mine, so not having access to the pasture at all times might be a deterrent for them too. Mine go out for a little while, and then back to chew their cud and then back out, they do this multiple times a day.
outdoorhoney
Ridin' The Range
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This sounds like my girls, especially about them wanting to browse on their schedule. I take them out onto the pasture multiple times a day. Usually they'll immediately start eating out there but I have a difficult time sneaking out of their sight without them running towards me crying. They really don't like when I leave their side but unfortunately I can't be with them all day long (all though that sounds much better than working). When browsing fails and they start mawing relentlessly, I put them back in their pens and they start crying for their feed in the troughs instead. I try to stick with feeding the girls at the same times every day but they make it SO difficult when they are screaming for their feed two hours ahead of time (I really don't' want to cave in either). They still have free choice hay and shrubs in their pen but I suppose those don't compare to grains and sweet oats
I'm hoping that as they grow up, they will learn that I'm not going to cave in and feed them in their troughs all day and instead they are going to have to hang out without me in the pasture 
