I need a diet plan for some very fat goats

[heatherlynnky]

Ok so my goats were all a nice healthy size. not fat but not skinny. Then I got 2 others. One skinny but probably pregnant and another they said for sure was pregnant but who I think is just fat. They majorly over fed these girls. Well I get them home and they just keep getting bigger and I think its pregnancy until I find out that my dad is slipping them feed because they are always "starving" and I don't feed them enough. They are not starving, they are pigs. Ok so I cut the rations a bit. They were down to a full horse scoop divided for all 5 in the morning and another at night. Then they are given 2 scoops of alfalfa pellets morning and night also. They did actually lose some weight slowly. They also have hay to eat. So they slim down and its looking good but then I got sick. So my son is feeding them for me and apparently my dad is helping him out when he "thinks" my son forgets and the girls are begging again. Dang it they are fat . Yes I was sick for a month but REALLY?

Ok so I am better and they are going to stop this or I am locking the feed up so my dad can't get in it. I would lecture but he forgets everything a couple minutes after I say it, so whats the point. I seriously am thinking 1/2 scoop morning and a half a night and sticking with the 2 scoops of alfalfa pellets and the hay. These are 4 nigerian and 1 smallish sannen girl. I believe only one is pregnant and amazingly she is the only one who does not have a big fat rear right now. Just a big belly. Is this too little? I think it should be fine but with winter here I don't want to deprive them of food heat. ya know. Also I know it will take them time to slim down yet again so I don't want this to be a goat version of a crash diet. My husband is going to make a sign that says 'don't feed the goats" . Maybe he should make a few signs. I know this isn't healthy and I have got to get control of this but they give no clues on feed I swear. These 2 new ones cry like they are starving to death all day long.

 

[ksalvagno]

You can cut out the feed for the heavy ones. The pregnant one who is skinny - can you feed her separately? You could probably even cut out or cut down on the alfalfa pellets.

The ones who are crying all the time, they should quit after a while when they realize they won't be getting anything. But you will have to be persistent since your dad was so "nice" to feed them for you.

 

[heatherlynnky]

The pregnant one, when I am out there, I guard while she eats. She does not want to be confined without her buddy but her buddy is the real problem child. My husband has suggested getting rid of the fattest girl because she really is the piggie and she is just plain mean. In thinking about it I think she is the trouble maker. All she does is fight and dad was complaining that they were so hungry that they were fighting over food and crying, but the only one I see doing that is the fattest one. Its not because she was hungry either. Where she came from they were allowed as much food as they wanted. I have no idea how they never lost any, She just is not giving up and my dad will feed her over and over because he forgets that he isn't supposed to and forgets that he already did it anyway. The others never cry like that though so maybe without her the problem would calm down.