Latestarter's ramblings/musings/gripes and grumbles.

[Southern by choice]

@goatgurl Sometimes our Kiko kids look like they have bluish colored eyes too but they turn more green/ yellow over time but I have always thought it to be kinda interesting.
Gosh, you are so right- these daggone dam raisers can sure hold that milk AND fight ya! Every year we say we will pull Millie's kid/s because she is so terrible about it but then she kids and we don't.
Truth is we figure she is so dang cantankerous that she would probably be worse if we took her kids Tis ok... Millie is a keeper even though she is horrid on the stand... and no ... year after year she is the same. She ain't gettin any better.

@Latestarter we do always put stumps, cinders, or step stool- something in with the expectants because it aids in helping to position. Our girls really use them - they climb , get down, stretch, wiggle, climb and repeat.

 

[Devonviolet]

The 2 mommas are PB lamanchas (supposed to be, sisters), Bang and Dot. I understand it's grain and grain... one (what I call goat chow) is processed/pellets, I don't think it's a sweet feed, doesn't say it is, and the grain mix is whole grains. Not sure if that's a sweet feed or not... It's what I got from GG when I got the goats from her. It's what she gave them and recommended.

This is the grain... it says it has molasses cane (sugar cane?) but doesn't say it has molasses or that it's a sweet feed... It doesn't smell like molasses when I dish it out.
http://www.bigvfeeds.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=161

We are feeding the same Big V Dairy Goat Ration, that @goatgurl recommended. I have to call ahead to the one feed store, in Sulphur Springs, that carries Big V Feeds. Even if I specify "Dairy Goat Ration" I still get there, sometimes, and all they have is the regular goat pellets. This last time, I spoke with the owner, and I think he finally gets it. He promised that if I call ahead, he will order the right feed.

Anyway, if we feed the recommended approximately 3 pounds a day [+ or -] (a little more than 2-1/2 cups morning & evening), we noticed their poop pellets turn to a soft, solid mass. But, that doesn't seem to be enough for them. They are still hungry. So, we cut back on the feed (about 2 cups twice daily) and now add a handful of chaffe hay, about 1/2 cup alfalfa pellets and 1/4 cup granular Kelp.

After they eat, we load up the hay tub, with Coastal Hay, and they are happy to stand around crunching on hay. They each eat quite a bit of the hay. In addition to that, after I milk them, we have a patch of taller grass/weeds, that we don't cut, and I let them browse on that for 5-10 minutes before I take them back to their kids.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Anyway, if we feed the recommended approximately 3 pounds a day [+ or -] (a little more than 2-1/2 cups morning & evening), we noticed their poop pellets turn to a soft, solid mass. But, that doesn't seem to be enough for them. They are still hungry. So, we cut back on the feed (about 2 cups twice daily) and now add a handful of chaffe hay, about 1/2 cup alfalfa pellets and 1/4 cup granular Kelp.

Are you weighing the feed?
That doesn't sound like 3lbs of feed (6-5 cups IOW)
Its normal to have clumpy poo when increasing feed. It takes a little bit for their system to catch up.

 

[Devonviolet]

Wow! Did we mess up! Thanks for catching that @Goat Whisperer! We took our kitchen scale out at evening feeding, and after weighing what we were giving them, we realized we were way off! Our girls are going to be getting a lot more from now on!

So, should I increase gradually, so they don't end up with the runs?

 

[OneFineAcre]

Wow! Did we mess up! Thanks for catching that @Goat Whisperer! We took our kitchen scale out at evening feeding, and after weighing what we were giving them, we realized we were way off! Our girls are going to be getting a lot more from now on!

So, should I increase gradually, so they don't end up with the runs?

Yes

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Yes. It's always best to do gradual changes.
Clumpy poo or "dog logs" are okay and normal, you just don't want them to scour.

Adding probiotics to the feed can help.

 

[Latestarter]

I kinda feel bad for April... she has a hard time getting to the feed. Both Dot and Bang will head butt her away from the buckets. Yup, even though there are multiple buckets, the two bigger does will move back and forth between them and try to push April away. I have to kinda stand guard to make sure April gets her fair share. I took the left over end piece of cattle panel from what I cut down to (ineffectively) cover the trailer, and made a hay rack on the fence for them today. They like that a lot better than me putting the hay in a pile on the ground. I had to move it (hay rack) up from where I first put it as they were walking under it to scratch their backs on it

I took them out some cookies and raisins earlier today and got the two older girls collars changed and was able to catch April and cut the twine off her neck so she now has a nice collar as well. When I get done here I'll bring Dot down a cinder block to stretch on. Her udder is getting a little bigger but not full blown yet. I've seen her doing some stretches, but she doesn't look like she's ready quite yet. I tried to keep a cookie out of Dot's reach because it was meant for April and she stood up on her hind legs trying to get it I know you told me the date and it's near the end of the month, but I can't remember the exact date and I'm not really worried about it. I figure when she's ready, she'll go.

I was trying to mow the field and got a flat tire on the front Guess that happens when you're mowing down thorn vines and running over sticks and thorns and everything else. So tomorrow I have to try and find somewhere that repairs those tires or get it replaced. Gonna need to pull the blades and get them sharpened as well. The tractor is leaving "streaks" of uncut stuff. I know I've nicked the blades. I need to get this place mowed before the next big storm system moves in on Wednesday... 4-6" more rain and it will be a legit pasture and I won't be able to even get the lawn tractor through it. Can't believe how fast it's growing. Just wish it was more grass than weeds.

 

[CntryBoy777]

It sounds like your experiencing the same thing I do here...that ya was witness to...in feeding with the Boys and Star. I had a flat on my rider and plugged it with the same thing I use on car tires, it has held up ever since. Those limbs and bush hawging ya are doing is the cause for the uneven cut along with the terrain. It used to bother me, but not so much anymore. It doesn't take much growth for it to even out and goats prefer to eat between 3-6" in grass or weed height. That's why I don't cut the whole field at one time, but leave enough for them to eat while the cut has time to grow back. The goats won't mind the weeds and some pigs really won't either. Busting up the mowing will also help out your back and hands, not having to endure the bouncing and shaking for long periods of time. It took me a little over a year for my OCD to subside and accept uneven cut and leaving some uncut. I just think of it as doing the animals a Favor. Certainly hope the kidding goes smooth for ya and they settle down some as they adjust.

 

[Southern by choice]

Leah is our "lowest on the pecking order" doe. Even the yearlings growing up are over her... she will just always be that way. Our friend has her full sister from another breeding- she is the same exact way. It is sad, but we have made arrangements especially when pregnant.
Leah gets the hallway overnight- keeps her safe from the others being jerky and she gets to eat. Since she has those big litters she needs that protection and food.
Whenever we have one that gets bullied from food we will take them and lock them up in the barn for 15 minutes and they can at least get their feed in peace.

Since you just have a temp shelter up now it will be just one of many things that you will tuck away for when you build. IMO one can never have too many stalls, gates, pens. LOL
This gives you time to work with the goats and see what will be best for you.

 

[Latestarter]

So here's some pics:

I had placed the cinder blocks with one on top of two... The kids jumping off knocked the top one off Guess that's gonna be a routine "need to fix that"...

Here you can see I've put the block back up on top where I wanted it.

Here's a close up of Chocolate Mousse (Moose for short or CM) and Creme Broulee (Cream or CB for short)

Here's her eyes as close as I could get... they do seem to be changing from the blue they were to a light yellowish. sorry, they just don't stand still...

And here's the make shift hay rack.

Life is an adventure Sure glad to continue the journey