2 cups each or together? Either way that sounds like plenty to me.
Feeding growing kids
I have 2 Nigerian Dwarf wethers, ages 4 and 5 months old. Once they are adults their diet will just be grass hay, forage, minerals, and occasional treats, however while they are growing I am trying to decide on the best feed for them. These boys are just pets so they don't need any special treatment, however with just the two of them I get the luxury of spoiling them! Currently, their diet is:
Free choice Bermuda grass hay (around 2:1 ratio)
Free choice Manna Pro Goat Mineral (2:1 ratio with ammonium chloride)
Purina Goat Grower grain (2:1 ratio with ammonium chloride, DQ 16 cocci medicated) - They are currently getting 2 cups per day to meet the effective medicated amount. I know medicated grain is not preferred by most but it's the only balanced grain I can find locally.
I'm trying to keep everything at a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio but I'm still concerned about grain and urinary calculi. I could switch out the grain for alfalfa pellets but that will throw the calcium ratio way high. I could do alfalfa/grass mix pellets for a better ratio, but this will have less protein needed for growth.
I would love to hear your experiences and feeding preferences for growing kids, especially bucklings/wethers!
Free choice Bermuda grass hay (around 2:1 ratio)
Free choice Manna Pro Goat Mineral (2:1 ratio with ammonium chloride)
Purina Goat Grower grain (2:1 ratio with ammonium chloride, DQ 16 cocci medicated) - They are currently getting 2 cups per day to meet the effective medicated amount. I know medicated grain is not preferred by most but it's the only balanced grain I can find locally.
I'm trying to keep everything at a 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio but I'm still concerned about grain and urinary calculi. I could switch out the grain for alfalfa pellets but that will throw the calcium ratio way high. I could do alfalfa/grass mix pellets for a better ratio, but this will have less protein needed for growth.
I would love to hear your experiences and feeding preferences for growing kids, especially bucklings/wethers!
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
2 cups each! I found some information here on the medication for this grain and it was determined that 1lb of grain provided adequate medication for a 30lb goat. 1lb is about 3 cups worth and the boys are currently around 20lbs, so 2 cups per goat should be plenty as far as the meds go! I know that having meds all the time isn't great especially when there aren't any issues, so I'm also concerned with continuing this medicated feed.2 cups each or together? Either way that sounds like plenty to me.
Sounds like a good amount to me. I think we fed are buck a little less than that at his age, but that was a while ago and I can’t remember. Purina Goat Grower is a good feed, we often use it with kids. The only bad thing about it is it’s kinda expensive...
That is good to hear! Is there a certain age you stopped feeding it to your kids? I can justify the price with just the two boys - this bag will last me around 6-8 weeks.Sounds like a good amount to me. I think we fed are buck a little less than that at his age, but that was a while ago and I can’t remember. Purina Goat Grower is a good feed, we often use it with kids. The only bad thing about it is it’s kinda expensive...
We actually feed our adults grain. Mainly because we don’t have a large pasture. They we’re always raised on it and never had a chance to graze as kids since we bought them from a petting shop. They do well on grain, but it’s really up to you. Some feed grain others stick to just hay and grass.
Thank you! That makes sense, I don't have a big pasture either but I know wethers don't need a lot of extras.We actually feed our adults grain. Mainly because we don’t have a large pasture. They we’re always raised on it and never had a chance to graze as kids since we bought them from a petting shop. They do well on grain, but it’s really up to you. Some feed grain others stick to just hay and grass.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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