whats the worst that will happen if goats eat chicken feed?

[mekasmom]

It may be related more to the additives or medications in the feed rather than the grain. I know the calcium in the grain is bad for rabbits and goats. I have also heard people say that the medicated chick feed will kill them. I just know from our experience when BlueBell broke into the feed shed that it isn't good for them. She died the next day even after vet care. Maybe it depends on the type of feed you are using?

 

[bheila]

Chicken feed is made for chickens not goats

 

[Cockadoodledon't]

Just be weary if you see your goat perched on the fence trying to eek out a """"Cockadoodle----BBAAAAAAAAAA!!!!.
Could give em a complex.

 

[Jeff in Colorado]

If your goats are wethers than it is more critical to keep them away from alfalfa and grain. They can get problems with the urinary tract havng deposits of minerals that cause blockage. Does are less likely to get this. Goats are ruminants and love to eat the stuff other animals won't touch. Mine have been munching on christmas trees this month. Of course the trees did not have artificial color or fire retardant on them. Grass hay is always in the feeder for them to eat. Every now and then I will give them a cup of Purina Goat Feed as a treat if it looks like it's going to get cold at night. Dairy goats can handle more grain when in milk production.

 

[Mahonri]

Wouldn't it be cool if goats could lay eggs.....

Imagine the size!

 

[millebantam]

Alfalfa hay should be PROVIDED to wethers, and not AVOIDED, especially if supplemental grains are being fed.. Calcium aids in balancing phosphoros in the system. Phosphoros is the cause of calculi in a goat's urinary system, not calcium. The link provided here is a great discussion about the benefit of alfalfa hay, and is based on facts..
Quote:
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2927

 

[cmjust0]

Quote:
The majority of urinary calculi cases in goats aren't so much a problem of 'deposits' of minerals as a situation where the urine is too base and becomes saturated with ammonia, phosphorus, and magnesium.. These three combine into struvite crystals, and it can happen quickly under those circumstances.

Alfalfa hay contains a lot of calcium, and calcium helps the body bring phosphorus into the bloodstream instead of it basically passing directly on to the urine. That's why proper goat feed contains twice the calcium that it has phosphorus; to try and make sure that phosphorus has the best possible chance of being taken up in the blood. That said, alfalfa hay is good for bucks and wethers.

Not only is it a good source of calcium, but also a higher protein hay than grass, which -- if you're supplementing with grain according to condition -- means you can probably get by feeding less grain.

Every now and then I will give them a cup of Purina Goat Feed as a treat if it looks like it's going to get cold at night.

Feeding extra grain when it's cold isn't terribly helpful. I think the whole idea of feeding grain or higher protein hay on cold nights comes from the old saying about one feed being 'hotter' than another, based on protein content. Sometimes, though, it's taken to literally mean that it provides heat.

The problem is...it's almost the exact opposite when it comes to grain. The rumen plays a huge roll in keeping the goat warm on a cold night, as the process of breaking down the fibers of the forage consumed generates a lot of actual, physical heat. Grain, on the other hand -- especially pelleted grain, which I recommend for goats -- breaks down pretty doggone easily in the rumen. Since it's more easily broken down, it doesn't generate as much heat.

My recommendation is to feed your coursest, stemmiest hay on a cold night. I don't really care what the protein content is...whether it's really stemmy timothy or first cut stemmy alfalfa...or stemmy, weedy hay...makes no difference to me. My primary concern (and something I love) is hearing 'crunch, crunch, crunch' at the hay feeder when it's mind-numbingly cold out. When I hear the crunching, I know my goats will be warm that night.

I'll also say that if giving extra grain causes the goats to walk away from the hayfeeder more quickly than they would have otherwise...that can actually work against them as kind of a double whammy on a cold night.​

 

[chinbunny]

This is like the people that come on here asking if they can feed their rabbits rabbit feed. When told no, they go ahead and do it anyhow, and say they are fine. No they are not.

like rabbits, chicken feed is not formulated to feed a goat on. Plus many brands are medicated. I agree with everyone else. No.

 

[Opa]

If your goat "lays" anything resembling an egg, don't eat it.

Overeating grain can cause problems, even death to alot of animals.

 

[hensplease]

thye are pygmyes