Copper again BUT question

Oat Bucket Farm · #21 09/18/10, 05:46 PM

CaliannaG, how do you feed it to them? What do you wrap it in? I ask this because we used peanut butter to make sure that the bolus stayed in the gun until we got it to the back of the throat and it seemed to make a big difference because the goats liked the peanut butter and worked to swallow it once it was in the back of their mouth. If I could just feed it to them with the peanut butter to begin with, it might be a lot easier.

Oh and we cut the end off the bolus gun just before it widened out so that it was a smaller thing I was trying to stuff in the back of their mouths.

Minelson · #22 09/18/10, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oat Bucket Farm

CaliannaG, how do you feed it to them? What do you wrap it in? I ask this because we used peanut butter to make sure that the bolus stayed in the gun until we got it to the back of the throat and it seemed to make a big difference because the goats liked the peanut butter and worked to swallow it once it was in the back of their mouth. If I could just feed it to them with the peanut butter to begin with, it might be a lot easier.

Oh and we cut the end off the bolus gun just before it widened out so that it was a smaller thing I was trying to stuff in the back of their mouths.

I was going to ask how you did it Oat Bucket. Because if there is any proof that the way you did it worked, it's in those pictures.

wintrrwolf · #23 09/18/10, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nehimama

I wonder. . . . if they practically INHALE the marshmallow, couldn't you stick the BOLUS inside the marshmallow, and watch 'til they swallow it? Or do they chew on the marshmallow? I don't know. Never gave mine marshmallows. . .. ..

I only found out about my marshmallow junkies by accident one day, they nabbed the bag off the BBQ grill shelf and I had to chase em to get it back. Since then I give one as a very special treat. But not all of them are into marshmallow's, so I added a little bit of sweet feed to the marshmallow.
Nice thing about it is when you cut them open they are VERY sticky inside and hold the bolus well and bits of grain too.
It worked this time, so have some time to relax before having to bolus again. Really hoping to see some over all improvement soon. A month, 2 weeks, tomorrow ...

motdaugrnds · #24 09/18/10, 10:01 PM

I will be learning to bolus too; however, what I am most concerned about is giving a goat too much copper. I read somewhere that copper can kill a goat! Does a blood test need to be done on every single goat to find out which ones need how much (or any)?

Oat Bucket Farm · #25 09/18/10, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minelson

I was going to ask how you did it Oat Bucket. Because if there is any proof that the way you did it worked, it's in those pictures.

Well after we cut the end off the bulus gun, it would only hold one bolus at a time. We put a glob of peanut butter in the end of the bolus gun and then shoved one of the boluses into the peanut butter. Then I would straddle the goats shoulders (we do it in the barn so that there is a wall behind the goat so they can't back away)and pry open the mouth with my left hand on the lower jaw and my right holding the upper. I would put my left thumb in their mouth,over the tongue and hold the tongue down with my thumb like a tongue depresser. Then My mother puts the bolus gun as far back as she can and pushes the thingy (not sure what its called) in. Then she pulls out the gun and I close their mouth and hold it mostly shut. They get so busy trying to swallow the peanut butter they don't realize there is a pill in there. Then as quick as possible the gun is reloaded (the bigger girls got three each) and the proccess is repeated. Tally crunched one and I am pretty sure Lacey crunched one. The first time we did it back a few months ago, I know they got crunched. It is most definitely not the end of the world and obviously it still works even if they crunch it. The first time we did it we didn't use the peanut butter and we even had one spit on the ground right after we gave it. We picked up and shoved it back down. The peanut butter makes it much easier because the bolus won't leave the gun until you are ready for it to.

Wonder if I sprinkled it on a piece of peanut buttered bread and fold it up and mashed it a little and gave it to them if they would scarf it down,copper and all.

Alice In TX/MO · #26 09/19/10, 07:28 AM

Sheep can overdose on copper easily. Not goats.

Blood test for copper level are not accurate. Copper level is checked by liver samples, and you don't want to do biopsies or butcher goats to check copper.

If you aren't copper bolusing more often than every four or five months, and you adjust how much you give for the size of the goat, you will *not* overdose the goat.

Just follow instructions.

dosage chart:
http://saanendoah.com/cubolusdosechart.html

robinthegeek · #27 09/19/10, 07:50 AM

A while back I used the marshmallow method on my Togg. Her fur was thin, scruffy, and light colored. Just a couple of weeks after I gave her the copper marshmallows her fur began growing in thick, dark, and shiny. It's been several months now and she's still sleek and pretty, so I figure the copper is in there doing it's job.

