Stupid question, Maybe?

[mrs.H]

Hi all,

I don't have goats yet, I'm learning all I can first. I don't want to be the "Never Learn" family!

While I was getting a scoop of scratch out for my chickens, I realized that it's made up of cracked corn, barley and oats mostly. My posibly stupid question is; Can you feed scratch to goats for their grain ration?

Why or why not?

I can't tell you how much I've learned from this board already. I have numerouse other sites booked marked from other topics here.

Thanks in advance,

Samantha

[southerngurl]

I wouldn't because a large part of it is corn. You might cut it with oats though.

[PygmyLover]

There isn't enough nutrients in that mix. Plus the corn is not so good for goats.

I would just get some 16% or more protein goat feed. Horse feed is also fine for goats. The protein % is important.

I also keep out free choice loose minerals. This they eat as they need it.

[circlevranch]

I wouldn't use the scratch your feeding your chickens for a goat feed ration because scratch is just screenings from the grains mixed together and it doesn't have enough nutrients.
I've never heard of corn being not so good for goats before??? We have raised goats for many years feeding corn, oats, and 16% lamb finisher pellet. They also get grass hay, alfalfa, and cornstalks and all the water they can drink. We also make sure there is a salt and mineral block ahead of them at all times.

[gryndlgoat]

We feed hen scratch here. We can buy a really good mix of 1:1:1 cracked corn, whole oats and whole winter wheat. These grains are very nice, not just broken screenings. We add another part of black oil sunflower seeds (this is a good time to buy these- check out garden centers that are getting rid of bird food to make room for spring gardening supplies). This is fed to milking does on the milkstand or does in late pregnancy. Our buck very rarely gets any and only as an occasional treat (a handful at most). Most of our protein ration comes from alfalfa.

[Patty0315]

Why not just buy the grains in bulk and mix yourself. It would be much cheaper. I mix oats , corn and boss . Sometimes I add sweet feed. I mix 4 oats 1, corn , 1 sweet and 1 boss.

[rivesjct3768]

What is boss?

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by rivesjct3768

What is boss?

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. The type in bird feed. Very good addition to a goats diet.