Stupid question

[Altair]

My aunt's recently had some kids in the past few years that couldn't care less about grain while their peers hoover it down. They grow well while the others do not. I talked to another goat breeder who said "I've never heard of a goat that doesn't like grain". They've been fed as they're weaned or before and at first I thought the trio wasn't going to like it end of story, but two caught on eventually. The other is now obviously smaller. Part of the cure is patience, that I know. It just seems odd that it's only happened recently out of a span of 15 years.

[bbomber]

You should of had a reply by now.

[Altair]

That'll happen, not as many goat people as poultry types.

[Chikz]

I used to keep goats. Dwarf Nigerians. I gave them Blue Seal sheep feed, as it had selenium in it and was close enough in balance with goats' nutritional requirements. Something went wrong, three years down the road, and both stopped eating the pellets and would only eat hay and forage. The vet couldn't find anything wrong with them when I brought them in for examination, but they died shorly after, within a couple days of each other. I suspect it was selenium deficiency.

I learned too late that they should have had an annual BoSe booster shot. I haven't kept goats since.

[Chikz]

Where's the trap-door button??

Hi visitors www.poultryconnection.com !
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51. And remember We appointed Forty nights for Moses, And in his absence ye took The calf (for worship), And ye did grievous wrong.
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Thanks! Good luck!

[wyldflower]

I have a goat that gets a different feed than the others. She won't eat pelleted goat feed, or any feed that is too fine. I give her a goat feed from our local mill that she finally is doing very well on. Did you try different feeds? Do they get fed separetly?

[kenmisk]

One thing you might want to try is putting some molasses on the feed. Not a whole lot as it will cause them to scour, but just maybe enough to sweeten it up. I have found that most every goat and sheep like molasses. You can usually buy it in bulk at most feed stores, but you could buy just a small jar in any grocery store to try it out.
Ken

[Altair]

wyldflower: they aren't fed separately that I know of. Part of me thinks before the feeding ritual they should be fed grain before hay and wait a few minutes until they've whetted their appetite some.

Ken: Good point about the molasses. Pretty sure their feed includes it, it's a sticky type, but a little more wouldn't hurt until they get their sense.

[Mary]

Is not feeding grain a problem? Really? I have a friend that only gives grain to her milking doe. Her other goats seam to do fine on grass hay. The same feed we give our horses.

[Altair]

The two goat breeders I know use grain since kids are born and they grow fast and sturdy (especially when males are headed for slaughter). It's an easy way to give them the minerals and nutrients they need especially if they're born in fall and won't have access to fresh browse. It isn't good to give adult males grain, however.

[frivbaba57]

I give her a goat feed from our local mill that she finally is doing very well on,Thanks you..!
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