Questions about new goats

[TroutRiver]

Well... now that I have 14 goats, it seems IO have my work cut out for me. All of the new girls need cooper and minerals and to be dewormed. I dewormed all but 2 of them yesterday (ran out of dewormer, will get more tomorrow) and they have free choice loose minerals and baking soda available and a HUGE paddock full of small trees, shrubs and bushes and excellent goat browse. I am also offering alfalfa pellets 3 times a day. I haven't been giving them free choice alfalfa because there are 6 babies and 1 fat yearling that do not need free choice alfalfa pellets (the yearling beats up on the others and hogs the food )

The 2 older does that I've *inherited* for the time being are SKINNY! I mean really skinny, and just generally speaking do not look very good. They are already being fed about 2 cups a day of sweet feed. They have been spoiled to say the least, and aren't crazy about alfalfa pellets, but they will eat some. Is there anything else I can give them to help them gain weight? Their inner eyelids are not super pale, but could be more bright pink. I don't want to feed the crap out of them if it means ignoring an underlying problem, but they are too thin!

[crazygoatgal]

OMGosh you have your work cut out for you. Please call me if you need me or want to rant.

[Minelson]

How about Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (boss)? They have some good, healthy oils in them. Whatever you do, be sure to do it slowly.

[TroutRiver]

That is a good idea. I do have about half a bag of BOSS left over from when I mixed my grain for my goats.

I will take pictures tomorrow and try to post them here, so all you experienced folks can give your opinions on what these girls might need (besides more food, as the others don't appear to be underweight so I don't think they are simply underfed)

My original plan was to sell almost all of them, but now she wants to keep 3, and is giving me 2 (one FF and a doeling who is the full sister to the buck I used for breeding last year - I REALLY liked him, and she is super cute and I think I might have to keep her ) which leaves me 2 doelings to sell for her. The rest are sticking around for awhile...

[Donna1982]

What about beet pulp and calf manna?

[Alice In TX/MO]

SMALL AMOUNTS of BOSS to start. You are going to really have to increase any changes SLOWLY!

[freedomfrom4]

I would start mixing a better feed in with the sweet feed and get them used to it. You can also mix some alfalfa pellets in too. I would start with like 4 cups of sweet and 1 cup of alfalfa pellets to get them used to it. Then slowly start adding more to the mix. Eventually they should eat them. What kind of pellets are you buying? Seperate them to grain them. The babies can have free choice alfalfa pellets I think.

I have one that is skinny. She gets alfalfa pellets mixed with shreded beet pulp and then she also get her grain with extra corn oil mixed in. I don't know if it will work, but I'm gonna give it. Let us know what you do and how it works.

[freedomfrom4]

Keep track of your expenses too. You might need the info later. If you are gonna keep her goats for a while, you might come out on the short end of the stick and not know it.