More Hay Questions!

[TXMissy]

My goats will not eat coastal. I don't know what to feed my goats. Anyone else in TX know where I can get something different than coastal? And how do I tell if its good? All the hay I see looks dried out. I really dont know anything about hay other than my goats will not eat coastal.
Thanks!

 

[hoovesgalore]

i get Bermuda 2 string from atwoods and russles feed but what they really like is alfalfa that's most of my goat's diet.

 

[hoovesgalore]

and it might just be where you get the hay from some hay is not the best quality.

 

[Alaskan]

The problem might not be that it is coastal...but that it is dried out.

You want hay that looks leafy and green.

This is one reason why good hay storage is so great. When you do find good hay... buy a bunch of it.

To find good hay.... ask around.

I would always find who made good hay, then ask to be put on their call list. They would call me the day that they baled. I had to run out as soon as they called and load up what I wanted for the year.

One year hay here was really bad... a horse owner organized a container to be shipped up from Washington state filled with compressed alfalfa square bales.

So... you need to talk to locals, maybe horse owners since they have to be more careful with hay quality.

Up here there is also a local Facebook hay only page... so people can get in contact with each other.

In my experience... buying from a feed store is way higher price, and usually lower quality.

 

[TXMissy]

The problem might not be that it is coastal...but that it is dried out.

You want hay that looks leafy and green.

This is one reason why good hay storage is so great. When you do find good hay... buy a bunch of it.

To find good hay.... ask around.

I would always find who made good hay, then ask to be put on their call list. They would call me the day that they baled. I had to run out as soon as they called and load up what I wanted for the year.

One year hay here was really bad... a horse owner organized a container to be shipped up from Washington state filled with compressed alfalfa square bales.

So... you need to talk to locals, maybe horse owners since they have to be more careful with hay quality.

Up here there is also a local Facebook hay only page... so people can get in contact with each other.

In my experience... buying from a feed store is way higher price, and usually lower quality.

Yeah.. none of the hay is green except the Timothy which is 23.00 for a compressed bale, but I just might go back to that if I cannot find anything else. Thank you! You are always so helpful!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Honestly, I don't have an answer for you because coastal bermuda hay is the primary hay I feed my goats. I have found that it is one of the best varieties, particularly for nigerian dwarfs. Mine just do great on it. I agree with Alaskan, it may be an issue of the quality of the hay you are getting.

 

[Mini Horses]

Definitely quality issue. Type of Bermuda, cut time, dry time, storage. I like to use orchard & Alf mixed but only young Alf. What I have now is so green it looks freeze dried! They don't leave a blade! Better not either with cost.

 

[Show Sebright]

My goats will not eat coastal. I don't know what to feed my goats. Anyone else in TX know where I can get something different than coastal? And how do I tell if its good? All the hay I see looks dried out. I really dont know anything about hay other than my goats will not eat coastal.
Thanks!

We have the same issues. I’m in Florida and we do alfalfa.

 

[2goatgal]

We have the same issues. I’m in Florida and we do alfalfa.

Ditto here. My 2 does are alfalfa addicts BUT, will go into the donkey's manger and eat his coastal, but not if I put it in their stall. Goats are supposed to dislike grasses which is why their preference for the legume, alfalfa. However, the farm I got one of my does from feed their herd rolled coastal and recommended I stick with it. I didn't. I guess if that's all they're exposed to and they're hungry....it sure would be hugely cheaper.

 

[simplysouthern22]

We offer Rye as free choice to our cows but recently got some good looking Alfalfa from a horse owner out of WI. He gets it shipped down to the FL panhandle and we try to keep a bale of it on hand to offer our dairy girls with their evening concentrates. Agree with trying to link up with a horse owner & figure out what you have available around you & try some out with your goats that might be a good benefit for them at a price you can afford.