hey there! meant to tell you about this board when you posted about your new goats to be at Amity.
Looked into your arapawa a bit... very unusual breed as you know. Not sure how that will affect the milking part but you can learn
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Bedding: my favorite is corn husks.
Water: A bucket held to the stall wall by a nail (handle wedged behind the nail) so that the goats cannot tip it over.
Free-feed alfalfa hay, water, and loose minerals 24/7. Can you make a hay feeder? Many good ideas have been posted here - search and you will find.
How old are your doelings? I can't remember. If they are 8 weeks old I might free feed a grain mix 24/7 till they are a couple months older and then cut back to 2x a day grain. Watch that they don't get the runs or eat too much!
The best food is exactly what your friend, the goat soap maker, is feeding them. Ask her. Try to get the same exact hay, same sort of watering system, etc. Change feed only slowly and gradually.
Ask if the doelings have had any shots or worming stuff.
enjoy!
