Mollys Herbals goat wormer

[freemotion]

I use the Famacha chart and also I got a microscope to learn to run my own fecal exams. I keep a vial of Ivomec in my fridge and have used it on rare occasions for individuals who have nose-dived on Famacha too quickly and I didn't want to risk it. That is a total of 2 doses this year, one for a buckling who was loaded with barberpole when I purchased him...or the stress of the move caused an explosion in his worm population. Another was my older rescued doe who was given a lot of bread by a well-meaning neighbor at the same time that I was watching her eyelids and waiting for my herbal order to arrive...after the bread, she took a very fast downturn and I used the Ivomec.

But the herbals are working for me. I did Molly's for a year and now am getting more confident to make up my own mix. What is needed is very individual from farm to farm and on any farm, from goat to goat. You have to monitor them, and Famacha and fecals are pretty precise. You could probably just do Famacha and then have the vet do a fecal for you if needed. I like doing my own. But I am a nerd.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

...but can you tell it actually works? How often do you have to use it?

i use hoegger's version of the herbal wormer and yep you can tell. within a week or two their eyes pink up, coats get shiny, etc. you use the hoegger version weekly (after the initial first 3 days). easy peasy and my ladies dont need a lot of convincing to eat it. i just sprinkle it on their food.

i knew we were doing well when our breeder said the saanen we got from him looked better when we brought her back than when she left in the spring

 

[milk and honey]

I also have a question about Molly's herbals.. I am brand new to goats and to the forum, I have 2 nigerian does, one is bred.. anyway, should the dosage be different for these small goats... and also for the kids herbal schedule?

 

[freemotion]

I think she details all this stuff in the instructions. You don't give the wormwood formula while they are preggers. The babies get a reduced dose until a certain size. I give my pygmies the adult dose. Not sure about nigies, but it is pretty safe, so I'd err on the side of giving a bit too much.

I don't stick to a "schedule" so much anymore.....you still want to use famacha and fecals until you know what the potential problems are with your specific goats on your specific property. Famacha, at least! I've used it for a year with great results, but I did have to dose one doe with ivermectin after a big stress (neighbors threw loaves of bread in and the alpha doe hogged it, apparently) caused a sudden worm bloom. I caught the problem by using famacha. She also got copper deficient as a result, pretty much went from jet black to rusty brown overnight.

I also had to dose a buckling shortly after I brought him home (with Ivomec) but have managed him with herbals ever since with good results.


Oh, and

 

[goodgirlmolly]

My guys are so persnickety, one week they love it the next week they show no interest. I've found - with my wether especially that molasses & slippery elm make all the difference. I've been using it for almost a year.
I keep the 'real' wormers on hand just in case but between the Molly's & diatomaceous earth & keeping stall super clean always - I've been lucky so far. I'm sure the fact that I only have 5 goats makes it easier too.
btw - I use Molly's for every stinkin' one of my animals

 

[goodgirlmolly]

I use it all the time and most goats will resist it at first. Mix with molasses make a small ball and press the ball between 2 gingersnap cookies and they will suck it down. Now they know the smell so the next time they will take the ball... you can give a cookie as a chaser.

That is BRILLIANT!!!! My guys love gingersnaps! Great advice

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I got my order of the herbals today and they smell great! I know if I want to eat it, they will most likely want to eat it, too. But mine like to eat wild chives that grow in the yard and bananas, so I'm sure they will gobble this stuff down.

 

[DouglasPeeps]

Have your goats given in and decided to just eat the herbal wormer? I sprinkle it over their grain and mine just gobble it right up

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Also if you break it into small pieces and put it in with the goat feed ("grain") they might eat it along with the rest.

That's the way we do it. Mix it with the Slippery Elm and molasses (or honey) and mix with their feed.

 

[Our7Wonders]

I started out making the little balls with slippery elm and molasses. Now I just put a Tbsp. of the wormer right in their feed, no extra anything else added. They don't mind at all. And it works with both formula #1 and formula #2.