Sorry - another question this one on feed

[hengal]

Another thing the breeder told us when we picked up the boys is to feed them their goat feed, twice a day. When I asked how much she said no more than they can eat in a thirty minute time frame. The boys are Nigerians - about 10 weeks old now. I started out with a plastic 12oz cup - one in the morning and one at night. Then this weekend we noticed they seemed to be hungry in the middle of the day. We'd be out in their yard playing (or watching them play) and after a bit they'd go in their stall and start crying - for lack of a better word - you know what I mean and look at us like "well? aren't you going to feed us?" I've now upped it to almost 2 of those cups twice a day, although we did feed them in the afternoon on Saturday because we thought they acted hungry. They gobbled it right up.
Can I ask - are goats the type of animal that will eat themselves silly if you let them? I don't want to not give them enough, but I also am too new to goats to know if they just "expect" food everytime they see me?
Sorry for all the questions,

Thank you again!

Teri

[Alice In TX/MO]

That's four cups too many. Put out free choice hay and a good loose mineral.

Nigerian dwarf goats need MINIMAL feed.

Yes, you can kill them with kindness.

[mygoat]

All hay, no grain. It's not necessary. Goats are ALWAYS hungry, that's why you feed free choice hay OR put them on lush BROWSE pasture. A good alfalfa/grass mix hay, loose quality GOAT minerals and baking soda free choice is all boys need. Maybe mix in some Ammonium Chloride (AC) into their minerals. I use quite a bit when I mix some in.

At most, 1 cup of grain per day BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM will keep them tame and loving you. Of course, they will scream at you whenever they see you if you grain feed, lol.

[saanengirl]

I'd disagree with the no grain at that age. They are growing and need the energy, particularly since it appears they were weaned early. I wouldn't feed them 48 oz of concentrate a day like you are doing now, but I would feed them some. Once their growth slows (maybe 8 months of age) I would start cutting back on the concentrate.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Two Nigerian Dwarf *males*. No need for encouraging growth, methinks.

[BethW]

I kept to the middle ground when my ND boys were that age: a half cup of grain each and free choice grass hay. Stopped all grain by the time they were a year old.

NDs are easy keepers and get chubby easily, which isn't healthy.

[Bearfootfarm]

you know what I mean and look at us like "well? aren't you going to feed us?"

They could be about to explode from eating so much hay and pasture, and if you show up, they will STILL do that

[CaliannG]

My minis are FAT. No, not "well-conditioned", FAT. They are overfed, have food available at all times, are POURING out milk... but they are still rolly-poly FAT.

And every time they see me, they CRY. "We're dyyyyyiiingg. We're stttttaaarrrvvvinnggg! Only treats will saaaaaavvvvee us! Pleeaaasseee, please, please, don't you LOVE us? We're gonna DIE if we don't get grrraaaaaaaiiiiinnnn."

Brie, my chamoisee mini-Nubian doe, has sounding absolutely pathetic down to a fine art form.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I tend to agree with BethW & saanengirl on this one but I also think sometimes we spoil our goats a little too much.
We raise Nigerian dwarfs & at 10 weeks of age I do think they need a LITTLE grain or goat food. 120z for each twice a day is WAY more than I feed any of my goats in a single day, including females. Goats can eat an awful lot in 30 minutes, I can't imagine how I'd roll my little piggies around if I fed them all they could eat in 30 minutes. Mine are done in a matter of minutes.

If you could get a good goat pellet & some have ammonium chloride in them I would feed that to them for a few months anyways.
I always make sure they have all the hay they want, usually grass/alfafa mix, free chioice loose minerals with baking soda & ammonium chloride added for the boys.

If you want to keep them friendly & just want to give them some treats try a few animal crackers or a couple slices of apple, some raisins, etc.
Although my kids never get the hang od treats until they are a little older. My adults thinks treats are the greatest thing though.

Are these going to be bucks for breeding or wethered for pets?

[Donna1982]

I would agree too we give just enough about 1/4 cup if even that at night just to keep everyone friendly. And most of the time he walks away from that.

[hengal]

Thanks very much for your responses. These three boys were weaned at 8 weeks and the breeder said to give them pellets until they are about 8 months old. We've dropped it down to a 1/2 cup in the morning and another 1/2 cup at night.... thats for all three - not for each goat.

[Backfourty,MI.]

You could give them each 1/4 cup morning and night or just about 1 cup between the 3 of them morning & night & that should be more than enough.