Who says goat hoove trimming is easy?

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
WOW! You trimmed him again? His grow fast huh?

You have your hands full.

 

[arabianequine]

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WOW! You trimmed him again? His grow fast huh?

You have your hands full.

Yeah lol I looked at the girls feet again today and they all could use a trim again.

but I am not doing theirs right now. I will look again in a week at their feet.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
WOW! You trimmed him again? His grow fast huh?

You have your hands full.

Yeah lol I looked at the girls feet again today and they all could use a trim again.

but I am not doing theirs right now. I will look again in a week at their feet.

Oh boy!

 

[arabianequine]

Been a month now since I did the girls. I did get 2 done so far over this past weekend. Did you check your kuntrygirl? Mine all need it.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Thanks for asking. I did check them and it looks like a couple of them will need another trimming. I didn't realize they grow so fast.

So I will be doing trimming this week. I am on vacation (at home) for the week, so I will have plenty of time.

 

[arabianequine]

Yeah they do. I think someone had said it is the alfalfa that helps them grow so fast. It had a lot of protein in it. Is that what you are feeding?

I finally got done yesterday with the last 2. I had not done anymore till last night, been busy.

By the way, I think someone said to let them know how those cutters I got were and I think they are crappy. I have nothing to compare them to....maybe I am just weak. I sometimes have to use both hands to squeeze to get it to cut. It might be I don't have the strength in my hands.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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No, I don't feed alfalfa hay. I had always heard that alfalfa hay was too rich for them, so I stayed away from it. Is it ok to give to them?

What kinda cutters did you use?

 

[arabianequine]

These are the shears I had bought.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DELUXE-Goat-She...id=674016122360151284&clk_rvr_id=249685452923

I was feeding them a lot of alfalfa and I have cut back. They seem to tend to get spoiled and then that is all they want is the alfalfa. I am mixing it in with some grass hay right now so they are getting like 50/50. It gets them to eat the grass better. Trust me all the livestock I have love alfalfa, goats, cows, horses....you just have to be careful not to upset there digestive system.

I have heard it is too rich too but if you increase them on it slowly the girls should be fine. I would let them share a flake 1 time a day for 4-5 days, then 2 flakes for 4-5 days, and so on. I suggest doing it this way so not to upset there poop....I did have them up to 6 flakes at the most but they have a feeder out there with an orchard grass mix in it so they can eat that too.

These were small flakes too....like 2 inches thick. I would give them each one am and pm once worked up to that. I have 3 does, they got 3 flakes in the am and 3 in the pm.

Alfalfa seems to be much cheaper here so I buy it mostly for the goats but I give it to my horse too and so mine has to be clean. Maybe even cheaper if you don't need as clean of quality.

In the winter I give my horse more alfalfa then grass for warmth and energy. Right now I will mostly give her grass and she can graze a bit most of it is drying out. I will give her a flake of alfalfa here and there cause she likes it.

Bucks having the alfalfa I heard could cause unirinay tract problems? What I do is not feed him any kind of grain and then let him have the alfalfa. Both together is way too much protein, that is where the problem comes in. Although he is getting some grass now too on the 50/50. I am running out of alfalfa at the moment. I will be getting some in the next few days though.

In the winter though like early winter late fall when he is in rut, I heard you want to pick up the protein/calories for them too. I will have to see what the options are on that.

If I give him grain or a piece of bread it is just one time treat. It has been like 2 months since he has had any grain cause I have not been buying it since the girls got sick.
I just started my does on goat chow the day before yesterday however but the buck will not be getting that either. The girls are because they are pregnant, (I think) and will be producing milk soon and under weight still from previous owner.

Hope this helps!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Oh Thanks! This helps a lot. I have been wanting to feed Alfalfa but was afraid. I think that I will try some in small increments. Alfalfa is $13.00 a bale here is as opposed to regular hay which is only $7.00. I just love the smell and the look of Alfalfa when I go to the feed store. I think I will get them some and see how they like it.

Thanks again for the information.

 

[arabianequine]

Quote:
Oh Thanks! This helps a lot. I have been wanting to feed Alfalfa but was afraid. I think that I will try some in small increments. Alfalfa is $13.00 a bale here is as opposed to regular hay which is only $7.00. I just love the smell and the look of Alfalfa when I go to the feed store. I think I will get them some and see how they like it.

Thanks again for the information.

Not a problem at all

Do you have to buy it from the feedstore, that is ridiculous price? Alfalfa here is $5-6 per bale....that I am finding. This years stuff is like $7-12 per bale either grass or mix. These are prices from private sellers though. Maybe you can try and find it cheaper craigslist or you have a nickle saver/newspaper look in the classified ads maybe.

That goat chow is really expensive too....it was 19.99 a bag. I had a $5 off coupon. People are saying on byh that they are not feeding it anymore cause it is so expensive. I think they said it was $25 per bag and that is more in your area probably. I only have 3 goats, that will be on this for a few months tops. It would be very spendy to feed 50 head or like on this. I will only be using it to gain weight, while does are pregnant in end of term, and till kids are eating on their own. You can add calf mana or milk pellets to this too to stretch it farther and add extra calories. I may add one of the other in there after they are use to the goat chow first. I know you did not ask about this but not sure if you have pregnant does or skinny goats or? So just throwing out there since I am doing it now.

I heard to you want to be careful how much the does get in protein too while pregnant cause it can make the kids too big before born and then you have trouble with the does birthing etc.

BYH has a lot of good info. I have learned a lot in the last few weeks reading over there and asking questions.

Good luck!