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- #11
what type of feed
- Thread starter billy123
- Start date
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
Do a google search on FAMACHA to read up on how to tell from their inner eyelids.
I use herbal dewormers but I also run my own fecal exams (it is $22 for the vets to do it around here) so I can closely monitor what they need. I am not a stickler about it and have a bottle of ivomec in the fridge and have used that on occasion. But it is very rare that I use the chemical dewormer now.
Since the worm problem can vary from goat to goat and from property to property, I do recommend that if you go the herbal route that you get fecal exams done regularly. Or get a microscope and learn to do your own. It was worth it for me, with 7 goats and things being so expensive where I am. If someone gets clumpy poo, I can get an answer in an hour.
You might want to back off on the amount of grain and alfalfa pellets you are feeding if the poo is still clumpy. I can't give my does free choice alfalfa pellets without trouble as they eat too many. And I also give other things with their grain on the milking stand to slow them down, like soaked beet pulp (you don't HAVE to soak it, but it really slows them down) and chopped veggie scraps (these don't really slow them down as they love them but they either pick around them or pick FOR them and that slows them a tiny bit!)
I use herbal dewormers but I also run my own fecal exams (it is $22 for the vets to do it around here) so I can closely monitor what they need. I am not a stickler about it and have a bottle of ivomec in the fridge and have used that on occasion. But it is very rare that I use the chemical dewormer now.
Since the worm problem can vary from goat to goat and from property to property, I do recommend that if you go the herbal route that you get fecal exams done regularly. Or get a microscope and learn to do your own. It was worth it for me, with 7 goats and things being so expensive where I am. If someone gets clumpy poo, I can get an answer in an hour.
You might want to back off on the amount of grain and alfalfa pellets you are feeding if the poo is still clumpy. I can't give my does free choice alfalfa pellets without trouble as they eat too many. And I also give other things with their grain on the milking stand to slow them down, like soaked beet pulp (you don't HAVE to soak it, but it really slows them down) and chopped veggie scraps (these don't really slow them down as they love them but they either pick around them or pick FOR them and that slows them a tiny bit!)
Emmetts Dairy
Loving the herd life
I would google it too!! It shows you how to look for signs of anemia, which is a sign of wormload, on the membran of the eyelid.billy123 said:
Our7Wonders
Overrun with beasties
I use herbal wormer too. My goats were raised on holistic wormers - they are 4yo and 3yo and have never had chemical wormers.
Having said that though, I just bought these does back in December. I wanted to make sure that what had been done with them was effective so I had a fecal ran at my vet. Came back clean. My older doe kidded 2 weeks ago so I'll be having a fecal ran today or tomorrow to make sure she's still doing ok. If all looks good I'll keep it up - if not I can resort to stronger methods. Like Freemotion, I don't get all worked up over it. My goal is happy, healthy goats - I prefer to do so with natural manangement but will resort to the less natural if it's really needed. It's how we raise our human children too.
Having said that though, I just bought these does back in December. I wanted to make sure that what had been done with them was effective so I had a fecal ran at my vet. Came back clean. My older doe kidded 2 weeks ago so I'll be having a fecal ran today or tomorrow to make sure she's still doing ok. If all looks good I'll keep it up - if not I can resort to stronger methods. Like Freemotion, I don't get all worked up over it. My goal is happy, healthy goats - I prefer to do so with natural manangement but will resort to the less natural if it's really needed. It's how we raise our human children too.
