Getting Goats today

[wife89]

Yikes! Hubby contacted a guy about goats and we are getting them today! We are getting 2 mommas and babies. I am heading to the feed store and I don't know what to get. Do the Mommas need special feed? How about the babies? The babies are 2-3 weeks old.

Thanks

[InHisName]

Goat mineral (I use Sweetlix meat maker, as that what our feed store has), goat grain, they should have a bag of it- for the first time, I would get one bag, then as you learn, you can adjust. Will you be milking? How old are the kids? They may not need anything. Do you have hay? An alfalfa/grass mix, or perhaps you have pasture now? We do not yet for another month...

You will have much more to learn, but this is just to get you through a couple of days.... I would start reading this forum- you will get a good education. Hope you have good fencing.

[wife89]

Thanks.. The kids are 3 weeks... We do have pasture... had a terribly warm winter...
We have access to hay. A friend who has cattle is bringing us a bale.

I have been looking around reading all the posts.... lots to learn for sure.

Thanks for your help Oh and we are not milking... not ready for that yet....

[emanuelcs34]

Alfalfa Hay or alfalfa pellets...What breed are they? Loose Minerals for sure, and Baking Soda...Don't need alot just keep some out for them...Grain if needed...Mine are Dwarfs and get very little grain if any...

[wife89]

They are Boer... What is the difference between loose minerals vs a block?

[BethW]

Mom needs the calcium in alfalfa hay and/or alfalfa pellets. Definitely a good loose mineral (Manna Pro goat mineral in the orange bad is readily available and decent). If mom hasn't been dewormed since giving birth, she needs to be...Cydectin would be a reasonable choice. The stress of the move can also cause a worm outbreak.

Also, while cattle hay will hold you for now, I'd start looking into a higher quality hay for the future.

Finally, if you haven't already, try to find out what the previous owner was feeding. You want to make feed changes very slowly to avoid problems.

Congrats! You know we'll need pictures, right?

[BethW]

Originally Posted by wife89

They are Boer... What is the difference between loose minerals vs a block?

Goats have relatively smooth tongues and can't get the amount of minerals they need from a block. You definitely need a loose mineral.

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Even if they have been wormed recently, worm them within a day or two of getting them. The stress of the move will allow any worm population in them to explode. With just two does, you can use quest horse wormer. Do not use Safe Guard, it won't do what you need it to.