Pygmy Advice Please

[ChickenMom]

We have dairy and meat goats but Pygmies are new to me.

My son was given a herd of 14 Pygmies to take to the sale barn. These goats were just left to run wild and not well taken care of. The owner got a couple for a petting zoo and they multiplied into 14. When my son got there to pick them up one was dead, one had kidded recently and there was no baby to be found, and 2 have kids about a week old or less (the mama's back ends are still nasty).

I have taken the 2 mothers with kids and a doe that looks to be 4 or 5 years old and I think she is pregnant (I have trouble telling on Pygmies) because I couldn't bear to see them go to the sale barn. There was no way I could keep them all or I would have.

I searched the forum but I can't find anything on feeding pregnant or lactating Pygmies, I only found posts on bottle feeding and wethers. I've given them hay, minerals, and baking soda. Do they need grain? I read that you aren't supposed to give them alfalfa.

Any help would be appreciated.....Lorrie

[debd0712]

Lorrie,

I started out with Pygmy goats and always fed alfalfa, pretty much free choice. I also gave grain to pregnant does (about 1/2 cup per day during last 2 months of gestation) and 3/4 to 1 cup per day for lactating does. They do have a tendency to get fat quickly and will overeat if allowed to - they always act like they are starving. If they started looking too chubby I would cut them back a bit. I also gave my wethers and bucks a small amount of grain daily (less than half a cup) to get ammonium chlroride in them. The grain was split into 2 feedings per day. All of the pygmies did great. I even milked the does - they did not have much milk, but it was very sweet and rich and the cream separated naturally. It made wonderful ice cream. All of the goats always had free choice baking soda and loose goat minerals. I still have a couple of Pygmies and follow the same routine although I have switched to grass hay and alfalfa pellets.

Debbie

[ChickenMom]

Here is a picture of them. The black one on the left is the older one that I think is pregnant, then the little black buckling, then his mom, then the other doe, and the little black and white one is a doeling.

[trob1]

They actually look in good condition. The one does look to be pregnant. I feed mine 1 cup of grain per day per goat, 3 lbs ofalfalfa pellets for (7 does) and grass hay free choice. My girls are pregnant right now and due soon. I keep out goat minerals and baking soda free choice.

[ChickenMom]

They are in good shape considering. They were out roaming most of the time, he said he couldn't keep them fenced. He raises miniature horses (he has about 150) and I think they mostly ate whatever the horses ate. They aren't real friendly yet but I'm working on it. The little ones are so sweet I couldn't let them go to the sale barn, I love baby goats!

[rranch]

I would make sure to vaccinate and worm them first. Then a mixture of alfalfa and grass if you got it, free choice. half cup grain each for adults would be great. I am pretty sure you have ND though. They are in good shape for beiing left for themselves.

[ChickenMom]

OK rranch, you lost me, I have ND? What's that?

[delphinium]

Nigerian Dwarf Goat

[rranch]

The Nigerian Dwarfs are very similar to the pygmy. They are just taller with a more dairy appearance, and more creative color markings. One more distinguishing marking is the blue eyes. Pygmies do not have them.