For some reason...

Frosted Mini's · #1 01/07/15, 10:03 PM

I can't think of solutions to my own goat problems, only other people's! LOL.

I have 2 dry yearlings to freshen in less than a month. I have been trying to get them to eat a little grain on the milkstand while I pretend to milk them. For some reason, they have been very reluctant to eat the grain, and I am getting a little bit concerned about them losing body condition or having metabolic problems, especially after kidding because I know from their bloodlines that they will be heavy milkers (dam peaked at 14+lb as a 2 year old, and they have 1/2 sisters thru their sire that peaked at 16+ lbs as YEARLINGS!). Anyway, I was talking to my goat friend about it, and she said, maybe add some mollasses grain in. Duh, why didn't I think of that! I bet they will love it that way! I also have some calf manna, and I have yet to meet a goat that didn't love that! So, tonight, here in a few minutes, I am going to try mixing a little of each thing in. Wish me luck! I really don't know why they are being such food snobs...they did get grain as kids, the same kind even, but haven't had it for a long time.

marusempai · #2 01/08/15, 08:57 AM

THey are in a new place, too, which might be making them nervous to eat. I haven't had a problem with Zelda - when she was a baby she used to jump the fence and climb on the milk stand between her mama and the wall, so she already knew that milk stand = special snacks. I bet EXTRA special food will bring them around though (and making that fence taller was the best thing I ever did).

kasilofhome · #3 01/08/15, 10:08 AM

A salt block

nehimama · #4 01/08/15, 02:46 PM

Good Luck! I think & hope your idea will work - especially with the Calf Manna!

Frosted Mini's · #5 01/08/15, 05:59 PM

Well, kinda sorta not really working. We'll see what happens I guess. At least they are big big girls, so have a lot of body to sustain them.

They are both probably 170-180 lbs!

GoldenWood Farm · #6 01/09/15, 12:52 PM

You know I run into the same problem with my does sometimes when it comes to giving grain prekidding. I swear it is because the does are so full with babies and hay that they just don't want grain. I wish you luck! I don't have to worry about this for another month but every year it never fails, I always have someone who ends up not eating much grain before kidding.

Justine

Frosted Mini's · #7 01/09/15, 03:21 PM

Justine- Thanks so much for that! Makes me feel better about it.

One of the two does, Bambi, is now digging in pretty good. The other doe, Gazelle (I call her Gizzy

), kinda noses it and might nibble a little. So, we are getting there, I think. Hopefully they snarf it after kidding. Don't want them to melt into nothingness!

Good news: Both girls are starting to be better about letting me touch udders, etc. This morning they both just stood there and let me pretend to milk, didn't even lift legs.

GoldenWood Farm · #8 01/09/15, 08:57 PM

I honestly have stopped worrying too much about it now with my does. Mainly because I couldn't FORCE them to eat it and it seems they developed an appetite after kidding. Like I said I figure they are so fat with babies they are too full for grain. Another thing you can try depending on when you feed hay is before you fill up hay feeders try giving grain to the young does. They could be filled up on hay/alfalfa

.

You are brave messing with FF udders

. My does don't get touched until after they kid, I would have grasshoppers if I tried any earlier. I haven't really had an issue yet with FF's doing it that way. They have a week to settle down and get used to things before I start getting after them. But that is just me and how I do it

.

Justine

Frosted Mini's · #9 01/09/15, 11:53 PM

They have hay and alfalfa pellets 24/7 right now, so don't think I could do that. Oh well, I guess I save on grain at least. LOL.

These two I will probably be dam-raising on, so I want them to get used to being touched in their "no no" spots. LOL. But I always try and handle them a little beforehand, just get them used to the whole routine. I had one last year that was insane, and I'm very glad I did pretend milk beforehand, because when I first started she was trying to reach back to bite me! Jumping around, CLIMBING the milkstand with her front feet, just insane. Had settled down by the time she kidded.

wintrrwolf · #10 01/10/15, 11:17 AM

My milkers still don't like me touching their udders when it is not milking time. Nibbler is a FF she kidded out on sunday, never did get around to messing with her udder beforehand. Showed her where to stick her head to reach the grain, locked in her head, and started milking, as long as there was a bit of grain in the dish she was fine.

Pony · #11 01/10/15, 01:28 PM

I think they'll be fine. They have plenty of feed, and they're probably self-regulating.

Can't understand them not wanting Calf Manna, though. Heck, that stuff smells so good, I'd eat it!