So upset - long story / pics - new pics / question pg. 4

[Ms. Research]

I know it's good for weight. And they're getting good, leafy 2nd cutting alfalfa.
But...it makes me feel like I'm giving in and letting a 5 yr old (human) kid eat candy for dinner just b/c it's easier than arguing w/ them.

I feel like I'm being manipulated by a couple bratty children,

Let them be bratty for a little while. They've been through hell. And you are getting them back on their feet with your loving attention. Once they hit the weight you want them at, then I would start being FIRM with them. Maybe I'm a softie, because I do root for the underdog and hate to see any animals suffer like that from mistreatment of a human. These girls have been through hell, almost to the brink of death, I'll let them be bratty just a little bit.

 

[SuburbanFarmChic]

In my group competition makes for much less picky eaters. Once they are out in Gen pop they'll figure out pretty quickly they need to gobble down their veggies too or they'll just be munching on hay that day. A couple days of somebody else stealing their dinner should make a difference in food attitude.


I still can't believe that they are being picky with how hungry they must be. Just goes to show that goats will find a way to be brats in any situation.

 

[helmstead]

It probably seems counterproductive in writting, but I'd almost nix the grain products entirely and just go with that alfalfa hay until they've put muscle on.

When I rehabbed starved horses...it was hay only for about 4 months, then start adding concentrates. We'd do hay pellets, alfalfa hay, and add in soaked beet pulp about 1 month in. Concentrates tend to stress liver and kidneys on starvation cases...so we just went with the best available hay and hay pellets. Sometimes really good alfalfa wasn't available, so I'd use hay cubes (which goats sometimes have trouble eating). The beet pulp, later, was a great way to add in topdresses, and eventually a high fat/rice bran senior feed.

It might not be a bad idea to seek out a Senior horse feed (a nice one) that has rice bran in it - mix in some of that corn they're loving, at some point. But I'd back off the grain for now...

I KNOW they're not horses...but this has worked for me on several "sow's ears" goats we've rescued that today are silk purses.

 

[redtailgal]

Thats how we handle starving rehab horses. Ease them up to all they can eat of high quality hay , and leave them at it four a couple months.

It is good to see someone else does this, it has amazed me how many people think we are cruel for not giving them grain!

 

[Roll farms]

I agree that competition helps. If I give Creampuff something, suddenly EVERYONE wants it (she's my 'mikey' - "hey, she likes it.")

See, that's where I was sitting on the fence - because obviously, if a starving HUMAN wanted only candy, we wouldn't let them eat it. It's not 'good' for them.

Part of me thinks, "Something's better than nothing" but the (smarter) part of me knows it won't help in the long run. They are going through about 2 flakes of alf. 2x a day between them. If I give them more than that they waste a lot of it. I know they're bored, being kept in a 10 x 10 stall...but I know the fatties would beat them up. I'm going to give them 2 more weeks in confinement and then try them.

Jaz is in the barn (loose) b/c of her sore foot. Mandy hopped off the milk stand after I brushed her and went over to Jaz w/ her ears all stuck out like she was gonna whoop her. It was sorta like watching a chihuahua challenge a Doberman. I said, "Yes, Mandy, you're tough..." and led her back to her stall.

I spent a lot of time grooming them this morning, feeling them all over, etc. Mandy has bugs. That probably explains why she's still anemic, eh?
Near as I can tell, Hannah doesn't (and talk about DARK eye membranes, folks, that girl has 'em. ) but I'm going to inject both w/ ivo since they'll probably leave Mandy and go to Hannah.

I put my hands on their butts and 'measured' again, like I did in the earlier pics, and I can now see goat on either side of my hand. So I guess they are improving...it's just not as fast as I'd like.

Why is it that if I start eating a ton of good stuff, the pounds just pile right on? NO FAIR~!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I think either way would be fine. It's definitely not cruel to not feed grain, but there's nothing wrong with wise feeding of grain either.

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I'd be leery of too much grain as well. I'd be pouring as much alfalfa into them as possible and go heavy on the beet pulp. Let them gain slowly for a while, give the chance for the rumen to adjust, then start working in the concentrates. I have a doe who was really thin when I purchased her- we've been slowly but surely putting weight on her with free-choice alfalfa, lots of beet pulp, and a very moderate amount of high-fat performance horse feed. Even without going heavy on the grain she has put on flesh. Not overnight by any stretch of the imagination, but in a way that is healthy for the rumen. The difference in her overall appearance has been pretty dramatic.

 

[doxiemoxie]

I'll second, third, fourth, whatever the recommendation to mostly go with the alfalfa and not stress about them eating a good mix of grain. It can take 6-8 weeks for a digestive tract to get back to some sort of normal, producing berries instead of logs. As long as they aren't getting looser, having mucus, turning odd colors or odors and you're treating for parasites, don't worry it too much.

When you are ready to try offering other grains again you might try sprouting some of them. The starches will turn to sugars as they sprout becoming sweeter and maybe more attractive. Yes, goats are brats and I can gain weight just eating fruits and veggies, so I understand your pain!

I also would like to think that if you sat Josh down and had an honest heart to heart about the condition of the goats without getting angry at him (even though what he did is infuriating) and ask straight forward for outright ownership and papers on Freckles he might just give in. He isn't so stupid that he didn't know he was over his head; just stupid to not ask for help when he needed it. He may not get his act together enough to get you the papers so offer to help him (I don't know what different ways getting her papers can be accomplished...is she tattooed?).

Lastly:

It was sorta like watching a chihuahua challenge a Doberman.

goats