Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
For a dry, full sized Nubian doe, five cups is fine. Definitely not over feeding her. My dry Nubian doe was eating much more than that because she lived with the coming yearlings. I DID put her on a diet because she was over 165# and was a walking ball of blubber 
Right now she's keeping condition on just hay with the occasional snack. Once she starts getting close to kidding I'll start her on feed again. But this doe looks very good so I say just keep doing what you're doing 
She is growing babies and needs the extra calories for those kids and milk! My lamanchas were on feed every day for the entire pregnancy, if I had to guess it probably worked out to around 1-1.5# per doe/day. Some of my dwarfs were on little to no feed during pregnancy, just depends on the doe. Generally, standards are fine to be fed feed the whole pregnancy however this is why knowing your goats is key.
Five cups for a good milking nigie is fine. I know some breeders that feed their nigies over 2# a day when in milk. Again, just depends on the doe. Some does can milk and keep condition on a small amount of feed while others need buckets of feed!
For example- I have 2 does that are 3/4 siblings. One doe eats less but milks more than, while the other eats more but milk less (but still a good milker mind you). Every doe is different and it's your job to adjust accordingly and cull to "shape" your herd to what you want.
When they are used to it, goats can eat a lot of feed with no ill effects. Right now our Nubian buck is eating A LOT. He's growing though and gaining 10-15# a month, weighed 144# on his first birthday. Right now he's eating by the quart… but he is accustomed to it. If he were only getting 2 cups of feed and suddenly had access to a large amount of feed that could be life threatening.
@SandyNubians I am so sorry for all the kids you have gone through, it is very devastating and I see why you are stressed over your girl! Take a deep breath and take it one day at a time.
We recently lost our top LGD back in December. It was completely unexpected. We are still heartbroken, can't even talk about her without tearing up. I know the sadness and grief along with it- very sorry you are dealing with this too 
I haven't seen an udder shrink like that, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the kids have died.
Have you bounced the expecting doe? (Sorry if I missed that…) If you are having a hard time feeling movement, give the dam some Nutri Drench and after about 15 minutes try to bounce her. That extra sugar can cause kids to "bounce off walls" before the are even born!
Sounds like you are doing a good job, try not to stress too bad (easier said than done, I know).
Right now she's keeping condition on just hay with the occasional snack. Once she starts getting close to kidding I'll start her on feed again. But this doe looks very good so I say just keep doing what you're doing She is growing babies and needs the extra calories for those kids and milk! My lamanchas were on feed every day for the entire pregnancy, if I had to guess it probably worked out to around 1-1.5# per doe/day. Some of my dwarfs were on little to no feed during pregnancy, just depends on the doe. Generally, standards are fine to be fed feed the whole pregnancy however this is why knowing your goats is key. Five cups for a good milking nigie is fine. I know some breeders that feed their nigies over 2# a day when in milk. Again, just depends on the doe. Some does can milk and keep condition on a small amount of feed while others need buckets of feed!
For example- I have 2 does that are 3/4 siblings. One doe eats less but milks more than, while the other eats more but milk less (but still a good milker mind you). Every doe is different and it's your job to adjust accordingly and cull to "shape" your herd to what you want.
When they are used to it, goats can eat a lot of feed with no ill effects. Right now our Nubian buck is eating A LOT. He's growing though and gaining 10-15# a month, weighed 144# on his first birthday. Right now he's eating by the quart… but he is accustomed to it. If he were only getting 2 cups of feed and suddenly had access to a large amount of feed that could be life threatening.
@SandyNubians I am so sorry for all the kids you have gone through, it is very devastating and I see why you are stressed over your girl! Take a deep breath and take it one day at a time.
We recently lost our top LGD back in December. It was completely unexpected. We are still heartbroken, can't even talk about her without tearing up. I know the sadness and grief along with it- very sorry you are dealing with this too I haven't seen an udder shrink like that, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the kids have died.
Have you bounced the expecting doe? (Sorry if I missed that…) If you are having a hard time feeling movement, give the dam some Nutri Drench and after about 15 minutes try to bounce her. That extra sugar can cause kids to "bounce off walls" before the are even born!
Sounds like you are doing a good job, try not to stress too bad (easier said than done, I know).
) I gave her some nutri-drench and wowza!! After 10 minutes I saw kids moving! That was the first time i have seen them moving in weeks!!! I was trying to keep all my joy inside! They are alive!!!
(it's 3am)
I will try and update later.
