Newbie

[my kids]

Hi, I live in NE Tennessee. I have what I call a hobby farm. I have 3 lamanchas. 2 wethers
( brothers) That are 7 months old and a doeling ( half sister) that is 6 months old. I have 2 miniature horses that we rescued and half a dozen chickens. Everyone has a separate barn. I love it here and all my babies seem to be happy here. I have not had a farm in 35 years and boy have things changed! Nice to meet y'all.
Theresa

 

[my kids]

So I also have questions. I bought my goats from a breeder. The wethers I give about a tablespoon of the medicated grower feed. Dumor. They are 7 months old. They have had their CDT and copper bolus. My question is, how long am I keeping them on the medicated grower feed? They have pasture and unlimited grass hay, free sweetlix minerals, free baking soda, a playground, and all the water they want. Oh and I put acv in the water and black oil sunflower seeds like a Tablespoon each. However, to me, they seem thin. And now winter is knocking at the door and I'm at a loss how to keep them a correct weight. What am I lacking? How long on the very little medicated feed? Vet said no grain, then the breeder said the wethers can have it because it's medicated. I'm confused and I don't want them to get sick or worse and I am trying so hard to do the right thing. But what is the right thing for wethers? Thank you for reading this n helping me understand . I honestly don't understand the ratio thing I see mentioned alot. I don't understand how to figure that out
Theresa ( my kids)

 

[Baymule]

Welcome to the forum from East Texas! I raise sheep, I’m no help on goats. Someone will be along that can help you with that.

@Mini Horses
@frustratedearthmother
@rachels.haven

 

[SageHill]

Welcome from So Cal. Only sheep here and a handful of chickens and my dogs.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

What is your feed medicated with? Is it ammonium chloride to help prevent urinary calculi or is it with a coccidiostat? If it's ammonium chloride I think you'd be safe to increase their feed. A tablespoon of feed isn't very much! They don't look particularly thin to me in the pics - but it's hard to tell form pics. If you think they're too thin I would increase it gradually until you see them begin to gain a little weight and then hold there for awhile.

Goats don't need to be "fat" but you are right to be concerned before winter. Do you have a way to weigh them? You can buy a weight tape pretty cheaply. That might help you.

This article explains how to determine body condition score in goats. It might help you determine if your goats are actually underweight.

https://www.in.gov/boah/files/Goats_BCS_pamphlet.pdf

 

[rachels.haven]

Hi,
I don't think a tablespoon of feed each is doing anything for them. I also think medicated feed is usually meant to be free choice to young kids and goats meant for the meat market. They're probably not getting much med in that dose. I usually keep my grow out kids on free choice medicated feed and free choice alfalfa and also grass hay for 4-6 months. You could probably gradually up it to a cup each morning and night and then when the bag is out switch then to a normal, balanced, ammonium chloride inclusive goat grain since they're probably not getting much from the coccidia med in the tiny amount of feed they are getting. I'm not sure I would ever recommend boss for wethers or bucks. Too sky high in phosphorus. Alfalfa hay pellets might be a good condition building tool too. Protein helps keep them healthy and able to bounce back from best life throws at them and alfalfa has that and a dose of calcium to help ward off too much phosphorus that could come from grain plus hay imbalance.

Taking a fecal in to be checked and then treating them accordingly will also help with body condition.

That being said, your goats don't look too bad. You must be feeding decent hay, and their fecal egg counts shouldn't be too bad.

*Some vets and keepers are old school and say no alfalfa, no grain for bucks and wethers. More up to date vets will tell you it's all about the calcium to phosphorus ratio. The low dose of feed instructions probably comes from.

Welcome and good luck.

 

[Mini Horses]

I'm the wildcard. I do not use medicated feeds.
But a teaspoon ration? Unless that's pure medicine, can't see any real help. Plus, my boys do get grains, 24/7 pasture and/or hay. The dairy girls get more grains, especially if lactating...and they never look "fat". My Boers, different story and less grain.

I'd use a great mixed hay, loose minerals, baking soda and be good. But growth needs some proteins & carbs. I'd give a cup of balanced feed per day, per head, until spring. Definitely worm checks. Pet animals do not have the body stresses and demands of production ones. So you're in a better position for little grains.

The pictures show a fair weight body, especially at their age. Could they use a little more weight? Some. But nothing serious that I see. They are still growing and will fill out as they get older. Nutritionally in this growth stage they need excellent quality hay 24/7. I do feed Alf pellets & Alf mixed hay to my herd -- personal preference. I've never had a calculi problem in any.

We do what works for our type and area of country. Soils and product availability differs.

 

[my kids]

What is your feed medicated with? Is it ammonium chloride to help prevent urinary calculi or is it with a coccidiostat? If it's ammonium chloride I think you'd be safe to increase their feed. A tablespoon of feed isn't very much! They don't look particularly thin to me in the pics - but it's hard to tell form pics. If you think they're too thin I would increase it gradually until you see them begin to gain a little weight and then hold there for awhile.

Goats don't need to be "fat" but you are right to be concerned before winter. Do you have a way to weigh them? You can buy a weight tape pretty cheaply. That might help you.

This article explains how to determine body condition score in goats. It might help you determine if your goats are actually underweight.

https://www.in.gov/boah/files/Goats_BCS_pamphlet.pdf

Thank you so very much. It does have the ammonium chloride.