Pygmy ?s

[mylilchix]

I was calling a woman today about buying hay, and was offered 2 free pygmy does. I've been considering getting goats for a while, but haven't done much research into pygmies. What are their housing and feed requirements? I've already got a fenced pasture that my llamas use. If I do go ahead and get the goats they'd live in llama land.

Thanks, Sonja

 

[Roll farms]

1) Make sure your llamas are introduced gradually if possible. I've heard of llamas who aren't used to goats hurting them, or themselves while running from them

(Seen that one myself, a 'guard llama' prospect arrived at a friend's house and saw the goats, ran off scared spitless and ran into / over a 5' chain link fence before we got him calmed down....he couldn't figure out what those little buggers were. Once he figured out they weren't going to eat him, he was fine.)

2) You know the adage, "Nothing in life is free." ???

Ask her why she's giving them away. If she says "I just don't want them anymore" or something vague like that, ask her to be more specific...do they jump over/ go under fences? Are they sick? Prone to parasite issues? Loud?

3) As far as feed / housing, 15 yrs ago when I got both, I fed our llamas and goats the same thing (our goats were pets then, I wasn't breeding / milking.) Sweet feed mix and good grass hay. They all lived together in the same pasture and slept in the same barn.

A lot has changed as far as animal feed and availability since I sold out of llamas, so I can't swear that feeding them the same is still "okay".

 

[mylilchix]

Thanks for the help. The reason why their owner getting rid of some goats is because she is downsizing from a 40 acre property to a 5 acre property. She also has horses, llamas, geese, and pot belly pigs. She needs to find homes for some of the animals because they all won't fit at the new place.

I had built a separated extension to my chicken run which is next to llamaland. I'm panning on keeping the goats on the other side of the fence for a while. It's a smaller secure spot where they can get used to our house.

Thank you for the feed suggestion. We'll pick the girls up this weekend. I can't wait!!

Sonja

 

[ksalvagno]

I would probably look at labels and see what is in the feed including stuff like copper, selenium, calcium, phosphorus, etc. My alpaca feed has 4.5 ppm selenium and my goat feed only has .6ppm selenium. Also the calcium / phosphorus ratio is not 2:1 for the alpacas. I can't remember copper content but I bet that is different too.

 

[Cottage Cheese]

We had the same offer a few months back... and NEVER looked back!!! You will love them

 

[mylilchix]

I'm really excited. We've been looking into goats for a while now, but the timing wasn't right. They seem like good starter goats.

I'll check the feed bags when I go buy some. Right now I'll just buy a bag of the sweet feed they're on now. We have llamas, so there's plenty of hay here.

Sonja

 

[Wild Wind Farm]

Goats need alot more copper, I like Purina goat chow, and you will want a loose mineral, mana pro make a good one. You can buy both at Tracker Supply. Good luck!

 

[Wild Wind Farm]

I forgot you need to give them free choice baking soda also. They will only eat what they need.

 

[cmjust0]

I forgot you need to give them free choice baking soda also. They will only eat what they need.

We don't put out free-choice baking soda. Some folks recommend specifically against providing free-choice baking soda because they can overload on it and really raise their gut pH, which can mess with mineral and nutrient absorption, etc.. Bucks definitely shouldn't have anything that's going to raise their pH, as that can be a contributing factor in urinary calculi.

Personally, I consider baking soda to be in the meds department... If I think one needs it, I'll dissolve it in water and shoot it down their throat...but like any other med, I wouldn't leave it out free choice.

My only point is that opinions differ on baking soda. I just kinda thought the OP should be aware of that.

 

[Roll farms]

I top dress our goats' feed w/ baking soda and probiotic powder in the spring, when new GREEN grass is coming on fast, to help prevent bloat and diarrhea....that's the only time I 'feed' them baking soda.