[countrywoman]

My goats have large flakes of dandruff and they are itchy but I can't see any lice (though I'm sure there will be some).  Being GGs they have long coats so not easy to brush through to skin level like a short coat.  They are on the Brinicombes minerals and eating well.  I cannot imagine the weather being suitable to bath them (if that is a good idea) for ages, right now it is cold, wet and windy.

Is this to be expected post-kidding and putting all their energies into milk?  They are both looking very thin but are eating well - I'm wary of overfeeding but they have good quality hay adlib and fresh branches/nettles etc cut daily in addition to concentrates.  Should I increase the fresh fodder?     

[wytsend]

Forgive me if I already know the answer to this.......have you purchased the new minerals yet?       The high level of zinc in there will help enormously with skin condition.

Flaky skin (dandruff)  often occurs when the coat changes particularly with long haired goats.

Head & Shoulders shampoo works to remove dandruff because of its high zinc content !!   This goes for animals too...... I always bath my horses with head & shoulders   foir this very reason.

[jaykay]

This happens to Ellie every year as she moults, which is around Feb/March.

Each year I worry and wonder what else she needs, is it cos she's pregnant or what. And then it resolves itself, the kids are born, her coat grows back for the summer - and I remind myself that it happens this way each year 

Make sure she has good food and a good mineral supp. But know that this is what happens when they moult, it's almost like they moult a layer of skin too. You don't need to do anything unless you want to (see Wytsend's shampoo idea if you do).

[countrywoman]

Thanks for the info.  One of these days, if we ever get some nice weather, I'll get busy with Head & Shoulders.

Meanwhile it helps to know that during coat-change (and they are moulting - the undercoat is leaving little fluff-blobs everywhere) this is to be expected.

They have been on the minerals since they were made available.  Would probably bve much worse without!