Whole Corn OR Chopped Corn?

[kuntrygirl]

Do you feed your sheep whole corn or chopped corn? I went to the feed store this weekend and they accidentally gave me whole corn instead of chopped corn. I have never fed my sheep whole corn before. I put a little in their feed but they looked like they were having a hard time chewing it. The whole kernels were dropping out of their mouths while they were chewing. I am not comfortable feeding them whole corn.

Is whole corn ok for sheep or goats to chew? Will it hurt or damage their teeth?

 

[dwbonfire]

i have never fed it whole, and i do not know if it could damage their teeth but a man i know feeds his goats and sheep whole corn. tosses a big bucket over the fence for them and they all clean it up. i stood there listening to them all chew on it, it was quite loud!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

If you're going to feed corn, it's best to feed it cracked or rolled because they digest it better that way, and you get more bang for your buck. It shouldn't hurt them to eat it, but next time I'd make sure it was cracked at least. Are your sheep used to eating straight corn? Just make sure you introduce grain slowly so they don't bloat or get acidosis.

 

[secuono]

Our corn comes bagged as whole or cut or w/e, but it's always whole. Same thing with oats, rolled or whole, the contents are always whole. So I don't bother picking and choosing, ends up the same stuff.

The sheep will pick up the stuff they drop, unless you are over feeding or feeding over a muddy area.