Lets talk about goats!

[chickenewbee]

I realize you've had 900 comments after this, but I skimmed through and didn't see anyone mention a fecal. You really need to get a fecal done (you didn't mention if you had) prior to worming so you know which wormer to use. Not all wormers are designed to kill all parasites. You can send them in for $5 a sample to www.midamericaagresearch.com. They can also test for coccidiosis.
That being said, I will agree, I don't see anything wrong from this angle.

Also, is your boy a wether or intact male? If he still have his testicles, they need to be separated as your girl is probably too young to be bred.

Thank you, that was actually my question

I will look into sending a fecal in. He was obviously not well taken care of wherever he came from originally, which is why I was concerned. The little girl had clearly received better care.

They are only about six months old....is breeding an issue at that age? I planned to wait until he was a year old to have him castrated, since I read that wethers had more urinary problems if they were done early.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They can breed even younger than that, I castrate at eight weeks, I have never had a trouble with urinary stones, I keep mostly wethers now, once again it's the high protein diets that causes that as well, but I'm sure others will say I'm wrong again.

 

[H Diamond]

goats are designed to eat things that requires them to chew their cuds, there was an article in the New hobby farm magazine that talked about how the act of cud chewing produces large amounts of saliva which helps keep the highly acidic stomach of the goat more neutral, pellets require no cud chewing, which is unhealthy for a ruminant, this is all in my own opinion, I've kept goats for 25 years, I have learned a thing or two.

I'm not trying to discount your years of experience. I absolutely agree about the long stem fiber, goats need it to ruminate and pellets aren't long stem fiber. That being said, alfalfa pellets being fed in conjunction with some type if roughage is great. You get the calcium and such from the alfalfa and the long stem fiber from whatever hay you can find. ( or forage)
Your statement made it sound like alfalfa pellets would kill the goat, and that's not true. For some places (like where I live) you can't find good quality hay, and I have no forage. We've been in drought for almost the last 10 years so I've had to get creative. Point being other things besides only browse can work great when you don't have that option. Alfalfa pellets are a life saver for me.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Okay

 

[H Diamond]

Thank you, that was actually my question 

I will look into sending a fecal in.  He was obviously not well taken care of wherever he came from originally, which is why I was concerned.  The little girl had clearly received better care.

They are only about six months old....is breeding an issue at that age?  I planned to wait until he was a year old to have him castrated, since I read that wethers had more urinary problems if they were done early.

Yes breeding is absolutely an issue at this age. They need separated as soon as possible.
I'm going to link some info about urinary calculi that way you can make your own decision from it.

http://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/urinarycalculi06.html
https://fiascofarm.com/goats/stones.htm
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/livestk/01629.html

 

[chickenewbee]

They can breed even younger than that, I castrate at eight weeks, I have never had a trouble with urinary stones, I keep mostly wethers now, once again it's the high protein diets that causes that as well, but I'm sure others will say I'm wrong again.

Well, I have never been a fan of juvenile spay in dogs because they miss out on so many of the hormones, and I may decide to breed later on, so I think I will wait for a bit.

I know diet is a big factor in urinary stones in dogs, but it also runs in breeds, and my understanding is that the urethra may not grow properly in wethers that are castrated early.

So I guess I need to figure out some way to separate them.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have never had stones in my goats, I have kept many breeds over many years, and yes I think it's best to gather information and form you own ways and opinions, there are many ways of doing things when keeping livestock, enjoy those goats.

 

[chickenewbee]

I have never had stones in my goats, I have kept many breeds over many years, and yes I think it's best to gather information and form you own ways and opinions, there are many ways of doing things when keeping livestock, enjoy those goats.

I do enjoy them....they are like bad toddlers, always trying to get into trouble and spot in the middle of anything I try to do.

I bet you have better water and soil than we do....everything in the west is alkaline.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Goats are trouble, that's what makes them appealing to me, and they think they are royalty. I have never met a goat I didn't like. I'm starting to think that Wisconsin is a paradise. We do have pretty good soil.

 

[cassie]

I do enjoy them....they are like bad toddlers, always trying to get into trouble and spot in the middle of anything I try to do.

I bet you have better water and soil than we do....everything in the west is alkaline.

A vet once told me that the difference between sheep and goats is that while sheep blunder into trouble, goats seek it out. I may have posted this before, but it is sooo true.