More natural and economical approach to feeding?

[Chelsea2258]

For those of you that do a more natural approach to feeing your goats, what is your feeding routine? I'm thinking that when I get goats (don't have any just yet) that I'll do browse/grazing, free choice alfalfa hay, and free choice loose minerals and then add some grain in the winter (Michigan) and/or when pregnant/nursing. Would this be enough? My research tells me that it should be fine but then I hear people giving pellets and baking soda and all this other stuff. I really want to go with as little commercial feed and as natural as possible without making it complicated. I also want to mix my own grains but I'm not sure of any good recipes that don't have commercial pellets or whatever in it. TIA for any and all help!

 

[OneFineAcre]

Nothing wrong with your plan. Baking soda isn't for any nutritional need, just for a sour stomach. Helps with the gas. You don't need pelleted feeds although they are formulated with the proper nutritional requirements for goats. But there are other options. Sorry, can't help with a recipe for your own, we get a local mix.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Thank you for your reply. Just needed a experienced persons advise/approval of it so that I don't think I'm doing it wrong. Lol. I just need to research or hopefully someone will comment with a mix. I will be growing my own wheat for flour and corn for eating and cornmeal so I'm hoping I can use some of what I'm growing in the mixes.

 

[greenmulberry]

If you are feeding alfalfa and quality free choice minerals, with a small amount of grain in winter, it is fine to use corn for the grain. You may find as you get to know your goats better, that there are other grains you wish to include. I feed a little corn to my pregnant ewe in winter, I also like a handful of black oil sunflower seeds for vitamin E and protein. People have been using what grains they had available as animal feed for a long time, while everyone has their preferences, there is no one perfect mix. If I had wheat and corn on hand, that is what I would feed (in addition to the other good food of alfalfa and minerals). I have sheep but it is a similar feeding philosophy. If you feed good hay and minerals, I don't think the exact grain component is critical.

 

[Chelsea2258]

Thank you! Wheat berries, Corn, and Sunflower seeds, I can do! That's perfect and will keep my feed cost low.

 

[SheepGirl]

You don't have to feed hay if they have access to pasture or browse. Waste of money imo.

 

[Chelsea2258]

I might ration hay in the summer and free choice in the winter. Not sure yet.

 

[SheepGirl]

If you leave hay out free choice, animals tend to waste it or eat too much...all of which costs money. If they don't eat a lot of it, then it sits in the feeder until next feeding, getting sun bleached, rained or snowed on, etc, and the animals don't want to touch it because they know the 'good fresh stuff' will be coming next time they see you so they just hold out.

Read my post on this thread, you may find it useful: http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/how-much-hay-do-i-need.27054/#post-344030

 

[OneFineAcre]

If you leave hay out free choice, animals tend to waste it or eat too much...all of which costs money. If they don't eat a lot of it, then it sits in the feeder until next feeding, getting sun bleached, rained or snowed on, etc, and the animals don't want to touch it because they know the 'good fresh stuff' will be coming next time they see you so they just hold out.

Read my post on this thread, you may find it useful: http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/how-much-hay-do-i-need.27054/#post-344030

SheepGirl really knows her stuff.

I've learned a lot from her on the forum even though she has sheep and I have goats.

One of these days when I have time I'm going to build one of those feeders like she has. She's quite the carpenter too.

 

[Chelsea2258]

I was planning on having the hay inside the shelter but I get your point. Maybe I'll ration year round but give a little more in the winter compared to summer because they'll be able to browse in the summer. Thank you.