They don’t seem to care much for anything in there pen except the leaves they can reach. While we look for bright green hay, color can be deceiving. I am feeding dairy does and because of the weight of the alfalfa bales of hay (I am getting older lol) I am thinking about feeding half alfalfa pellets and half grass hay in the winter months when the does are dry. Thank you. Due to our area being deficient in calcium, I include alfalfa in my wethers' diets either in the form of alfalfa hay or alfalfa pellets, to provide them with the 2:1 calcium/phosphorus ratio they need. Our goats always have access to grass hay. Along with Standlee alfalfa pellets, black sunflower seeds and Standlee compressed alfalfa and orchard grass baled hay free choice. Absolutely make certain they have roughage , in the form of hay or browse. So into the freezer it goes. Unfortunately we don’t have research on nutrition for older goats, so we just have to go on anecdotal information. I have good alfalfa for growing kids / milkers and good grass hay for everyone else. Would appreciate it very much That is what we give them in the morning. Alfalfa hay is the classic here. Here is more info on what goats eat — It's also higher in protein since most alfalfa hay is around 17% or more. If, for any reason, we need to close them up early, we ring the bell and the herd comes running. Please try again. If you are a goat owner, you have probably heard about Chaffhaye. Do they need grain and pellets? They don’t have to chew or ruminate much with pellets. Besides our horses we use them with our pigs and chickens. They can easily reinfect themselves if they stay on a pasture too long. This product was recommended for our baby goats but they do not seem to like it. I think he had worms this late winter but I was slow in figuring it out. Hi, Male goats and dry does (not in milk and not pregnant) do not need that much calcium. I would love to try a bag of this. One of the vet texts actually says that the cure for vitamin A deficiency is green hay. I really love that they have an organic option! A urea-molasses lick provides a good source of nitrogen and energy, which helps the goats digest forage better, especially in the dry season. The goat hay feeder’s dimensions are 11 x 11 x 11 inches, and it’s specially designed for sheep and goats, storing a really good amount of hay. I am very happy with both their products. I told them she wasn't that spoiled . I have never heard of medicated alfalfa pellets, but there is medicated goat feed (grain) that comes in pellet form. We have Guinea Hogs and also heritage crosses who I’m sure will enjoy the experiment. Just tie them up tight. The organic is new. They’re very skittish but getting alot better about letting me near them. There’s a mountain lion that’s killing a couple sheep in the neighborhood and I’m trying to get them to come to the front pasture because it well lit. Since we live in Hawaii it’s pretty much impossible to get hay (we can grow it, just can’t ever dry it!) Success! I see too many people think that they just need to feed more grain or beet pulp (please no!) They work well for me since i cant get goid quality alfalfa hay. Around here they also cost more then good quality goat feed. It’s just there in case they do. I have an urban farm and fresh browse is at a premium. If you are planning to breed them — and they should be about 2/3 of their adult weight when you breed them — you can probably continue to feed them some alfalfa hay or pellets now through the time that they are pregnant and are milking. Am I doing this right? I’ll try the Standlee brand; have been buying from the co-op more recently but I know TSC carries Standlee. They will grow a thick coat of cashmere, which will keep them quite warm. Alfalfa hay is really ideal. Urinary calculi is more of a problem in wethers eating a grain mixture. Jordan I bought a small freezer for my goat food barn to put the chaffhaye bales in it once open in the summer heat. Hopefully your doeling is at least 2/3 of her adult weight if she was bred. The high calcium is great support for egg production and great through the winter when there is not as much grass to free range on. Nutritionally alfalfa is the same regardless of whether it is pellets, cubes, or hay, but goats really need the long stem forage, such as hay, to keep their rumen working. We haven’t used alfalfa pellets yet because we have been feeding chaffhaye on the milk stand with the grain mixed in. I read it was the best protein for livestock. Would you think the 1/2 and 1/2 ratio for winter would be safe? However they waste A LOT! Quality grass hay is good for all goats. The kids in Glenna’s scenario were probably overweight due to feeding too much grain. Maybe silly but I bought a cow bell and trying to train them to come when they hear it. Timothy, orchard, and I think Bermuda are all grass hays as opposed to the more stick like look of alfalfa. Just thinking/typing out loud, so to speak, but would love to find an already tried and true recipe. I have a wether a buck and a nanny. Are you discontinuing it?? Took some time but now they actually act better than some of the spoiled 