Food for Goats

[Mspencer035]

I have three 14 1/2 week old Nigerian Dwarf little ladies. I give them one cup of a certain a day. I feel like it's not enough. I'm new to the game so I could be wrong.
The mix consists of: grain, sweet feed and sunflower seeds.
I give them treats of sweet potatoes and carrots. Also, hay lots of hay and we just bought Alfalfa mix.
Am I missing something? Do I need to add more cups of food. If not, when do I increase their food?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

 

[Mvan42]

We have 2- 1 week old alpine goat kids.. I am also new to goats but not live stock... Everything I have read says they eat more hey and grazing than grains. I just bought a pellet grower feed for goats. It says only 2% of their body weight so not much.. I have also read that if they eat to much it can make them sick or could be fatal. keep in mind this information is coming from other web sites I have found while googling information on goats.... mine are still bottle feed but should start eating a little soon...

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I don't know to much about goats (I know more about chickens), but when I was younger I had goats that was fed once in the morning and once at night. They were half Saanen. As far as I know, you are supposed to milk goats morning and evening, so that's why we fed them at that time. My Mom sold them before we ever bred them, though.
Goats can easily over eat. My Grandfather used to have 44 goats when he was a kid and they ate every thing. One even ate the windshield wipers off a car!
You don't want them to get bloated, either.
I don't know if anything I said is helpful, but I hope there is something I said that you could use to help.

 

[Mvan42]

Thanks.. any information can help. We have had them since last Saturday they are doing great.. seem to be happy running and playing.

 

[Echilde]

They should have minimal grains, especially in the summer months when there are many grazing options. Alfalfa hay Iis high in protein, which is fine for young goats and nursing mothers, but later switch them to Timothy hay or even a mixture, since too much protein can also make them sick. I feed my two 7 yrs old girls once a day, a mix of grains and sweet mix, along with unlimited hay (Timothy in the summer and a mix in the winter) and grazing and free choice minerals.

 

[DellaMyDarling]

I'm not versed as to what is in the goat grower pellets. Does label tell you anything in simple terms? My only knowledge on grower pellets is in reference to pellets to fatten for meat intended goats. Since generally people don't eat Nigerians, I'm not thinking you need those pellets.
There's lots of opinions on goat feeding and not as much for concrete proof. What we do know is that Nigerians get fat on air.
Most people agree that goats do not need (or absolutely should not have, depending who you ask) any good amounts of grains unless they are nursing/in milk, and in the last trimester of pregnancy (and this is more so to get the rumen rraccustomed to grains.)
Goats absolutely must have long stemmed foods, hay and forages. If you are able to get your goats browsing on "weeds", excellent. Not everyone can, and two of my own goats don't seem to know what to browse for (it's usually a learned skill.) Also, one must know what a goat cannot eat of the "weeds" available.
Long stemmed hay...this takes some research in your local area to find good price, good quality, the right mixture, and a crossing of fingers to hope they'll eat it. Goats are buttheads with hay. Do expect them to waste a bunch as well.
Tractor Supply, and my local feed stores, always have bagged hay options as well. We frequently buy Timothy hay, but caution on Standlee brand, it'll make your goats all snotty and goopy eyed from the packaged up dust (they do love it though.) I have tried a HiFiber , bagged oat alfalfa, Timothy mix and my goats will eat it but would rather not. Alfalfa chaffhaye is a huge hit in my barn. Sometimes you will see spots inside that look like mold, but it's not, I promise. Chaffhaye is slightly fermented and has added cultures or enzymes or something I cannot recall, the spots are part of that.
Alfalfa is an interesting hay. Many sources tell me to give less during the first two trimesters of goat pregnancy, because too much can cause massive baby growth. I'm not sure how perfect that information is, because alfalfa is essential for goats in milk due to its calcium content. I surmise that my pregnant doe would also require much calcium, protein, and good rumen fermentation...I've been giving her a handful when I pull a serving out for my milker.

Goat minerals get even more complex and controversial...but let's start with general diet.

 

[Echilde]

I'm not versed as to what is in the goat grower pellets. Does label tell you anything in simple terms? My only knowledge on grower pellets is in reference to pellets to fatten for meat intended goats. Since generally people don't eat Nigerians, I'm not thinking you need those pellets.
There's lots of opinions on goat feeding and not as much for concrete proof. What we do know is that Nigerians get fat on air.
Most people agree that goats do not need (or absolutely should not have, depending who you ask) any good amounts of grains unless they are nursing/in milk, and in the last trimester of pregnancy (and this is more so to get the rumen rraccustomed to grains.)
Goats absolutely must have long stemmed foods, hay and forages. If you are able to get your goats browsing on "weeds", excellent. Not everyone can, and two of my own goats don't seem to know what to browse for (it's usually a learned skill.) Also, one must know what a goat cannot eat of the "weeds" available.
Long stemmed hay...this takes some research in your local area to find good price, good quality, the right mixture, and a crossing of fingers to hope they'll eat it. Goats are buttheads with hay. Do expect them to waste a bunch as well.
Tractor Supply, and my local feed stores, always have bagged hay options as well. We frequently buy Timothy hay, but caution on Standlee brand, it'll make your goats all snotty and goopy eyed from the packaged up dust (they do love it though.) I have tried a HiFiber , bagged oat alfalfa, Timothy mix and my goats will eat it but would rather not. Alfalfa chaffhaye is a huge hit in my barn. Sometimes you will see spots inside that look like mold, but it's not, I promise. Chaffhaye is slightly fermented and has added cultures or enzymes or something I cannot recall, the spots are part of that.
Alfalfa is an interesting hay. Many sources tell me to give less during the first two trimesters of goat pregnancy, because too much can cause massive baby growth. I'm not sure how perfect that information is, because alfalfa is essential for goats in milk due to its calcium content. I surmise that my pregnant doe would also require much calcium, protein, and good rumen fermentation...I've been giving her a handful when I pull a serving out for my milker.

Goat minerals get even more complex and controversial...but let's start with general diet.

Yeah there definitely isn't a consensus on what and how to feed goats. It's a crap shoot. I figure if they aren't underweight or overweight and they are acting normal then they must be eating fine, but who knows?!

 

[sunrise.superman]

Goats like "browse" the best...the twiggy, brushy, leafy types of wild growing whatever. The stuff you'd normally take brush hog to when it gets overgrown. Goats are perfect to turn loose in overgrown areas you need to clear. They'll also eat the snot out of poison ivy (just don't touch their faces right away for your own sake). Well fed goats rarely eat things that are toxic for them.

I bred Boer goats for 15 years and had up to 25 in the herd...rarely gave them significant quantities of commercial feed. Usually to get them moved or loaded up somewhere. Whole food leftovers as treats, lots of browse, fallen leaves were a fave in the fall, free choice grass hay, some alfalfa...mostly they mooched off of what the horses spilled of the alfalfa.