Still learning...while trying to control this addiction!!

[Dogma]

Happy Easter my friends,
Ginger and Nutmeg are doing great and since they did not give us any babies..we decided to purchase some!! Last weekend we went to view a closed/tested herd and came home with two beautiful 8 week old does and two handsome 8 week wethers.. We are keeping them separate and slowly introducing them. So far nutmeg loves them.. Ginger is ok.. A head butt here and there. I assume this is normal?!
Question time???
Should I pull the boys off grain completely?! If so, do I wean?! They are eating the second cutting orchard grass/Timothy very well
What about does?! Do they need grain?! They are 15-20 pounds right now and I will weigh them weekly to be sure they are gaining ..
Are they ok to all live together?!
Anything I need to know?! They were vaccinated for CD&T and they look happy and healthy. I will get a fecal to the vet soon..
They are a little skiddish but slowly coming around with a shake can fill of goat treats, anything else I can use?! I read raisins?!?
I'm just nervous and want to have happy and healthy goats!! Next year I want to breed the older girls and have babies and milk I can see it now...I've gone goat crazy!!!
Thank you as always for all of the help and guidance!!! I'd be lost without you all

 

[norseofcourse]

Congrats on the new goats! I'll let goat people answer the food questions. If they only had one CD-T, they'll need a second one about 2 or 3 weeks after the first, then it's just once a year.

 

[Dogma]

Congrats on the new goats! I'll let goat people answer the food questions. If they only had one CD-T, they'll need a second one about 2 or 3 weeks after the first, then it's just once a year.

Thank you. They have had the series of two... Just need to do rabies after 12 weeks I was told.

 

[Southern by choice]

Should I pull the boys off grain completely?! If so, do I wean?!

Not sure I understand when you say wean... are they on bottles?
No- keep them on grain 1/4- 1/2 cup and hay and water
The feed is more to help with nutritional balance... small amount is fine.

What about does?! Do they need grain?!

Same as the wethers 1/4 - 1/2 cup and increase as they age and get bigger to about 1 cup a day. Hay and water.

Loose minerals for all.

Are they ok to all live together?!

Yes, but I am a big believer in quarantining.
Quarantine allows for you to have fecals run and treatments if necessary. Also if there is and respiratory from transport... and it is good overall practice.

 

[Dogma]

Not sure I understand when you say wean... are they on bottles?
No- keep them on grain 1/4- 1/2 cup and hay and water
The feed is more to help with nutritional balance... small amount is fine.


Same as the wethers 1/4 - 1/2 cup and increase as they age and get bigger to about 1 cup a day. Hay and water.

Loose minerals for all.



Yes, but I am a big believer in quarantining.
Quarantine allows for you to have fecals run and treatments if necessary. Also if there is and respiratory from transport... and it is good overall practice.

Thank you... They are not on bottles.. I was asking if I have to take boys off grain totally, do I slowly decrease?! But I will keep them on as recommended. I appreciate your help.
Is 30 days common for quarantine ?

 

[OneFineAcre]

People who purchase wethers from me I recommend they give a balanced feed until they are 8 months old
So I would gradually increase the feed to about a cup when they are 4 months old
Then at 8 months old decrease the feed and transition to alfalfa pellets

Then free choice grass hay and instead of feed a cup of alfalfa pellets is how people we know feed wethers
Make sure you give them the mineral that has ammonium chloride

 

[Southern by choice]

OFA's schedule is a good one. We don't do alfalfa pellets because ours get alfalfa hay or chaffhaye... the feed is more for balance.

The ammonium chloride is important ( it is in our feed as well as mineral) . Very important for wethers.

Yes 30 day quarantine is normal... for older goats we do 60 day.

If the kids have a bloom of parasites (not likely at their age) or cocci which is more likely, you don't want that all over your property and you want to treat this before mixing goats. Respiratory can happen from transit and will be better handled by containing.

 

[Latestarter]

There's a difference between alfalfa pellets, feed, and grain... Where boys are concerned, from what I understand, grain should be a "treat only" kinda thing, and then a minimum amount (Excepting the herd sire during breeding season, if you give him some to keep him strong). The feed is for during the main growth period, the alfalfa pellets (and or feed) are a maintenance thing for adults if they need more than the hay and browse alone are giving them to keep a good body profile. Most male goats should be OK, do just fine, on a decent quality hay, free choice (plus the minerals, etc. of course).

 

[Goat Whisperer]

While they are growing it is best to to give a little something as OFA & Southern have already said

Most male goats should be OK, do just fine, on a decent quality hay, free choice (plus the minerals, etc. of course).

This really depends on the goat and the genetics. Some goats get fat off air others need some help.

 

[babsbag]

I am the odd man out. My boys get only alfalfa. No grain, no pellet feed, nada. Alfalfa, loose minerals, and of course water. I have only bucks, no wethers, but I would put ammonium chloride in the minerals if I had a wether.