Newbie Goat additions!

[heatherndoug]

My husband and I are new goat parents. We were given 2 male goats (Nigerian dwarf and pygmy goat) which we traded for a Doe who is about 4-5 months Pygmy Nubian (kinder) and an older goat to have as her companion so she is not alone. The younger is Ginger, the older goat is Jawbone. I just have a few questions that I am hoping to get clarified please bare with me. I have googled and searched the boards but I am looking for clarification. (sorry in advance for the poo pics)



First, My male goats feces was small rounded pellets. These girls are getting to that point but were having a more solid feces that didn't resemble pellets. (please see photos.) I figured until I could check accurately I should just worm them.


second , I have prior vet tech experience now I work with humans. I would like to run Fecal tests at home. Where is the best place to purchase fecal flotation solution or is there a recipe to make my own? I have seen some gallons go for about 28-40$

Third, can anyone tell me what the older goat is. He (man I traded with) stated a meat goat. I assume she is a mutt. But I know from the BYC people can pick out breeds well on here.

I am feeding them Dumor goat feed from TSC. It is a sweet feed in a green and yellow bag. and hay. I wouldn't be adverse to changing the feed if there is a better one.

I am hoping to have nice small heard of goats. I am very interested in homesteading and cant wait for milk, and cheeses. (yes I know she needs to be mated first)


OK, I got all the way through the post and it wants me to not have URL posts with pics. I will try to put them in a second post.


Thanks in advance!

Heather N Doug

 

[heatherndoug]

UGH it says I must reduce my # of URLs to 0. I cant get the pics to post. :/

 

[glenolam]

Here's a link to instructions on posting pictures.

Congratulations on your goats! As for their poops - the stress of the move and new location could have caused the girls to have loose stool. Once they get acclimated to their new surroundings they should firm up to berries once again.

How does the inside of their lower eye lids look? You can google FAMACHA chart and determine from there whether or not your girls are anemic from a worm infestation until you get the proper tools. There are quite a few people on here who do their own fecals so they can let you know where to purchase the supplies. I'm lucky - my neighbor just told me she bought all the stuff and took a class so I'm free to use her services instead of the vet!

A good way to determine age is by looking at her teeth. Here's a link to doing that.

Have fun!

 

[heatherndoug]

Thanks for the great information!!!

I am just unable to post pics cause I am a Newbie here...lol I will have to make some posts and then come back to this one for pics!

 

[Roll farms]

I wouldn't deworm until you've ran a fecal....it may just be the move / change in diet that's causing clumping poo.

I prefer the Purina goat feeds (I work at TSC). I use the Noble Goat for kids and Goat Chow for adults. Just a personal preferance, based on the literature we get from both companies, and how my goats do on the Purina.
You will also need a good goat mineral...unfortunately, TSC doesn't carry one I consider 'good' except the Manna Pro 10# bag.
With 2 goats it would be fine...for the 30 I have it's not enough to bother with.
I use ADM goat power mineral.

Do you have a photobucket account? You could put the pics there and then link here.

 

[heatherndoug]

The following errors need to be corrected before the message can be posted:

* This is a protection against spam bots until you have proven you are a good member of our community. Reduce the number of URLs in your post to 0.

They wont let me post the URLs LOL

 

[rebelINny]

On the top of your page by the profile tab there is another spot that says uploads. Click that upload your pic from your computer then copy and paste the url in your message box and it will come out. Good luck. If is still doesn't work get slap-happy with posting so you can post a pic

 

[freemotion]

I run my own fecals, and got most of the info on www.fiascofarm.com. There is a recipe/instructions for making a flotation solution from epsom salts. It takes about 24 hours, so get started on that. You want to keep adding salt to some water and shaking it until it won't dissolve anymore....I was amazed at how much salt it took! But a quart lasts for a lot of fecals....

There is a thread somewhere here with links on this, links to supplies and to pictures I think.

 

[freemotion]

Oh, and I don't give my goats grain unless they are very thin, pregnant, or lactating, and even then, only if needed. Well, lactating, they always need it if they are dairy breeds! Be sure to do some research on urinary calculi in male goats so you can feed them correctly and not have this heartbreak due to feeding grain incorrectly.

Many of us here have goats with homesteading as the goal, so you will fit right in! Check out the sister site, sufficientself, for more homesteading ideas and good stuff (link below).

 

[warthog]

The following errors need to be corrected before the message can be posted:

* This is a protection against spam bots until you have proven you are a good member of our community. Reduce the number of URLs in your post to 0.

They wont let me post the URLs LOL

We had quite a lot of span the other day, so a new ruling has been brought in, newbies must have at least 10 posts before posting and URL's.

Good luck and look forward to pics of your goats.