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What do you feed your bucklings?

3K views 13 replies 4 participants last post by  Moers kiko boars 
#1 ·
I have 2 intact bucklings. One is 10 mos and the other 3 mos. I am currently feeding them 1/2 cup alfalfa pellets and 1/2 c of Purina Medicated DQ Goat Grower twice every day.
Plus coastal hay free choice. Sometimes they get a few handfuls of peanut hay or alfalfa hay. They are both little chunks and seem healthy.
Should I keep them on this long term or change it to something else?
I guess I am worried because everyone keeps talking about males and urinary calculi.

Is it only the wethers that get it or also intact bucks?

We have hard well water. I dont know how hard exactly but hard enough to put deposits on our pipes. We also have a lot of sulfur in the water in this part of Florida. I don't know how to figure this into my bucks feed and the whole acid balance thing.
Tractor Supply here carries Producers Pride Medicated Sheep and Goat with an acidifier in it.

These are my first bucklings and I want to make sure they stay healthy.
 
#2 ·
Hi..what breed are your bucklings? Mine are Boer bucklings. They are 7 & 8.months old 150 lbs. I feed both boys in the same feeder. They get twice a day 2 cups of shawnee goat maintenance feed, 4 cups of purina goat grower, and a handful of black sunflower seeds. Free choice deraferm mineral. All access to pasture and hay bales. They are.both big healthy boys. I give them Ammonium chloride 1 small scoop about once a week. To prevent stones.
 
#3 ·
Hi, mine are Nigerian Dwarfs. Sorry, I totally forgot to say that.
Where do you get the Ammonium Chloride? Do you just dump it on their feed and they eat it?

I feed mine in the same feeder as they are housed together and get along well. They have grass in their little pasture area. We are working on fencing them off a bigger pasture behind their pen.
Theres a bunch of grape vines behind their pens and they do get some grape leaves, sweet gum, and bamboo leaves a few times a week.
 
#4 ·
That diet sounds ok.

Alfalfa pellets to balance grain phosphorus.

Coastal hay has the perfect balance for boys.

Hard water is going to up your calcium so what you should worry about is calcium stones not phosphorus stones.

There's two kinds - do note that ammonium chloride only protects against the phosphorus/grain caused type, and will do nothing for calcium stones which for your goats, is the thing you should focus on.

With the diet you have now, I would try and find a high magnesium mineral such as Sweetlix Magnum Milk. If you give this along with coastal hay, a little grain, a little alfalfa pellets, I see a safe diet.

Now, once goats are above 6 months I usually recommend stopping all grain, and for a hard water situation my recommendation is to feed just coastal hay (no alfalfa, no grain). Since you have one 10 mo and one 3 mo, wait a few more months then transition both off alfalfa and grain.

If anyone drops weight during rut you can go back to your regular feeding program.

Everything sounds good to me.

More info you can read up on here:

https://thegivinggoat.home.blog/2020/08/18/diets-for-male-goats-how-to-prevent-urinary-calculi/

This link will help explain the two different kinds of UC, which is hands-down the most important thing to know, because the fixation on PH and ammonium chloride absolutely causes issues for goats at risk for calcium oxalate stones.
https://thegivinggoathome.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/urinary-calculi-in-goats.pdf
 
#5 · (Edited)
Thank you for those two links! Very interesting. I am trying to find a source for the Sweetlix Magnum Milk minerals. I dont think our feedstores or Tractor Supply carry the Magnum milk. I've never seen it. I currently just have them on Manna Pro goat mineral because thats all I found at our TSC.

I found a chart on water hardness by zip code. North FL apparently has some of the hardest water in FL due to the limestone layer the water gets filtered through. We also have high sulfur and iron levels.

Our water hardness is reportedly 282 parts per million and 16 grains per gallon and rated Very Hard.
I'm kinda freaking out now that I found out just how hard it is lol. Maybe I should just feed the bucks Bottled water like we drink (rofl)
We do not drink the water. It is supposed to be safe but I think its gross due to the sulfur smell. Most people around here drink it and it doesnt bother them.
I also found info saying our local water is from the Limestone Floidan Aquifier so the water pH is 7.5 to 8.5.
The city website suggests using vinegar in appliances like washing machines and dihwashers to prevent hard mineral deposits.

We would improve the water by adding softener, filteration system etc but we are planning to move to a bigger property, hopefully soon.
 
#8 ·
Thanks you both!! I am loving my little bucklings so much lol. I guess I thought the bucks would be horrible, crazy and stinky..maybe they just arent old enough yet Ha! The older one is kinda stinky and has bred our oldest LaMancha. He's still not that bad.
Maybe I'm nuts but I love my roosters too, just as much as the hens. They have so much personality!

How much Apple Cider do you add per gallon of water?
 
#10 ·
Yes Im crazy about my Bucks & bucklings. I have 3...and then I have 19does & doelings...until the kidding starts. Then who knows! Enjoy them each & every day. One thing Ive learned..the more time you spend with your bucklings..the easier they are to handle when they get that terrible 4 yr old. Or when they are in rut... be safe and enjoy your boys!
 
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