4H-ers. I use Standlee Alfalfa Pellets, but they don’t have the organic here. Does should have alfalfa the last couple months of pregnancy because that’s when the kids are growing really fast, so they need the calcium. I feed Alfalfa pellets to my Steer to help fill him faster. There was an error submitting your subscription. Lastly do you think we should put a heating lamp inside their sleeping shed during the night for the winter? It is also very high in calcium, which is great for milk production. https://thriftyhomesteader.com/zinc-deficiency-goats/ So, with the exception of show goats, your goat can have as much high quality hay … Your email address will not be published. I had a buck here for a “date” with my does, and I’m pretty sure the two older ones “took”, although I couldn’t stand the smell, and didn’t keep him around for the full 3 weeks. Currently using organic alfalfa pellets milled locally… mixing with my milking doe’s grain and then feeding free choice overnight. Here is more info on Goats in Winter: https://thriftyhomesteader.com/goats-in-winter/. If she is not chewing much, she won’t be producing much bicarbonate, so might need a little baking soda to keep her rumen working well. A 70-pound bale of alfalfa will feed 50 adult goats. Is this correct or did you just state it in the reference to the lack of other things that person that had the goats, where one died & a friend took the other ones but you stated they looked really bad. Be sure you are giving your goats good hay, not just hay! There are various types of hays are available. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. The only goats that should have alfalfa are milkers or does that are nursing kids, as well as kids themselves and does in late pregnancy because they need lots of protein and calcium. All goat owners out there should know that, because alfalfa is rich in proteins and calcium, it should only be fed to goats in certain situations. It’s also an excellent forage for livestock, including pigs, horses, dairy goats, sheep and rabbits. He can nibble grass but can’t chew hay. Keep in mind that wethers are VERY easy keepers, and people kill them with kindness a lot. I called my feed store to confirm. Hay species has very little to do with palatability, nutrition, quality, value, etc. Alfalfa hay is also popular for feeding goats and has more protein, vitamins, and minerals than grass hays, typically. Fields with just one type of plant growing do not have as much flexibility and count on the weather being great for … If the grass is brown you can wind up vitamin A and E deficiencies. Pregnant does and milkers need lots of calcium, and you don’t normally hear about them having any issues with zinc deficiency. Donna . Is this new product (organic goat pellets) available already and fo you know whete it can be purchased? So they need GREEN grass, leaves, bushes, weeds, etc. Eating all of her hay does not mean your goat is getting the nutrition she needs! So all of my goats have been on alfalfa/Bermuda grass hay (compressed bales from TSC), alfalfa pellets and browse since I got them. Vets point out that this type of hay should be given to pregnant, sick or debilitated animals. You can also feed it to your animal if you live in an area where you cannot let it free to browse for food by itself. If goats are fed coarse hay, they may eat the leaves but not the stems. I feed only organic feed. It is also really important that if someone has a goat that is not thriving on an appropriate diet that they try to figure out why. No more yeasty bales. To make sure that you vaccinate your animals at the correct time, it is essential that you keep in contact with the local vet. The alfalfa cubes that I’ve seen are way too big for goats. Will he eventually get used to it? But alfalfa hay is not the best for all animals. We also keep a generic salt lick handy and offer baking soda sometimes. This legume style hay boats a high protein, fiber, vitamin A and calcium percentage. Joined May 23, 2009 If you are asking about sheep, goats, and cattle, the answer is no. I have a doe in milk, two growing babies (a doeling and a weather), and one dry doe. We feed grass hay to our goats and I was going to start giving them alfalfa pellets but I see that is not a good think unless they are in milk. They only eat the fine stem and leaf. She is not a milking doe. Help! I would appreciate any suggestions. I can’t even find organic alfalfa hay in my area, so this definitely fills a void. If that doesn’t work, I’d suggest contacting Standlee through their website to see if there is another local dealer near you. I don't like them eating a bunch of weeds on an empty stomach. But we do have alfalfa pellets and the cubes, in your opinion which would be better to feed a doe that refuses to keep weight on her? Early to mid-winter is a time when does should be in early pregnancy. A good, local mixed grass hay can be kept in front of your donkeys at all times in a hay net. Very much for responding back more goats die from over-feeding than under-feeding IMO product was recommended for our always! 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