What did I get myself into?

Better today, I think! No escaping, and I think they're starting to feel at home. I sat with them a while and Navi even jumped up on my legs to see what I was up to. Peach is still a little leery of me, but she's coming around a bit more day by day.

I am watching them a little more closely since they have had looser stools today. No other symptoms, still eating and drinking as usual, but I'm thinking maybe it's because of the changes in their diet/pasture that are causing the upset. I've been giving probios once a day and if there are still scours tomorrow, I'm thinking of giving them electrolytes as well. Thoughts?

Also, for your entertainment - Peach the flying goat extraordinaire greeting me this morning from the OTHER stall. She's standing entirely on the 1x6 like a trapeze artist. She jumped back over into their stall after I came in like "Oh hey it's you! Yeah I've been in here the whole time, I promise!" Don't mind my messy barn. We're still getting things set up and trying to get organized so it's a work in progress.

 

I don't have them on prevention. i actually have Corid in the barn, I've never used it but had it on hand as a "just in case" for my chickens. i'll have to see if I can find some dosage info on here. Is that something that I should start right away, or wait to see if it clears up for a day or two? I'm not a huge fan of chemicals or antibiotics (I've yet to use them with chickens, but I'm not about letting animals die if they're truly sick.)

 

I know I saw a thread before, but can't seem to find it now. It was referencing websites for labs to send fecals. Does anyone have that link? I've yet to find a large animal/livestock vet in the area.

 

Never mind, I found the thread. I've filled out the submission form for Meadow Mist Lab and will collect samples tomorrow morning to send out.

 

Good news this morning - no more scours! We're back to regular pebbles (berries? goat poop?) Whatever the correct terminology is. I'm still going to send off fecal samples to the lab since I still should know what's going on regarding worms anyway. Now I just have to stalk them to collect samples.

 

Uh oh. I've been browsing the forums this evening while my husband and son are catching up on their star wars series, and I just learned that I know nothing when it comes to goat minerals. (And probably most other goat things, but I'm trying!)

I follow DaNelle at Weed Em' & Reap and purchased her recommended goat mineral product, which I just just figured out isn't an actual goat mineral, but a mineralized salt? Oy. So now I need minerals, stat! I'm searching the forums but I'm overwhelmed. There's not much locally that is worth buying, but I don't mind ordering online and paying more if what I'm purchasing is top quality.

I'm in Florida, does anyone down my way have anything they'd recommend?

Okay, now back to forum browsing.

 

Manna Pro products are all I’ve seen at both Sparr (a local feed/supply store) and tractor supply. Rural king didn’t have anything specific to goats the last time I checked.

 

Is there anything I can buy online that’s better? I’d rather have whatever is best vs whatever is available, which is literally just Manna Pro “goat mineral.“ I just looked at tractor supply online and the wind & rain isn’t available at my store anyway.

We live in an area where most people don’t have farms or livestock. Horses, however, are HUGE in Central FL, so most of the feed stores cater mostly to horse supplies/feed. There’s an okay selection of poultry stuff but I’ve had to order 90% of everything I have for the goats online.

 

These are the other minerals available locally.