How Long should Feed Last My Goat

[gardenguru66]

I need to find out how long should a 3 string large bale of alfalfa last a miniature Nigerian dwarf goat? Also I would like to know how much a fifty lb. bag of duck food should last a duck? I need answers quickly!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Large as in the bale that you have to have a fork lift to move? 50 lbs? 110 lbs? 500 lbs?

Not enough info.

You have one goat? (not a good idea) Does it have access to browse?

You have one duck? Does it have access to a pond?

Goats need to be in a herd. You need at least two goats. How much you feed them is hugely impacted by their access to other feed options.

Ducks need water and their feed needs will be influenced by their habitat also.

I keep editing this as I think of more questions.

How much hay they need also depends on how you feed it. If you throw it on the ground, they eat some, poop on some, and lie on the rest. If you have a good feeder, they don't waste as much and therefore don't require as much.

[deafgoatlady]

Hello. I am so sorry I dont understand.. Are u asking round bales or just square bale?? Anyways If it is sqaure bales and it last me every2 days I think. I dont pay attenion. But sometimes it does last every 4 days I leave the sqaure bales out there for them and it last them for every 4 days. But I dont do that any more. The duck food?? Ohh my mother in law only feed hers every other day. I didnt ask her how long I think maybe for two weeks or three weeks..

[southerngurl]

If you mean one of those thousand pounders, I'd say it would last a LONGGG time. lol. Um, one of those lasts my 8 full sized goats a month.

[CookingPam777]

If the duck can roam and eat bugs it will last a long time. I feed mine a quart for every 9 ducks. It has worked great for me I own 19 ducks and 2 geese. So I give them 2 quarts and they are fat happy pigs. I have had ducks for several years so it has worked for me all this time I say it's a good rule to go by. I would give it a cup of food a day. My guess is it should not run out of food for like 4 months.

[Freeholder]

Figure three to five pounds of feed per day for a little goat like that. If you are feeding grain, subtract that from the total (although Nigies, from what I've seen, get fat rather easily and shouldn't need grain unless they are heavy milkers). Now figure out how much your bale weighs, allow for the fact that part of a bale of alfalfa is stems which goats don't like much (they will eat them if forced to, however), and allow for some wastage unless you have a good feeder. (Good feeders are essential with goats.)

Ducks probably eat a third to a half pound of commercial feed per day if that's all they are getting. You can cut that down if they are on pasture, and/or have access to a good-sized pond.

Kathleen

[gardenguru66]

Thank you so much for all your insight. It is highly appreciated.