What I'm feeding my Nigerian Dwarf Goats

[EM Squared Farms]

Lisa, totally off topic, but I just wanted to say that I took a look at your website and your Golden Seabright that you have on your main page is beautiful! I like your mission and your ideas. Keep up the good work!

Thanks ! They are my son's favorite chicken.

The Master Breeder was so nice too and gave him a huge discount since he was using his own allowance $ to buy them (and he makes $7 a week for a 12 yr. old). I'm so proud of him. He's been paying for his chicken feed for a month or so now. It's certainly helped him not waste as much feed. Poor thing had to buy a garbage can with a tight fitting lid to prevent mysterious loss of feed. He couldn't figure out how his bag ran out early this week.

 

[EM Squared Farms]

Maybe I can ask you guys:

Is it normal to double the feed amount (whatever you feed your does) during their pregnancy ?

Anyone else with Nigerian Dwarf goats ?

Thanks,

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

If they're in good flesh at the time of breeding then it's not necessary to increase their ration until the last month or so of gestation. Until then their caloric needs really don't change much. This is when kids do most of their growing, so it's important to feed for metabolic balance. An especially important time to be sure your Ca ratios are right side up, as is lactation.

 

[Fluffygal]

I just got goats and find this a good thread to read.
I have 1 pygmy doe and 1 Nigerian buck.
I picked up the Noble Purina med feed for goats (the folks I got Rufus from use this feed) Is it worth keeping them on this? How well does it protect them or can the parasites become resistent to the med ingredient? Would I be better off switching feed brands once they finish this bag?
Also we have been giving them a scoop of feed in their feeder which they have free access to all day. Is this really too much?
They also get hay and alfalfa.
I got them a goat block and also loose mineral rations.
I gave them some branches with leaves today.

Just got a feed trough that is up off the ground added to their pen and just got a hay bag to get the hay n alfalfa off the ground as I read about their food needing to be off the ground so that it does not get soiled.

I am reading what I can and have just joined this site to gleam as much as I can so that they get the best care possible. I am already attached to Rufus who is a very sweet buck that loves chin rubs and ear rubs. Bella is a bit shy but I am hoping with patience to get her used to people and getting her tamer.
I love the mini breeds as they are perfect for small areas. I have just under 2 acres. Their pen is a 10'x10' square dog kennel that is 6' high. We will be making it bigger this weekend to where they will have a 30'long x 10' wide pen with one end covered. They also have a large dog house that they both sleep in.
Hope to get more input on nutrition.

 

[EM Squared Farms]

If they're in good flesh at the time of breeding then it's not necessary to increase their ration until the last month or so of gestation. Until then their caloric needs really don't change much. This is when kids do most of their growing, so it's important to feed for metabolic balance. An especially important time to be sure your Ca ratios are right side up, as is lactation.

Thanks for the info....is this true for all breeds of goats ?

Can you explain in a little more detail about the calcium and phosporus ratios ? This is the first I've heard about it.

Thanks !

 

[that's*satyrical]

I just got goats and find this a good thread to read.
I have 1 pygmy doe and 1 Nigerian buck.
I picked up the Noble Purina med feed for goats (the folks I got Rufus from use this feed) Is it worth keeping them on this? How well does it protect them or can the parasites become resistent to the med ingredient? Would I be better off switching feed brands once they finish this bag?
Also we have been giving them a scoop of feed in their feeder which they have free access to all day. Is this really too much?
They also get hay and alfalfa.
I got them a goat block and also loose mineral rations.
I gave them some branches with leaves today.

Just got a feed trough that is up off the ground added to their pen and just got a hay bag to get the hay n alfalfa off the ground as I read about their food needing to be off the ground so that it does not get soiled.

I am reading what I can and have just joined this site to gleam as much as I can so that they get the best care possible. I am already attached to Rufus who is a very sweet buck that loves chin rubs and ear rubs. Bella is a bit shy but I am hoping with patience to get her used to people and getting her tamer.
I love the mini breeds as they are perfect for small areas. I have just under 2 acres. Their pen is a 10'x10' square dog kennel that is 6' high. We will be making it bigger this weekend to where they will have a 30'long x 10' wide pen with one end covered. They also have a large dog house that they both sleep in.
Hope to get more input on nutrition.

I don't know pros/cons of medicated feed, but if you're going to switch you probably want to add a little more each day of the new feed to the old, goats have delicate digestive systems so if you don't convert them slowly they will probably have side effects like diarrhea, etc... I am personally against medicated feed just because I don't believe anyone or anything should be medicated unless there is actually something WRONG with them...

