Goat advice

[chestypuller]

i used grocery store whole milk for our goat, and boy did he turn out tastey!

 

[LR Gamefarm]

the best is creeper pellets sm with chicken scratch mixed with it

 

[cassie]

Not to be a nay-sayer, but I have seen the results of homogenized milk given to kids(which was what I was told to do when I bought them)---ie awful diarrhea that resulted in dehydration. Their tummies couldn't handle it. Got them on un-homogenized milk from a dairy nearby and it went much better. Swapped from that to goat milk from the store (which was expensive, I admit) with a raw egg whipped in to each bottle (suggested by a lrg animal vet) and they fattened up and gained strength quickly! Just saying what worked for us.

Whatever was causing the trouble with your kids, I doubt if it was the milk, particularly if that was what they had been fed before you got them. The fact that the kids improved after you changed the diet may, or may not, have been related. But kids, and other babies, are funny and have their little quirks. I once had a baby goat that, I kid you not, was allergic to, of all things, goat milk. When given goat milk, it would go into anaphalactic (sp) shock. With my goats, I had a lot of trouble with milk replacer (any replacer) but I never did have trouble with store milk and I raised a LOT of kids. Other breeders I knew said the same thing. Occasionally I had trouble when I fed milk from my Jerseys. Sometimes the kids couldn't tolerate that very rich Jersey milk unless it was diluted.

That said, there is a formula that works very well for baby goats. It was originally formulated by a breeder for her mini goats and Boer kids who need a more high powered milk than the average dairy goat produces, but all baby goats seem to thrive on it. You take a gallon plastic jug of whole milk from the store. Pour off about a quart of milk into another container. Add a can of evaporated milk and a cup of buttermilk to the jug and shake well. Add enough of the milk you poured off back into the jug to fill it up. Shake again to mix, and feed.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Whatever was causing the trouble with your kids, I doubt if it was the milk, particularly if that was what they had been fed before you got them. The fact that the kids improved after you changed the diet may, or may not, have been related. But kids, and other babies, are funny and have their little quirks. I once had a baby goat that, I kid you not, was allergic to, of all things, goat milk. When given goat milk, it would go into anaphalactic (sp) shock. With my goats, I had a lot of trouble with milk replacer (any replacer) but I never did have trouble with store milk and I raised a LOT of kids. Other breeders I knew said the same thing. Occasionally I had trouble when I fed milk from my Jerseys. Sometimes the kids couldn't tolerate that very rich Jersey milk unless it was diluted.

That said, there is a formula that works very well for baby goats. It was originally formulated by a breeder for her mini goats and Boer kids who need a more high powered milk than the average dairy goat produces, but all baby goats seem to thrive on it. You take a gallon plastic jug of whole milk from the store. Pour off about a quart of milk into another container. Add a can of evaporated milk and a cup of buttermilk to the jug and shake well. Add enough of the milk you poured off back into the jug to fill it up. Shake again to mix, and feed.

A vet suggested that it was the homogenized milk causing it, but you are right---anything could have caused it. They were the only 3 kids that we ever had to bottle feed. Since we honestly just keep goats for land clearing purposes (better than a bulldozer and way cuter too!) we let the mommas raise the kids and have been lucky thus far.

I have heard of adding buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt for good bacteria to help break down and use the milk. Haven't ever had to put it to practice again though. Will definately try it if we are faced with bottle feeding again.

 

[gaited horse]

Thanks for the milk tips. He is eating the grain and hay and isn't wanting to bottle feed which fine by me.
How can I figure out his age?
What's a good wormer?
How much baking soda should I feed a week?
What are some treats I can give him to help him become more social?

 

[Back2MyRoots]

lol, goats will eat about anything. We buy the super cheap box cereal on clearance at kroger like their version of cheerios or corn flakes! They like fruits and veggies, except none of mine have ever liked tomatoes and bananas. They are like my chickens and will get into the compsters and eat everything. It's gross and they are fat and happy.

 

[CluckyCluck]

I purchase Noble Goat. It's a pellet. Whatever you do decide to purchase, make sure it's not a sweet feed type which can cause some kidney or peeing issue with the boys.