Baking Soda & Other Stupid ??s

wiggles12 · #1 08/01/06, 11:32 PM

My son's girlfriend (young adults with no goat experience) is bringing her young goat to my house almost daily. I don't have a problem with this, as long as they don't walk the thing through the house - lol.

I have purchased some goat feed and am putting the little thing out in the garden to try to plow down some of the grasses. She has fresh cold water and shade, some pine shavings and dirt. A lovely (IMO) mixture for a goat. Anything else that this little girl needs?

I think she is a barbado (sp?) with about 1/2" - 3/4" horns. She cries a lot.

Am I missing anything?

What is baking soda used for?

**EDITED TO ADD:**

Was just told the goat is almost 3mo.

Thank you for enlightening us.

Wendy · #2 08/01/06, 11:53 PM

Barbados are sheep I believe. Do you have a picture?? Crying is probably more of a loneliness thing. Goats are herd animals & should have another goat to keep them company. And some breeds just seem to cry more than others. Baking soda helps keep their rumen in balance. They will eat it if they need it. She should also have a good loose mineral available. Shelter from the weather if she is there all the time. If she is going home at night where there is shelter, then you should be OK.

wiggles12 · #3 08/02/06, 12:06 AM

OK, she's a Boer. Just looked up photos.

She's a rescue - so she is probably missing the herd, but the dogs seem to entertain she slightly.

So, do I just pour a pile of baking soda on the ground for her? Minerals? - are these drops for her water or something else?

I don't know if I'll end up being the full time owner yet or not. If so, she'll have a full time shelter built for her; but at this point she is in a very safe and secure area where there is always some shade.

Thank you again!

**mygoat** · #4 08/02/06, 01:22 AM

Put the baking soda in a container for her. Loose minerals are a mix of salt and essential minerals that you buy for goats. Make sure it's a goat mineral, and either Purina or Sweetlix. Those are two of the best kinds, and have the proper ratio of what goats need. How old is this doeling? If she's young you may want to consider feeding some sort of grain or feed to her. Make sure it's a goat feed, and don't over feed; 1/3 cup per day should be more than enough. And if she's in a garden, make sure she doesn't have access to poisonous plants, or any produce that you don't want her munching on.