 

[EM Squared Farms]

I just got goats and find this a good thread to read.
I have 1 pygmy doe and 1 Nigerian buck.
I picked up the Noble Purina med feed for goats (the folks I got Rufus from use this feed) Is it worth keeping them on this? How well does it protect them or can the parasites become resistent to the med ingredient? Would I be better off switching feed brands once they finish this bag?
Also we have been giving them a scoop of feed in their feeder which they have free access to all day. Is this really too much?
They also get hay and alfalfa.
I got them a goat block and also loose mineral rations.
I gave them some branches with leaves today.

Just got a feed trough that is up off the ground added to their pen and just got a hay bag to get the hay n alfalfa off the ground as I read about their food needing to be off the ground so that it does not get soiled.

I am reading what I can and have just joined this site to gleam as much as I can so that they get the best care possible. I am already attached to Rufus who is a very sweet buck that loves chin rubs and ear rubs. Bella is a bit shy but I am hoping with patience to get her used to people and getting her tamer.
I love the mini breeds as they are perfect for small areas. I have just under 2 acres. Their pen is a 10'x10' square dog kennel that is 6' high. We will be making it bigger this weekend to where they will have a 30'long x 10' wide pen with one end covered. They also have a large dog house that they both sleep in.
Hope to get more input on nutrition.

Hi, I'm glad to hear you have dwarf goats too !

I bought my first goats about a year ago.
I hear very good things about Noble Goat feed. (that this feed doesn't lead to those urinary stones in bucks that can be very painful and lead to their death).

I used to only feed my goats:

for doelings: 1/2 cup of feed (Noble goat medicated pellets) in the morning, 1/2 cup of feed in the evenings
for bucklings: 1/4 cup of feed in the morning, 1/4 cup of feed in the evenings.

They get hay in these hay feeders I made from fence (kind of like a basket that hangs on the wall). Make it high enough that they can't jump in it !

I also offer a goat mineral block (free choice) and baking soda to the doelings (free choice - to help them regulate their digestion/gas). No baking soda to the bucks. I give the bucks a splash of white vinegar in their water daily/new water.

I noticed you didn't mention anything about a dewormer ? I use Molly's herbals (formula 1 and 2). Not formula 1 while pregnant as the wormwood herb can cause miscarriages.

Since this summer drought, they grazed down their whole pasture areas and I used to supplement their pasture with oak branches, brazilian pepper branches, australian pine, weeds, grass. Then I decided to try what another goat breeder was using since they seemed to be hungry (eating the pasture faster than it could grow or eating everything I put in there for them). He used some black oil sunflower seed and shredded beet pulp. Since feeding them on this for a few months now, the pasture has grown back. They do graze/browse on the tops of the tall grass and weeds. Now I don't feel I need to expand their area as much since they have so much to eat ! We are on only 2 acres and had plans of extending pasture one area at a time.

Now, they got pregnant last month and the other Nigerian dwarf goat breeder told me he doubles their feed rations slowly.

I've written an e-mail to him and 3 other goat breeders (the ones I bought my goats from) to see what they feed their pregnant does.

We are always learning ! You can never learn too much and never talk to too many to see what they are doing.

I actually belong to 3 goat forums. so I know there is a wealth of info out there.

Plus I do have a best friend that has been raising Alpines and now Nubians and Boers. I think i'll FB her next.

Glad to hear we kind of have a similar set up (dwarf goats, small acreage).

Good luck on your search for info.

 

[Fluffygal]

Thanks
We just finished expanding their pen and it is on a new spot with lots of brush in the pen. Ofcourse, we don't think it will take them long to clear out the brush on their own. Rufus and Bella are much calmer in the new pen.

I am thinking about working them off of the medicated feed as I have been reading alot about resistent strains of parasites from too much meds. I will take the advise of slowly working them off so as to not upset their systems.

Rufus has adjusted best to his new home taking everything in stride. Bella has lost weight. I would like to see her get some of the weight back. Think it is due to the stress of new home as she is very skittish. I do not know what feed brand she was on originally either.

I am interested in organic methods as I keep my chickens as organic as possible.

On the BOSS, are you giving them with the shells or without shells?

 

[that's*satyrical]

I gave my BOSS with the shells. If you want to make her less skittish you could try getting her to take a little calf manna from your hand. The stuff is like goat candy, mine go crazy over it. Do it once or twice a day for a few days & she'll start coming to see you!! Don't have to give a whole ton, just enough to give them a few bites, a little taste.. My goats come to see me literally running because they get treats. I don't know if you technically should do this, but it works!! lol

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

I don't know if you technically should do this, but it works!! lol

Yes, bribery is a very useful goat management tool.