Need some dosing ball recipes

where I want to · #1 05/26/12, 10:33 PM

Looks like Timber is going to have to have zinc on a daily basis. The vet thinks she has a genetic condition that means she can't store it.
Til now I have been mixing the zinc in molassas and water and drenching her. But that is not going to be good forever.
Any recipes I can try to see if Ms. Fussy will eat it out of hand?

PrettyPaisley · #2 05/26/12, 10:46 PM

I used this recipe with wildly successful results.

How to Naturally Deworm your Animals | On The Green Farms

Slippery Elm can be pricey but if you buy it online and only need it for one goat, it might not be so bad.

CarolT · #3 05/26/12, 11:14 PM

Rosie loves chewable VitC tablets. I give her a C, then slip a zinc caplet in the side of her mouth. She isn't thrilled, but chews both up

Must be a bad year, she's never needed them before.

BTW, my other 2 will eat the caplets without any other flavoring... Maybe see if she will just eat it?

Backfourty,MI. · #4 05/27/12, 06:08 AM

Minelson has a recipe she uses for her wether to make sure he gets his AC. Send her a PM if she doesn't see this thread.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 05/27/12, 06:48 AM

My goats get peanut butter sandwich crackers on a regular basis. If you get your goats used to them, you can smash the zinc, open the cracker, sprinkle the zinc powder on the peanut butter smear, close the cracker, and feed it to the goats!

Minelson · #6 05/27/12, 07:52 AM

I mix 4 tablespoons AC with 4 tablespoons Slippery Elm Bark. Then add 1/2 cup peanut butter. mix (I use my hands) shape into tube and cut into 12 even pieces and roll into balls. When Frankie was getting zinc I just stuck the 50mg tablet into the ball.

I put the balls on a plate and put in the fridge and I have a 12 day supply. I found that the cheapest peanut butter works the best (creamy or crunchy)
You can omit the AC and it will still work. And you can add other things if you like. I have added rolled oats in the past.

where I want to · #7 05/27/12, 01:11 PM

Is slippery elm bark a supplement? Just for taste?
Next visit to town, I'm going to buy peanut butter and just make little balls with nothing in it. I'm sure if Tim gets used to the taste AND the others try pushing her out of the way to get, she will try it.
I think I rushed the peanut butter cracker thing. After all she has been through (she once had to have a shot a day for 2 weeks followed by a shot 2 time a week, now 6 weeks of zinc drenching) she is more leary than the others of taking stuff from me. The others consider me a supermarket.

KrisD · #8 05/27/12, 01:43 PM

Slippery Elm helps hold it all together. It also work to sooth a tummy but there isn't really enough in the recipe to do that. Try maybe oat flour or something. I do keep slippery elm on hand I case someone has gut problems but I don't use for the dosage balls because of the price.

Minelson · #9 05/27/12, 01:56 PM

Like KrisD said..Slippery elm bark helps bind everything together, good for digestion and it also tastes good. I give it to my dogs also when they have tummy issues or just to add a different flavor to their food. I buy mine in bulk on Ebay.

where I want to · #10 05/27/12, 05:10 PM

Thank you- I bet the Co-op has it. I'll check.

Tallabred · #11 05/27/12, 05:10 PM

Half of mine love prunes - I take care of a lot of things by just stuffing it in the prune.

where I want to · #12 05/28/12, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallabred

Half of mine love prunes - I take care of a lot of things by just stuffing it in the prune.

Thanks -I'll try that too.

Pony · #13 05/28/12, 08:15 PM

I make peanut butter/rolled oat balls, which can be dusted with slippery elm (oh, it really is kind of tasty). You can slip a zinc tab right in the middle of it.

KrisD · #14 05/29/12, 12:55 AM

So I wanted to see if my goats liked peanut butter. I grabbed a jar and a spoon and went into the pasture, DO NOT EVER do that. They attacked me! Luckily the jar was almost empty because after they tackled me they stole the jar and ran off. I think it's safe to say peanut butter balls will work in this house. I never did get the jar back.... Sheesh it's not like I don't feed them.