I have a question about grass, and a few other questions

[StormyMoon]

I was reading on Fias co farm goats web site and she says how goats are not lawn mowers and how they prefer brush and trees over grass.

I have loads of brush and trees but maybe my goats didnt get the memo on this? Cause they prefer greener grass than brush so I am confused.

Am I the only one whos goats would rather eat fresh grass over brush?
Or does this change as they get older?

My goats are really young just been weaned.

Does this change over time. I was hoping what she said would be true cause I did need help getting brush down. They look at it then blow air out their nose making raspberry sounds then turn to the fresh green grass and start chewing away.

Also
The Feed store I got them from gave me medicated pellets firstly I would like to say "I want them to get the best they can have" with that said will I ever need to change them from medicated feed ? If so what should I try?

I am in North/Central Texas if that helps on food brands that I may need to know about.

Also about the salt lick, I have been reading some give loose salt mineral instead of the block. At what age do I introduce the salt to them?

Also is there anything I can do to help my doe gain a tad bit more weight? Her transition was difficult for her being taken away from her herd, and then placed in a strange place she is slowly coming around today after 7 days was the first time I saw her play it was the best day ever watching her romp and bounce around so full of life. But sadly she has lost a little weight which I am most sure was due to stress.

Thank You so very much for any and all info!!!

 

[freemotion]

Brush: Do some research on what you have for brush to be sure it is something that is edible to goats. Does the doe eat it? She will show the youngsters what to eat and not eat. Or if it is just the youngsters, they will experiment more as they grow up.

Feed: I don't feed medicated feed. Others do. I feed whole grains that have been slightly sprouted (barley mostly, oats when I can't get barley.) I am off the beaten path, apparently.

Salt: Get a loose mineral mix containing copper sulfate that is formulated for goats. You may have to search around. Put out just a small amount and check it daily, refilling as needed, cleaning it out if they don't touch it for a few days or if it looks dirty. In damp weather, it may grow mold. Be alert and keep it fresh.

Your skinny doe: She will likely recover on her own, but you can give her some probiotics and be sure she has plenty of hay/pasture at all times. If the weather is bad, bring the food to her. Very hot is also bad weather to a goat!

Have fun with your new herd!

 

[StormyMoon]

Brush: Do some research on what you have for brush to be sure it is something that is edible to goats. Does the doe eat it? She will show the youngsters what to eat and not eat. Or if it is just the youngsters, they will experiment more as they grow up.

Feed: I don't feed medicated feed. Others do. I feed whole grains that have been slightly sprouted (barley mostly, oats when I can't get barley.) I am off the beaten path, apparently.

Salt: Get a loose mineral mix containing copper sulfate that is formulated for goats. You may have to search around. Put out just a small amount and check it daily, refilling as needed, cleaning it out if they don't touch it for a few days or if it looks dirty. In damp weather, it may grow mold. Be alert and keep it fresh.

Your skinny doe: She will likely recover on her own, but you can give her some probiotics and be sure she has plenty of hay/pasture at all times. If the weather is bad, bring the food to her. Very hot is also bad weather to a goat!

Have fun with your new herd!

We don't have the mom with us we purchased the little doe after she was weaned. She chews some of it blows her noes at other parts of it but maybe she was getting dust in her nose, we are in texas and have plenty of dust. I took her back today to the feed store I got her from and they gave her some de wormer. During the day she was filling up nicely then when we would bring her out each morning she would lose all her tummy during the night like as if she dumped it all but in their house there is very little droppings.

I sat with her from 8 AM - 7 PM kept her close to me for 6 days cause i wanted to make sure she was adjusting well I would step back and let her go forage for brush but she always has a bowl of pellets around her at all times if she was hungry she could have got that, she just chose grass over feed or brush.

I would like to try and gradually transfer her over to the grains as soon as they are finished with this 50 lb bag of feed.
Our feed store said as long as we have a full acre of land we really wouldn't need hay , or other things like that cause of the heat here in texas it would cause more heat....they suggest only getting it as it gets colder. So I guess I will wait for fall.......unless the deworming is not what she needed we will then get hay and see if she improves.

I will go get some loose mineral salt right now lol good thing the feed store is just down the road from us.

It does get hot today on the temp gage out side it says 101 this is only the end of may June and July will get a lot hotter.

Thank you for all the info!!!

 

[Lil-patch-of-heaven]

The big huge "pregnant" tummy after a day of browsing that disappears by morning is normal. I worried the first time I saw it too. My littlest doeling stuffs herself so full she really feels as if she might burst.

And eating turns out to be a social issue for mine. I was told here (thanks Karen!) that my llama should prefer grass over browse when I mentioned all the goats and the llama ignored grass and ate browse. The funny thing is that I got another llama, and HE eats mostly grass. Now I find the goats, and the other llama, joining him and eating mostly grass. I even wondered if they'd cleared most of their favorite browse but there is still plenty.

I probably won't have to mow the grassy section but very soon I'll have to mow the other sections.

Good luck with them!

 

[StormyMoon]

The big huge "pregnant" tummy after a day of browsing that disappears by morning is normal. I worried the first time I saw it too. My littlest doeling stuffs herself so full she really feels as if she might burst.

And eating turns out to be a social issue for mine. I was told here (thanks Karen!) that my llama should prefer grass over browse when I mentioned all the goats and the llama ignored grass and ate browse. The funny thing is that I got another llama, and HE eats mostly grass. Now I find the goats, and the other llama, joining him and eating mostly grass. I even wondered if they'd cleared most of their favorite browse but there is still plenty.

I probably won't have to mow the grassy section but very soon I'll have to mow the other sections.

Good luck with them!

I was kind of hoping she would get a poochy stomach by afternoon fall, like her little buddy does but Malina just would not gain much even though she had spent the entire day eating plus her pellets. It was as if non of it was getting to her and her bones were showing really bad by day 7 she was emaciated ( if thats how you spell it) her hip bones were showing and there was a drastic difference from the day I got her till the 7th day, I had to do something quick she may not have made it to next week. The Feed store owner who i got her from said she was in bad shape and she was lucky I brought her in when I did.

Today she really filled out after taking the medication she seemed more happy and full of life. But she is very picky and wont touch the brush on the other hand my little boy goat will tear up some brush now he is feeling more at home he was finally getting into it this afternoon.

I sit back far away and just watch them go lol its better than watching tv.

I do believe that goat eating is a social thing too. I have watched goats for many years and they seem to call back to each other as they go as if they are checking every now and then to make sure everyone is still there.