Even distribution of grain to 3 goats

[natedlee]

We started our adventure with goats yesterday. 3 young wethered males. My question is, how do I ensure they are each getting their share of grain feed each day? In one day it seems one gobbles it all and the others just hang around. There is plenty of brush to munch on as well, but I've been cautioned not to over grain feed them.

Thoughts? Thanks!

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[mzgarden]

One option is to feed grain at particular times out of individual grain feeders - we feed morning and again evening. You can put up 3 small grain feeders/buckets and 'leash' so each goat can eat from their separate feed bucket. Everybody gets what they need and they learn to eat and wait. When everyone is done - everyone is unleashed, no grain left in any buckets so no need to push and shove. As they get older, you may find not everyone needs the same amount or maybe one needs a little something extra in their feed. Having trained them to eat at particular times out of their own bucket - can help then as well.

[Frosted Mini's]

Wethers dont need grain and it can kill them from stones or at least get really fat.

[Sensiblefarmer]

Originally Posted by Frosted Mini's

Wethers dont need grain and it can kill them from stones or at least get really fat.

That's an over simplification, and too broad a statement to apply in all situations. I think that you mean feed, not grain, but yes, some feed formulations can contribute to urinary calculi in wethers. There are also some medicated formulas which help to prevent it. Some wethers on poor pasture or in a dry lot situation may need a little grain, especially when young and growing, or in winter. Like any other animal they can get fat if fed too much.

As for the original question, key hole feeders are the easiest solution. It looks like these animals are not disbudded, so keyholes will not work when the horns grow in. This is one reason why horned goats are less desireable. You can try the individual grain bucket idea, but then that means that each goat will have to have a collar on 24/7, not a good idea for safety reasons, or else you'll have to put it on and take it off at each feeding. That will increase your chore time by a lot. The best solution other than disbudding might be to set up three head gates in your pen wall, just like on a milking stand, but without the stand. You can lock each one in as you fill it's feeder. This will make it easier if they each need different amounts as they mature.

[Croenan]

I have similar issues with my 2 wethers and 2 does. I want the does to eat the grain, but not the wethers. They always bully the girls away and gulp all the food. I have had to stand guard when I feed the girls. I put the bowls in a corner and then stand guard with a squirt gun until the girls are mostly done. (most of the time) I use a spray bottle on the distance setting, and they have learned the word NO pretty well. lol Good luck, my wethers are not in healthy shape because I couldn't do it very well when I had more.

I use medicated feed to help prevent UC, but it only helps so much.

[mygoat]

Several feed pans. if the bully runs from one because another feed pan is 'better', then the less dominant just move to the vacated one. That's what we did when we ran a bigger herd of 20 ish does. With only 3, I'd just do the individual feeders and clip them all to the fence somewhere for dinner.

As for feeding grain based feedstuffs, they don't need a lot. I'd use a medicated sheep feed - those are balanced 2:1 Calcium : Phosphorus and usually have AC added as well. (AC is a salt, not 'medication', it acidifies the urine and reduce the incidence of CALCIUM stones due to this acidity). A grower sheep feed is like to have high protein and energy, and have a coccidistat as well. I'd just keep the ration small. There really is no push for fast growth with pet wethers - the only reason a fast growth is desired for most bucks/does for breeding stock is so that they can be bred their first fall. Pet wethers will do just fine on a high quality hay, free choice minerals, pasture, baking soda, and water. A handful of grain for a treat to keep them personable won't hurt though.

[V-NH]

I tried to tie mine to the fence when I feed them, but even with only three goats it was just too much extra work to catch each one, put a collar on it, and tie it in. On top of that, I bought mine when they were 7ish months old and they had never been collared before. They acted like I was killing them by tying them to the fence and I couldn't walk away at all because they would twist and roll and strangle themselves requiring my immediate intervention.

I ended up just buying three feed buckets. Now they just chase each other around and rotate throughout the feeding. I still think the weakest of the three gets less food, but she also eats much slower than the others. I separated her for a few days at one point because I thought she was getting thin. I put something like 3 cups of grain into a pan for her and it took her a good 5 or 6 minutes to eat it all. My other goats make 3 cups of grain disappear in 2 minutes max. Some goats are just different I guess!

I recommend having three feed buckets

[natedlee]

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I meant feed and not grain. I'm still learning.

I'm spending more time with them right now and feeding some by hand. They also seem to be sort of self organizing and getting what they need. I like the separate buckets idea and have found that the previous owners had chains to keep them at separate buckets. So I think we're good.

Someone mentioned debudding. Interestingly, they are all supposed to be debudded, or maybe technically dehorned. Does debudding not work correctly sometimes? I may be seeing things but the Nubian seems to have one horn that's still growing. Is there a way to fix that if it is?

[natedlee]

Also, I'm adding Ammonium Chloride, per the recommendation of the seller, to their grain each day to take care of calcium buildup. Is this a staple supplement, or region dependent based on the local water? We're on a well, if that makes any difference.

[mygoat]

Originally Posted by natedlee

Thanks for all the feedback. Yes, I meant feed and not grain. I'm still learning.

I'm spending more time with them right now and feeding some by hand. They also seem to be sort of self organizing and getting what they need. I like the separate buckets idea and have found that the previous owners had chains to keep them at separate buckets. So I think we're good.

Someone mentioned debudding. Interestingly, they are all supposed to be debudded, or maybe technically dehorned. Does debudding not work correctly sometimes? I may be seeing things but the Nubian seems to have one horn that's still growing. Is there a way to fix that if it is?

You're probably seeing a scur. When some of the horn tissue or blood supply is missed, a small horny growth can occur but these rarely cause a problem. If they're that age and you're just now seeing a little bit of growth, I'm pretty confident that it's just a minor scur. These scurs may grow a time and then be bumped off in a goat battle or when they stick their head in the feeder. Some are loose, some only grow a max of an inch or so before the blood supply becomes inadequate for further growth. Some can be large and 'severe' but rarely they grow in a dangerous way.

Disbudding is when they are done a few days after birth. Dehorning is done on more mature animals.

[Sensiblefarmer]

It's really difficult to tell from that photo, but it looks to me like the one facing to the right has normal horn buds, and also possibly the one in front.
There is no Nubian in that photo. If you bought one of those goats as a Nubian you got screwed.

[Wendy]

I agree that the two in the front both look like they have horn buds. I also agree that you do not have a Nubian in that group. Maybe a Nubian cross (airplane ears), but not a Nubian.

[natedlee]

Here's a lighter pic. The one closest is a Nubian mini (brown/white). It's noticeably different than the others.

Frankly I don't care what they are as long as they're fun to have and eat my brush. $50/ea was a good price.

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This second pic is the one with buds that seem to be growing.

[CraterCove]

They are very cute.

[GoldenWood Farm]

They are adorable! I could see how the one kid could be a mini Nubian, looks pretty much what some F1 Mini Nubians I have seen .

Justine