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The only thing I can think Bay is that my goats are truly browsers vice grazers. Any kind of tree limb/leaves I give them is like candy to a child. They go berserk and even strip the bark. They just aren't interested in hay/grass unless it's all there is. That being the case, I can't understand why they don't eat the woody stems of the alfalfa. 
Hmmm problem with a second feeder is not only do I double the feeding space, but it will also double the waste. That wouldn't be so bad if I was paying $3-4/bale, but I'm paying $12. I think it may also cause problems like I've experienced with adding additional feed bowls... The dominant ones run back and forth to each bowl trying to control all of them and end up dumping the bowls by stepping in them or kicking them. When I feed them their pellets, I have to basically stand in the center of the feed bowl wheel and make them stay where they first settle down at. I need to get in touch with Bay and set a time to go down and visit her so I can pick up the no climb horse fence she said I could have to build a 2 sided feeder for them. Then there will be two sides so they can eat with a little less interference. Same amount of hay, just more accessible.
The above dynamic is changing as well as RJ grows in size, weight and maturity. He is now challenging Bang and they've had a go several times. It's now getting to the point that RJ is sometimes driving everyone off and the ones he misses, Bang goes after. I kinda feel bad for CM (the wether) as it seems nobody wants him to share their bowl. Most of the time, he ends up sharing with his sister CB. They take turns trying to push each other away unless I stand right over them. But every time he's chased off he seems to make it a point of jumping into and through the feed bowls
I guess he figures if he can't eat any he'll do his best to deposit crap and mud from his hooves into the feed pellets.
So I've been trying to come up with alternatives... I've considered the hanging bowls that hang on the outside of the cattle panel so they stick their heads through and eat. I'd have to make some sort of "blinders" for either side of the bowls so the neighbor goat can't see what they're missing. When I give them their cereal treats which they have to stick their heads through for, the first one done (generally the greediest; Bang,) will take aim and ram into the side of whichever goat is where she wants to move to. Sometimes she'll ram multiples and try to "run through" the entire group. I really don't want need miscarriages or broken ribs/hips etc. I've seen a pic on here someplace where a person made individual walk in "cages" with locking doors so the goats had to walk in and get shut in where the feed bowl was at the opposite end, almost like a cattle chute/head gate. I don't have the room for anything like that, especially as the goat numbers increase.
Hmmm problem with a second feeder is not only do I double the feeding space, but it will also double the waste.
That wouldn't be so bad if I was paying $3-4/bale, but I'm paying $12. I think it may also cause problems like I've experienced with adding additional feed bowls... The dominant ones run back and forth to each bowl trying to control all of them and end up dumping the bowls by stepping in them or kicking them. When I feed them their pellets, I have to basically stand in the center of the feed bowl wheel and make them stay where they first settle down at. I need to get in touch with Bay and set a time to go down and visit her so I can pick up the no climb horse fence she said I could have to build a 2 sided feeder for them. Then there will be two sides so they can eat with a little less interference. Same amount of hay, just more accessible.The above dynamic is changing as well as RJ grows in size, weight and maturity. He is now challenging Bang and they've had a go several times. It's now getting to the point that RJ is sometimes driving everyone off and the ones he misses, Bang goes after. I kinda feel bad for CM (the wether) as it seems nobody wants him to share their bowl. Most of the time, he ends up sharing with his sister CB. They take turns trying to push each other away unless I stand right over them. But every time he's chased off he seems to make it a point of jumping into and through the feed bowls
I guess he figures if he can't eat any he'll do his best to deposit crap and mud from his hooves into the feed pellets.So I've been trying to come up with alternatives... I've considered the hanging bowls that hang on the outside of the cattle panel so they stick their heads through and eat. I'd have to make some sort of "blinders" for either side of the bowls so the neighbor goat can't see what they're missing. When I give them their cereal treats which they have to stick their heads through for, the first one done (generally the greediest; Bang,) will take aim and ram into the side of whichever goat is where she wants to move to. Sometimes she'll ram multiples and try to "run through" the entire group. I really don't want need miscarriages or broken ribs/hips etc. I've seen a pic on here someplace where a person made individual walk in "cages" with locking doors so the goats had to walk in and get shut in where the feed bowl was at the opposite end, almost like a cattle chute/head gate. I don't have the room for anything like that, especially as the goat numbers increase.
frozen ice droplets hanging from anything metal that's off the ground. Ice in the water trough and dog's bowl. Wind blowing and high humidity. Just a cold raw day here in NE TX. Day is growing and temp is dropping... was ~30 when I got up and now it's 27. Nothing to complain about compared to what many here are dealing with... snow, ice sub zero temps, etc. I have noticed that the pasture is starting to change color and is getting "greener" every day. several of the trees here are starting to bud. Spring is on the way.
That's the only "muscle" I have to help me with what I need to do. It's great, no opinions or backtalk. 
