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  #1  
Old 12/04/10, 07:19 PM
poppyandnan's Avatar  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 82
1st boer goat

We bought our first boer goat today. We have never owned a goat before, so if I am full of questions please forgive my ignorance. I appreciate you being patient with me and giving needed advice.

Our goat is expecting.....what should we expect?
What kind of feed does a goat need?
We have our goat in a stall right now, with feed trough, water container and hay.
I figure she might lay on the hay to have her kids.

What else do I need to know?
I know we cannot worm her and her with kids. When should we worm her, after she weans her kids?
Do goats need supplements of some kind?

Sorry to have excessive questions.................look forward to your posts and learning more.
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  #2  
Old 12/04/10, 08:04 PM
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,807
Welcome to the Club! We're all big enablers - oh, I mean, we're all very helpful, and love to share information.

First, you must post pictures. That's the rule.

Next, your goat is a herd animal, and she will be absolutely miserable without a goat buddy. Of course, you can be her goat buddy, but you will get NOTHING done around the farm, as she will want you there 24/7.

I'm not sure about what to feed meat goats, but my dairy goats get good alfalfa hay when I can get it, otherwise, good mixed hay and free choice alfalfa pellets. In milk or pregnant does get concentrates (mix of grains). Each of us has our own preferred mix of grains, and you will find many threads on that in this forum. My gals get oats, BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seed), beet shred, a little corn or sweet feed. But that's only a pound or so a day. The main feed for all goats is the hay and alfalfa pellets.

Also have plenty of fresh water available at all times, free choice loose cattle minerals and baking soda. If your area is deficient in selenium and/or copper, you will need to supplement for that.

Worm her when she kids. May as well take a stool sample to the vet to see what sort of worms she has (or not). No sense in unnecessarily worming her. If you plan to use a dewormer off-label, check in with the folks here. Most vets really haven't had much education or experience in goats, and it helps to talk with folks who've been in the trenches, as it were, to get accurate info.

When is your doe due?

Fiascofarm.com has GREAT information on kidding. Take it all (even what we tell you) with a grain of salt and common sense, of course.

But not the part about getting another goat for her. She'll be lonely and miserable all by herself.
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  #3  
Old 12/04/10, 09:30 PM
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,012
First and foremost don't change feeds quickly. Always change feed over a 10 day period. The rumen (stomach) needs timem to build up the microbes to digest the new food type, not only this time but every time feed is changed. Hay is the most important feed for a goat, it helps to break down their food.

If you don't have or know what he was eating, feed only hay for 3-4 days, then gradually add what you will be feeding her.

It's hard to make a suggestion on feedstuffs not knowing how far along she is. Pregnant goats can be wormed, though certain wormers and certain timeframes should be avoided.

We need more info.

HF
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  #4  
Old 12/04/10, 10:30 PM
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,377
Welcome Poppyandnan!
Yes, when is she due? I would suggest good quality 2nd or 3rd cut alfalfa & some grain before she kids, starting in half cup increments a month before kidding & increasing the amounts slowly by quarter cups till she's up to a couple of cups twice daily before kidding.
She will need to be wormed the day of kidding as soon as everyone has had thier first meals. Then again in 10 days.
Goats are herd animals so unless she's going to drop those kids within a month or so she will need a buddy.
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Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle
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  #5  
Old 12/05/10, 02:19 AM
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Idaho
Posts: 1,694
What Goat Servant said....

Please ask the people you purchase her from about her worming schedule. If she hasn't been wormed, you can safely worm her with Ivermectin 2cc/75 lbs. given orally, even if she is pregnant.

You will want to check with someone in your local area to find out what are your best and necessary wormers, as each geographical area has its' own requirements.

Congratulations - Boer babies are uber cute!
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  #6  
Old 12/05/10, 10:34 AM
Katie
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Twining, Mi.
Posts: 19,930
Very good advice from everyone above! I will just add my Welcome to the goat qworld & congratulations!! Also we really do need(like) pictures here in the goat forum!

Always wanted a boer goat but have never got one yet, I don't want to eat them I just think they are so adorable!
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  #7  
Old 12/05/10, 10:59 AM
PotBellyPigs's Avatar  
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 292
Quote:
Originally Posted by poppyandnan View Post
We bought our first boer goat today. We have never owned a goat before, so if I am full of questions please forgive my ignorance. I appreciate you being patient with me and giving needed advice.

Our goat is expecting.....what should we expect?
What kind of feed does a goat need?
We have our goat in a stall right now, with feed trough, water container and hay.
I figure she might lay on the hay to have her kids.

What else do I need to know?
I know we cannot worm her and her with kids. When should we worm her, after she weans her kids?
Do goats need supplements of some kind?

Sorry to have excessive questions.................look forward to your posts and learning more.
Want to know the best thing?
You will probably go out to feed her one morning and hear a strange sound that you are not used too....
She will have had her kids in the middle of the night, and have them all cleaned up before you know it!
It is a wonderful surprise!
When my Saanen doe had hers, it was just like that, and I ran all the way back to the house to tell my wife to come and see them....so cute!
Good luck, and I hope you get at least twins.
Greg Zeigler
Alger, Ohio
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  #8  
Old 12/05/10, 04:02 PM
poppyandnan's Avatar  
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 82
No kids today..............lol
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  #9  
Old 12/06/10, 04:18 PM
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,377
Is she forming an udder? When it gets all shiney get ready!
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Bob and Nancy Dickey
Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle
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  #10  
Old 12/06/10, 04:34 PM
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,012
Being you just bought her, and assumingly from your responses she's due any day now, and not knowing what she's been being fed, I'd start giving her some Tums for calcium & a Bose Shot if you are in a selenium deficient area.

HF
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