KidMandy
Chillin' with the herd
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2012
- Messages
- 79
- Reaction score
- 20
- Points
- 48
We brought home a new Alpine doeling on May 21st, not sure of her age, but she was about the same size as the kids we already had, and they were 8wks at the time. This little one is a big eater!! I give them each 1 cup of dairy goat ration (mixed sweet grain) in the morning and again around dinner (they also have free choice hay, water and a small amount of "pasture" grass but they don't seem interested in eating it).
I noticed that she would eat and eat, and then nudge the other two out of the way, and keep eating! She is not the dominant one, and even though my Saanen of the same size will butt her out of the way, eventually she just gives up and walks away from the grain. I started feeding them separately when I realized what was going on, but even that's not helping. She'll finish first, and then walk around and start eating out of the other bowls. The others will give up and walk away.
She is quite chubby, which I don't think she should be as a dairy breed. Whenever I go in the run, she is always chewing at my clothes or shoes. This is our first experience with goats, so I don't know what's normal. My other two (who came from a friend, not a dairy farm like where this one is from) are not like this at all.
Could she have something wrong? Any thoughts are appreciated.
I noticed that she would eat and eat, and then nudge the other two out of the way, and keep eating! She is not the dominant one, and even though my Saanen of the same size will butt her out of the way, eventually she just gives up and walks away from the grain. I started feeding them separately when I realized what was going on, but even that's not helping. She'll finish first, and then walk around and start eating out of the other bowls. The others will give up and walk away.
She is quite chubby, which I don't think she should be as a dairy breed. Whenever I go in the run, she is always chewing at my clothes or shoes. This is our first experience with goats, so I don't know what's normal. My other two (who came from a friend, not a dairy farm like where this one is from) are not like this at all.
Could she have something wrong? Any thoughts are appreciated.
