Alfalfa cubes and oats for goats?

countrylivingtx · #1 08/03/14, 11:05 PM

A friend of mine that her last horse just passed had a bag of alfalfa cubes and oats that she had no use for but I don't know if there ok for goats? The cubes are huge so I'd break them in half and the oats I would guess mix in with feed but don't know? If there not safe I'll just throw them away

countrylivingtx · #2 08/04/14, 12:03 AM

That's how big

gunsmithgirl · #3 08/04/14, 04:22 AM

Mine do ok with the cubes, I prefer pellets but they have never had a problem with cubes.

SJSFarm · #4 08/04/14, 06:40 AM

I had the cubes as well and mine would occasionally get into them and always did fine - I bought them by mistake and was afraid they would choke on them. I tried wetting them and feeding, but they turned their noses up at it! Even the chickens and ducks refused.

The goats would happily eat them intact. I'd try breaking them up in some way just to be on the safe side.

Alice In TX/MO · #5 08/04/14, 06:44 AM

Break them up with a sledge hammer.

**mygoat** · #6 08/04/14, 07:01 AM

I had extra cubes and I used to break them up and hand them out as treats.

They break into little pats sometimes perfect for kids even.

Donna1982 · #7 08/04/14, 09:43 AM

I too would use them as treats. They love them here as such but wont eat them on the stand ... goats.

Pony · #8 08/04/14, 10:34 AM

Otter used to soak cubes with warm water to feed.

My prima donas turn up their Roman noses at range cubes.

CAjerseychick · #9 08/04/14, 11:34 AM

Yup mine love them too, just put a few out for them in their feed trough (its takes them a while to break them up, I let them do it it gives them something to work on). Oats are fine too, not sure about the proper ratio, but you could mix it into their feed...(we buy premixed feed and it has oats in it)- you can also mix it into chicken feed for your hens ( I add water and give them a moist treat in these hot summer days they love it)...

countrylivingtx · #10 08/04/14, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna1982

I too would use them as treats. They love them here as such but wont eat them on the stand ... goats.

I give horse cookies for treats so wondering if I can use them for hydration. I usually give hydration hay by purina so wondering if these keep there shape or like the hydration hay fall apart in water and make a mushy hay?