Hay change...ok?

[Willowynd]

I normally buy my alfalfa hay from the dairy next door, but they have now gotten out of milk cows and it is hard to find anyone home when I need hay. I tried calling a couple days ago, but no reply. I ran out and had to grab whatever I could find and it wound up not being alfalfa hay but grass hay with only 5% alfalfa. Is the change going to upset thier stomachs? I will switch back to the alfalfa again in about a week or so and will do it gradually if needed.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I have usually have a couple kinds of hay here & in the past when I bought from someone new I never thought of changing over slowly although I never wait until I'm completely out before getting more so there's always some of the old stuff still her. Anyways then when I add the new kind they can have some of each.
My goats love it when I give them a new flake of a different kind of hay they haven't been getting, I think they think it's like a treat.
I could be completely wrong but have never had any get sick when I've had to get new hay before.

If they are pregnant or have kids already on the ground I would make sure they have alfafa pellets to make up the difference for the alfafa they aren't getting in the hay though.

[C. Marie]

I just had a doe bloat and go off feed for a week because she gorged on a large flake of tasty new hay. It was grass hay too. If I were you I would give small ammounts of the new stuff in frequent feedings rather than a full serving all at once and just see how they handle it.

[Willowynd]

wonderful...I just gave them thier full amount tonight. Now going to have to check on them. I will give them some alfalfa pellets too...how much? The girls were bred a month ago.

[thaiblue12]

I use alfalfa pellets and grass hay. They waste too much alfalfa hay IMO plus I hate it, it is so flakey and pinchy.

Since they are not use to pellets try giving them a cup each, you can increase it, or free choice it. I use two parts pellets to one part grain and free choice grass hay. I have too many to free choice pellets they are already sending me to the poor house eating 750 lb of hay a week!

They should not bloat from it, but you can put out some baking soda out for them in case their stomachs get upset.