NaturesPace
Chillin' with the herd
i'm hoping to use Chaff exclusively as far as hay goes. they will forage and get minerals. I'm getting my goats next week and will let others know how it goes.
Need help from a Math Whiz about Chaffhaye. =)
- Thread starter WhiteMountainsRanch
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Catahoula
Overrun with beasties
Don't be surprised if your goats don't eat Chaff at first. Mine took a couple weeks. I started with mixing it in to their grains or mix dry hay together. They turned their noses at first...but one day they finish up everything.NaturesPace said:
My plans was to feed them Chaff exclusively but the vet feels alfalfa hay is too rich for my Boers. She said the Boers can gain weights just by standing! I now give them less Chaff and some timothy grass pellets at each feeding.
NaturesPace
Chillin' with the herd
i learned about Chaff from the herd owner of my soon to be doelings. She is already feeding it to them. It's more of a supplement, but they already like it. I'll have some alfalfa cubes for them too. I'll probably soak them before giving the cubes.
- Thread starter
- #24
WhiteMountainsRanch
Loving the herd life
Mine inhale it, they absolutely love it. 
Rocco
Ridin' The Range
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I use Chaffhaye part of the year...during the winter to add some calories. I mix it with their regular hay, which is usual coastal bermuda, haygrazer and/or alfalfa.
My goats, like others mentioned, either loved it or wouldn't touch the stuff. Some dive on it like a kid on cotton candy, others will just turn and walk away. It does have a strong tobacco-y smell that must be off-putting to some.
But, for about 20-30 goats, I can make one bag last a week or so just blending it by hand to make their regular stuff "better".
I do know one goat breeder in the area though that will NOT have anything to do with Chaffhaye. He had a bad experience with it, and knows of another fellow that lost a horse or two and blamed it on Chaffhaye.
My goats, like others mentioned, either loved it or wouldn't touch the stuff. Some dive on it like a kid on cotton candy, others will just turn and walk away. It does have a strong tobacco-y smell that must be off-putting to some.
But, for about 20-30 goats, I can make one bag last a week or so just blending it by hand to make their regular stuff "better".
I do know one goat breeder in the area though that will NOT have anything to do with Chaffhaye. He had a bad experience with it, and knows of another fellow that lost a horse or two and blamed it on Chaffhaye.
Rocco
Ridin' The Range
- Joined
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Another possible option is to buy bagged alfalfa cubes.
I can buy a 50# bag of cubes for about $15 (places further away sell them for as little as $11). There is virtually no waste and the goats love them...though I do just use them as treats and not as a feed. The downside is they are too big for the goat's little mouths so I have to split them and that would be a pain to split enough at a time to use as feed. BUT, they do make them in mini-cubes as well, but at least where I am, the mini's are a tad higher in price.
I can buy a 50# bag of cubes for about $15 (places further away sell them for as little as $11). There is virtually no waste and the goats love them...though I do just use them as treats and not as a feed. The downside is they are too big for the goat's little mouths so I have to split them and that would be a pain to split enough at a time to use as feed. BUT, they do make them in mini-cubes as well, but at least where I am, the mini's are a tad higher in price.
NaturesPace
Chillin' with the herd
For the cubes, you can soak them in water first and they will break apart.
