The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: littleacorn on July 18, 2011, 03:19:15 pm

Title: goat feeding
Post by: littleacorn on July 18, 2011, 03:19:15 pm

Hi everyone
We have just got our first two goats - 4 month old saanen nanny kids - beautiful !!!  :love:
At the moment they are in a large pen as the field is not secure enough - we are feeding them ad lib hay, cut down branches with lovely green leaves from the hedgerow (about 8 stems 3' long morning and evening) and a small mugful of goat mix each in the evening.  Does this sound ok?
Many thanks Julie   

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: wytsend on July 18, 2011, 05:25:22 pm

Basically you have got it right !!

I would be giving them 2 feeds a day of goat mix... aprox same amount... they are growing fast and need the feed to help develop the rumen.

Take lots of pics and enjoy them.

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: Skirza on July 18, 2011, 07:04:08 pm

Aww...how lovely for you. Pics please  :D

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: littleacorn on July 19, 2011, 08:58:25 am

Many thanks for your replies.  ;D

[img]

Button and Freckle !!  :love:

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: wytsend on July 19, 2011, 11:36:57 am

I think you might have problems with those huge tags.... they are an accident waiting to happen !!!

It is sad that such large ones have been used because there are some very small ones about.

They look like cattle tags.... are you sure they have got a goat herd number on them.  I recently came across a situation where a guy had used up his sheep tags on some goats...... caused quite a problem with Trading Standards  because the numbers had been allocated to sheep.

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: jinglejoys on July 19, 2011, 01:03:20 pm

Lovely goats!I think those are just ordainary button sheep tags aren't they.

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: plumseverywhere on July 19, 2011, 02:34:02 pm

Ah they are gorgeous!!
maybe the tags just look large cos the ears are still small? they'll hopefully grow into them  ;D

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: littleacorn on July 19, 2011, 07:37:50 pm

Oh my goodness you have me worried now.  We are having the vet to come out this week - just to give them a look over as we haven't had goats before - so I will ask her!  I hope they don't need to be changed - they only had the tags put in when we picked them up and they squeeeeeled like banshees!

Its nice to hear other people think they are beautiful - we are totally smitten!!

Thanks again
Julie

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: little blue on July 19, 2011, 07:52:45 pm

they're gorgeous  :)

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: ambriel on July 19, 2011, 08:13:06 pm

Yes they're gorgeous. I agree about the tags - and this daft business about two being required for post 2010 goats. Give the beurocrats a couple more years and they'll have forced EID tags on us, too.

Title: Re: goat feeding
Post by: Anke on July 19, 2011, 10:04:54 pm

Quote from: wytsend on July 19, 2011, 11:36:57 am

I recently came across a situation where a guy had used up his sheep tags on some goats...... caused quite a problem with Trading Standards  because the numbers had been allocated to sheep.

Goats and sheep have the same herd/flock number, as under EU rules they are lumped together. So it is fine to use sheep tags on goats. I only order sheep tags and use them on my goats too (and yes my goats are therefore EID tagged). So far never had that one queried when I moved them or sold them.