RedSonja · #28 09/19/10, 08:40 AM

I put the bolus in a calf-size balling gun, then smeared peanut butter on top. Viola got them down okay, Oreo chewed one of the three and Little Bit spit out all three first try. Second try LB got all three down. Three days later Oreo is still her normal witchy-poo self, no ill effect from chewing one yet.

Still have to do the 5 wether kids, but all 5 might head to freezer camp soon, might skip it on them.

-Sonja

CaliannG · #29 09/19/10, 10:50 AM

I take a slice of wheat bread and roll it out flat with a rolling pin. Then, I cut it into fourths, slather with peanut butter, and sprinkle the measured amount of copper on it for that goat. Fold the little square in half, feed to goat.

Oat Bucket Farm · #30 09/19/10, 11:29 AM

Ah ha! That is what I was thinking of! I am going to try that next time and see how it goes..

praieri winds · #31 09/19/10, 04:11 PM

we use a loose muneral just for goiats with copper in it we give free choice instead of salt blocks as it has salt in it that way we don't have to fight with them and they get all their minerals as they need them

pygmybabies · #32 09/19/10, 04:32 PM

well my two little boer goats will not eat out of my hand and the one claire, will not eat anything but hay and pasture...so i dont think i have much of a choice but to use the gun. Couldnt do it yesterday as it started raining at 4 pm and didnt stop before I went to bed.. Baseball and tennis size hail all around I but everyone in thier pens and wasnt going out in that!

HappyFarmer · #33 09/19/10, 05:54 PM

We just get it down them however it easiest at the time. And oh, the blood tests are useless. Biopsy or don't bother just look at their condition.

HF

Oat Bucket Farm · #34 09/19/10, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by praieri winds

we use a loose muneral just for goiats with copper in it we give free choice instead of salt blocks as it has salt in it that way we don't have to fight with them and they get all their minerals as they need them

A lot of times even a good loose goat mineral with copper is not enough.

jordan · #35 09/19/10, 07:45 PM

I just sprinkle the correct amount into a blob of peanut butter on a plate, fold it around a little and mine will eat it right off the spoon.
I do the adults first, so put about 8 blobs of PB on the plate, put the correct amount of copper in each, mix each blob up, and spoon up a blob to each adult. I do the same for the younger goats and do them next with less copper. I use the chart that someone else provided here. It's worked fine and I've seen improvement within a short time.
It takes me alot less time than trying to fill the capsules and fight with the goats.
Lois

motdaugrnds · #36 09/19/10, 09:30 PM

Alice, that links only talks about sizing copper boluses for cattle. I couldn't find anything about doing it for goats.

CaliannG, are you saying you open the boluses and sprinkle what is "inside" out onto the bread? (If 2 boluses are required for a certain goat, you would open 2 and sprinkle both onto the one square of bread?)

Jordan, doesn't that damage the goat's tongue, gums & mouth in general .. even the throat?

jordan · #37 09/19/10, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

Alice, that links only talks about sizing copper boluses for cattle. I couldn't find anything about doing it for goats.

CaliannG, are you saying you open the boluses and sprinkle what is "inside" out onto the bread? (If 2 boluses are required for a certain goat, you would open 2 and sprinkle both onto the one square of bread?)

Jordan, doesn't that damage the goat's tongue, gums & mouth in general .. even the throat?

I can't scientifically answer your question but the copper is folded into the PB and my goats certainly don't take the time to "chew" it! My goats eat thistle too and that doesn't seem to lacerate their mouths

Lois

Alice In TX/MO · #38 09/19/10, 10:44 PM

The whole saanendoah.com site is about goats. Saanens are goats. Saanen ----> Saanendoah. The chart is showing you how much copper per pound of goat.

The boluses are cattle boluses that we goat people divide up for goats. That's why it says downsizing the boluses that are originally for cattle.

How many cattle weigh 13 pounds? 25 pounds?

http://saanendoah.com/cubolusdosechart.html

Main page:
http://saanendoah.com/copper1.html

Laverne · #39 09/20/10, 12:41 AM

Where I'm at copper bolusing is such a necessity that I won't take a chance on the copper needles not being separated from the sticky peanut butter once in the rumen where they need to freely settle to the bottom of the rumen and lodge in the folds. I am hoping that the sheer weight of the bolus will sink to the bottom, then dissolving, releasing the copper where it's supposed to be.

pygmybabies · #40 09/20/10, 06:36 AM

Went to the store and got the marshmallows...they wanted nothing to do with them...frustrated...we used the balling. Gun again. And with a couple of spit outs and melting capsules we finally got them done...something I will not look forward to again