adding quinoa and amaranth to feed?

walkswithgoats · #1 03/04/11, 02:03 PM

hi! i'm going to grow amaranth and quinoa this summer. anyone have any suggestions on how to add it to the bagged feed? any tips on feeding this will be appreciated! thanks!

walkswithgoats · #2 03/07/11, 05:16 PM

also does anyone grow anything to add to their goat feed?

Wags · #3 03/07/11, 05:42 PM

I'm going to be growing sunflowers & pumpkins for them this year. Plus they get quite few chopped apples as well.

motdaugrnds · #4 03/07/11, 06:07 PM

I will be growing some Amaranth; but mostly for the family. If possible, the goats might get the stalks.

I don't know anything about quinoa.

sherekin1261 · #5 03/07/11, 06:11 PM

We are planting fodder beets, pumpkins, oats, heirloom corn, wheat, and sunflowers for our animals...on top of the garden we do for ourselves. My question is do you have to take the sunflower seeds off the heads? Or can I store them on it and feed the whole thing?

Shere

Bfly Farmer · #6 03/08/11, 09:21 AM

We store both whole heads that we have cut off during the season and the entire plants that we have pulled from the ground at the end of the season. They can be stored upside down in a cool, dry place (mold free) that is rodent free. We also place a bin under them to catch any seeds that fall out. When we feed to livestock we either hang them or break the heads up.

walkswithgoats · #7 03/08/11, 10:14 PM

well i am growing lots for the goats. sunflowers, quinoa, amaranth, indian corn, and lots more. with the sunflowers, quinoa, amaranth, and indian corn i want to harvest the grain/seed and cut the stalks to feed in the winter with the hay. and add the grain/seed to the feed. but i'm not sure how to add the stuff i'm growing into the goats diet... :/

motdaugrnds · #8 03/09/11, 08:04 AM

walkswithgoats, are you "drying" the amaranth stalks before feeding to goats?

walkswithgoats · #9 03/09/11, 03:45 PM

well i dont know how dry they get before harvest... but what i have been thinking of doing is cutting the stalks (from the sunflowers, corn, quinoa, and amaranth) and tying them in bundles. leave them out in the sun to dry like hay. and store it in the barn with the hay.

motdaugrnds · #10 03/09/11, 04:26 PM

Interesting idea. I will probably try that too. Thanks

3kidsomy · #11 03/09/11, 04:31 PM

i look forward to updates on this, i am adding quinoa and amaranth this year as well, but for chickens and pigs.