CelticOaksFarm
Chillin' with the herd
Ok, I have read through 90% of the replies here. Love seeing how others care for their goats from all over. I would like specific info for the south, we are in FL so looking for others in state or deep south and what you feed, and what your deworming schedule is.
Our hay supplies fluctuates between coastal hay (grass hay) and oat hay available. We have a wonderful feed store who delivers twice a month to us at no extra cost. I have spent lots of time at their store and on the phone having them order in feeds and whole grains for me. (lots of geese here) they are a purina carrier among others. We use to feed Nutrena goat, but Nutrena then required the store to buy an entire load of Nutrena feed at a time. Not good as he turns over stock rapidly and won't sell old feed. So back to purina we went.
I would like some guidance on feeding as I am a stickler to dietary needs for the animals here. After realizing the breeder we got the first goats from gave us no real help, I am reading everything I can on diet needs.
Our group:
1- wether fainter 2 years old
1- Nigerian/Nubian buckling (3 weeks old) currently being bottled
1- Nigerian doe and her daughter (daughter is 2 months old)
1- Nigerian doe and her daughter (daughter 5 months old)
I have read alot about not feeding goat feed, but alphalpha pellets. Can others weigh in on what is a good base feed and WHY. I understand everyone has an Oppinion, I would like to be able to read the why with the feed so we can make a choice.
Currently we keep the following whole grains:
Whole wheat
White millet
Brown millet
Wheat
BOSS
They are added to and used with the waterfowl we raise.
The goats are out all day every day, we rotate where they graze depending on the time of the year. Winter they get the rear pasture where they clear the marsh grass and mangrove trees. During the heat of the summer that pasture is not available to them because of water levels. So they are either in a north east pasture covered heavily in live oaks and palm trees and grass, or the south east of similar trees/grass. They also have access to the rear yard if we are expecting rough storms. (on the coast, on an island here).
We have a very thickly overgrown 1/3 acre area none of the animals have access to, but where we can cut and offer browse to the goats from. Everything here grows thick and very rapidly, we have eliminated many tropical plants from the areas where the goats have access leaving it friendly and safe for them to be in as we enjoy them far more than the plants.
Looking forward to hearing what others have to say.
Location: Merritt Island, FL - sub tropical - 90' - 100's summer highs / 50's - 60's winter lows
We deal with heavy summer rains, hurricanes, high humidity. However we live right on the coast (on an actual island) and have amazing breezes all day.
Our hay supplies fluctuates between coastal hay (grass hay) and oat hay available. We have a wonderful feed store who delivers twice a month to us at no extra cost. I have spent lots of time at their store and on the phone having them order in feeds and whole grains for me. (lots of geese here) they are a purina carrier among others. We use to feed Nutrena goat, but Nutrena then required the store to buy an entire load of Nutrena feed at a time. Not good as he turns over stock rapidly and won't sell old feed. So back to purina we went.
I would like some guidance on feeding as I am a stickler to dietary needs for the animals here. After realizing the breeder we got the first goats from gave us no real help, I am reading everything I can on diet needs.
Our group:
1- wether fainter 2 years old
1- Nigerian/Nubian buckling (3 weeks old) currently being bottled
1- Nigerian doe and her daughter (daughter is 2 months old)
1- Nigerian doe and her daughter (daughter 5 months old)
I have read alot about not feeding goat feed, but alphalpha pellets. Can others weigh in on what is a good base feed and WHY. I understand everyone has an Oppinion, I would like to be able to read the why with the feed so we can make a choice.
Currently we keep the following whole grains:
Whole wheat
White millet
Brown millet
Wheat
BOSS
They are added to and used with the waterfowl we raise.
The goats are out all day every day, we rotate where they graze depending on the time of the year. Winter they get the rear pasture where they clear the marsh grass and mangrove trees. During the heat of the summer that pasture is not available to them because of water levels. So they are either in a north east pasture covered heavily in live oaks and palm trees and grass, or the south east of similar trees/grass. They also have access to the rear yard if we are expecting rough storms. (on the coast, on an island here).
We have a very thickly overgrown 1/3 acre area none of the animals have access to, but where we can cut and offer browse to the goats from. Everything here grows thick and very rapidly, we have eliminated many tropical plants from the areas where the goats have access leaving it friendly and safe for them to be in as we enjoy them far more than the plants.
Looking forward to hearing what others have to say.
Location: Merritt Island, FL - sub tropical - 90' - 100's summer highs / 50's - 60's winter lows
We deal with heavy summer rains, hurricanes, high humidity. However we live right on the coast (on an actual island) and have amazing breezes all day.
