do my goats need...?

dk_40207 · #1 05/07/06, 08:41 AM

They have freechoice hay, grain at milking and a mineral block.

Do they need a salt block and bakingsoda, free choice? If so, how do you all give the soda? Do young goats(several weeks) need this, too?

Anything else?

Thanks!
Christina

witchysharon · #2 05/07/06, 08:48 AM

Don't give them salt if they are already getting a mineral supplement. I would give the baking soda free choice. Even my babies eat it. (which is good since it is the cure for floppy kid syndrome)

If you can get a mineral dispenser that would help keep the BS dry and off the ground, otherwise put it in an 'off the fence' feeder so it isn't on the ground where they can step/poo in it.

Wendy · #3 05/07/06, 08:51 PM

I would switch from a block to a loose mineral. They have a hard time getting what they need from a block. Baking soda is a good idea. I keep mine in a mineral feeder.

KSALguy · #4 05/07/06, 10:59 PM

all the hay they can eat, all the time, mineral (loose mineral) free choice, grain only when milking breeding or if your fattening up a weather and i would only grain the does in the stantion for easyer controle

Sarah J · #5 05/08/06, 10:36 AM

I have a loose mineral mix with salt (I use Golden Blend from Hoegger's) and baking soda in PVC feeders, free choice. This is for ALL of my goats, big and small, bucks and does and wethers. I originally thought I'd just leave it in standard grain feeders and that was a big mistake - completely wasted when they knocked it over, dropped hay or *gasp* droppings in it, etc. The PVC feeders allow only the nose to go in and I keep them up high enough that they can't back up to it!

I don't have extra salt for them - I want them to go to their minerals to get the salt they need. A lot of goats don't necessarily get enough minerals on their own free will so they need encouragement. They *know* they need salt...if that's the only place they get their salt, they also get their minerals.

-Sarah

**mygoat** · #6 05/08/06, 03:37 PM

See the other post called : Baking soda??? to see my pics of my mineral and baking soda feeder. I wouldn't get just any minerals, as most have WAY WAY too much salt in them, so they stop eating the salt and don't get the minerals they need. I use purina GOAT mineral, though sweetlix and the other brand mentioned are also good. Funny, my goats never want my baking soda put out for them. Never seen even one get interested in it. May be thier feed or something else. That does not mean that I won't let them at it if they want. Not like it's that much trouble or too expensive, lol.