My first two goats!

[Rilly10]

Could they have been pregnant at about 6 month old? They were sold to me as this years babies, and were NOT supposed to be pregnant.

They don't seem fat other than their bellies. They topline and hips still don't seem to have much covering, they just seem to be in poor condition which is why I wormed them. Thought it was either a hay belly but they are lacking muscle, or a worm belly.

The only sweet feed they have been getting is what the stallion drops. He is due to have his teeth floated in a few months so has been quidding a bit.

We are going to be building them some platforms and trying to move a HUGE boulder into their feild this weekend so hopefully they will jump and climb and build some more muscle.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I will try to get updated pics on Friday (too dark when I get home).

 

[jodief100]

They could have been pregnant at 6 months. Fat bellies and thin hips on a boer usually means poor condition. It can depend on what they are mixed with.

What kind of hay do they have? They may need some additional protien in thier diet.

I have a few that have difficulty keeping muscle on thier hips. I give those girls some alfalfa pellets with a little BOSS along with thier grain ration. This time of the year with snow, no browse and just hay, the 4 special girls get 8 oz of alfalfa pellets and 1 lb of grain with a handfull of BOSS between them. I feed pelleted goat feed. I do not like using the sweet feeds.

 

[rebelINny]

OK WAIT! I just remembered Safeguard is NOT valbazen. It is fenbendozal........whew! I wormed a couple of my does yesterday that are bred with safeguard and for a minute I was thinking it was valbazen. What a relief!

 

[Rilly10]

They could have been pregnant at 6 months. Fat bellies and thin hips on a boer usually means poor condition. It can depend on what they are mixed with.

What kind of hay do they have? They may need some additional protien in thier diet.

I have a few that have difficulty keeping muscle on thier hips. I give those girls some alfalfa pellets with a little BOSS along with thier grain ration. This time of the year with snow, no browse and just hay, the 4 special girls get 8 oz of alfalfa pellets and 1 lb of grain with a handfull of BOSS between them. I feed pelleted goat feed. I do not like using the sweet feeds.

Thanks! I work at an animal health company and one of our livestock vats just gave me almost this exact same advice. I am going to TSC to pick up some LOOSE minerals (I only had a block so far, they were out last time) and some goat grain with high protein. I will get some BOSS also and split that btw the chickens and goats.

The hay is a orchard grass timothy mix and they are getting about a bale or so a day (between the 2 does and one horse). I took some pictures today which I will post. Please excuse the one's bum leg...I just posted about her in the Disease section hoping for some help/guidance. My vet is off for X-mas and it dosn't seem to be an emergency so I am keeping her stalled until tomorrow AM when I will have the vet come out.

 

[Rilly10]

 

[jodief100]

I would say not poor condition but it certainly could be better. The timothy orchard grass hay is good but it could be a little low in protein. You never really know unless you get it tested. I would add some goat specific grain, not a lot since they are not pregnant or lactating. I use Noble Goat, it is the best my TS carries. Alfalfa pellets woudl be good too and a little, not a lot of BOSS. For these two I would say split somewhere between 1/2 - 1 lb of grain with about 4-6 oz of alfalfa pellets and a handful of BOSS. Watch condition and adjust as needed.

I would take away the salt to encourage eating of the minerals. Make sure the horse's salt is out of their reach.

 

[Rilly10]

Thanks so much!I just got back from TSC and came home with loose minerals (in exchange for the Billy Block), a bag of Noble Goat, and a 50 lb bag of BOSS (the chickens love it too). I also tier the horses Himalayan Salt lick higher up so they can't reach it. I had the vet out this AM for Matilda's cut and he said that I should also do a second round of wormer on Weds (10 days from the first dose to get any immature worms it missed). Clemintine, the paint looks much better after the first worming, but they will both get it to be safe and thorough!

I will get some alfalfa later...they were out. If I can't get the pellets are cubes or chopped alfalfa ok? Or what if I just give them a flake a day?

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN!!! I love this forum!

 

[jodief100]

I do not like using the cubes. The goats cannot chew them so you either have to break them apart or soak them in water. Neither of which I want to do. Chopped will be fine. You can get a high percentage alfalfa hay and give them some of that.

Just keep watching condition and adjust feed as needed. Boers can get fat very easily if you are not careful.

 

[peachick]

^ reported!

 

[poorboys]

I raise nubians, but if i had more space you can bettcha I'd have some boer's they are really nice looking!!!!!!!