More natural and economical approach to feeding?

[greenmulberry]

Once the grass is up nicely, I don't offer hay. You can just play it by ear you know?

I find that no matter how much hay they have, or how nice the grass is, if I bring a flake of hay out, they all come over and pull it out of the feeder just to check if it is something extra good.

In the summer, if I have doubts about the quality or the amount of grass out there, i will give my small flock one flake of hay. If they eat most of it, I might offer another, but they are like cats in that they will ALWAYS act hungry if you bring new food, even if there is perfectly fine food out there being ignored.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Yea. That's probably what I'll do. Play it by ear. I don't know how it'll be yet because we haven't bought a house yet so I don't know the quality of the grass or anything. We'll see.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Ok so another related question. Since I'm not feeding grain unless milking/pregnant or in the winter time, how much grain should I give goats who are milking/pregnant and how much should I give them in the winter (wheather they are milking/preg or dry/open)?

 

[SheepGirl]

I don't give grain to non productive animals, even in the winter. Feeding hay actually is better in the winter because it makes the rumen work and digestion creates heat, which helps to keep them warm.

Now, for my sheep, ewes get 1/2 lb of grain per head per day in the last 30 days of gestation. If they are getting thin during this period, it usually means they have probably 3 in there so the grain gets upped to 1 lb. During lactation, ewes get 1/2 to 1 lb of grain per baby they are nursing, depending on their condition.

Again this is for sheep not goats, so you may need to adjust a little.

 

[Chelsea2258]

I don't give grain to non productive animals, even in the winter. Feeding hay actually is better in the winter because it makes the rumen work and digestion creates heat, which helps to keep them warm.

Now, for my sheep, ewes get 1/2 lb of grain per head per day in the last 30 days of gestation. If they are getting thin during this period, it usually means they have probably 3 in there so the grain gets upped to 1 lb. During lactation, ewes get 1/2 to 1 lb of grain per baby they are nursing, depending on their condition.

Again this is for sheep not goats, so you may need to adjust a little.

Ok. Thank you.

 

[goatboy1973]

Welcome to the herd! I too like the natural approach. Our farm, Calfee Farms (www.calfeefarms.net) hardly ever use grain and when we do use grain it is a treat and used to get the goats to come when called for things like hoof trimming and deworming etc. our goats are grass/ forage fed year round along with a good grass hay in winter. We vaccinate all goats and deworm our goats on an as needed basis and any goat that needs any more than 3 dewormings a year is culled and same goes for the hoof trims; any more than 3 a year and they are taken to auction.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Welcome to the herd! I too like the natural approach. Our farm, Calfee Farms (www.calfeefarms.net) hardly ever use grain and when we do use grain it is a treat and used to get the goats to come when called for things like hoof trimming and deworming etc. our goats are grass/ forage fed year round along with a good grass hay in winter. We vaccinate all goats and deworm our goats on an as needed basis and any goat that needs any more than 3 dewormings a year is culled and same goes for the hoof trims; any more than 3 a year and they are taken to auction.

Thank you!

 

[jodief100]

We do not offer hay in the summer and limit it in the winter when they have stockpiled pasture. They get grain year round though what they get in the summer is about 1 lb/ 8 goats- just enough to keep them running towards me when I shake the bucket. What they get in the winter is very dependent on what stage they are in and what else is going on. Getting your hay tested will also help determine what they eat. The best thing to do is watch your goats and check them daily. IF they are gettign thinner, feed more, if they are getting fatter, feed less. In my opinion, alfalfa hay is too rich for them. I feed an alfalfa mix hay if I can get it, mixed grass if I can't and add alfalfa pellets.

 

[goatboy1973]

We do not offer hay in the summer and limit it in the winter when they have stockpiled pasture. They get grain year round though what they get in the summer is about 1 lb/ 8 goats- just enough to keep them running towards me when I shake the bucket. What they get in the winter is very dependent on what stage they are in and what else is going on. Getting your hay tested will also help determine what they eat. The best thing to do is watch your goats and check them daily. IF they are gettign thinner, feed more, if they are getting fatter, feed less. In my opinion, alfalfa hay is too rich for them. I feed an alfalfa mix hay if I can get it, mixed grass if I can't and add alfalfa pellets.

Yeah, I totally agree with you about the alfalfa. It is WAY too rich for goats and not even recommended for male goats due to its high calcium content. I would think that this mainly applies to wethers due to their increased risk of urinary calculi. If i do feed a commercial feed in the winter, I custom mix it. I use one part sweet feed, to one part straight alfalfa pellets, to one part finely crushed corn, to one part dry shredded beet pulp. This is a wonderful feed for lactating does, expecting, sick, injured, creep feeding...a high energy and high vitamin/ antioxidant food source that aids in tissue repair and overall immune system booster. This the mix I also feed for a week to my kids that I am weaning with the addition of pelleted calf manna.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Thank you for your advice. I'm thinking that I'll do a alfalfa mix hay instead.