How we feed (aside from also pasture grazing)

Kent Home Fresh 16% Grow & Finish Pellets

Standlee Alfalfa Pellets

Kent Home Fresh 18% Developer (medicated)

Treats- Animal Crackers, Fig Newtons, Bananas mostly- Other random veggies, fruits, and leafy greens

Our goats have free choice alfalfa/ grass hay mix out 24 hours a day.

We feed our all of our goats pellets twice a day (yes the boys too). They are mixed about 50/50 with alfalfa pellets. The goats in the adult pens are getting 16% non-medicated goat pellets. They get 2-3 of 4-quart scoops divided between 23 goats- so not ALOT per goat.

Pregnant goats get very little (if any) pellets the last 6-7 weeks of pregnancy- depends on how they keep weight without pellets. don't want a fat goat- but also want them to not lose condition.

The baby goats have 18% medicated feed until they are about 6-7 weeks old before we start mixing in the alfalfa with theirs. They continue with that until they are about 5 months old.

On the milk stand our goats get a mix of Alfalfa pellets, Black Oil Sunflower seeds, Steamed Rolled Oats, and Calf Manna. They are allowed as much as they can eat while on the stand.

Health up keep we do

You need a veterinarian for your goats.

Maybe they only see you once a year or maybe they are more involved and out several times a year as my vet is. but find a vet and have a farm call done as soon as you can so that when you REALLY need a vet- they will come out.

You do not want to be hunting for a vet while you are having an emergency.

Hoof care- goats need their hooves trimmed at least every 8 weeks here due to wet areas and soft ground. I use hoof trimmers on mine.

There are many kinds and even grinders like Hoof Boss (which I don't have- but are on my wish list) This FB Group is an amazing resource for hoof care: Goat Hoof Maintenance 101

We give copper boluses 2- 3 times a year.

I just give it as the bolus size and do not give by weight.

Coccidiosis- all babies should be on a

coccidia treatment regiment.

We use toltrazuril every 3 weeks here through 16 weeks; along with medicated feed. There are other options out there, but this our protocol.

Lots of good health info print outs are on this FB group- GOAT EMERGENCY TEAM

Minerals

We keep a locally available loose mineral out for all of our goats at all times.

We are in a selenium deficient area so we make sure that as well as the copper and the zinc are present well too.

Vaccines

Our kids get 2 CDT shots before they leave to new homes.

Our adults get boosters yearly normally 2-4 weeks before kidding.

Adults also get BO-SE injections about a month before kidding.

Worming

Worming by FAMACHA score and fecals is highly recommended verses scheduled worming if they need it or not. I do worm does after kidding regardless of FAMACHA or getting a fecal just as a precaution.

Fecals are easy to have done by working with this company: MeadowMist Labs

Where my goats live

It is important to keep your bucks and does in separate areas unless you are breeding them at the time. either can live with a wether for a buddy- but intact opposite sexes should have their own areas.

We go for walks in the woods

(which we plan to fence in this year for them)

My does live in a large fully enclosed run-in on the back of my barn. The kid barn (8x12) and the buck barn (10x12) are wooden sheds.

We set up kidding pens in the main barn when they are needed otherwise it is just for storage since the rabbits have left.

Some people use calf huts for their goats- you just want to make sure they have an area they can stay dry out of the weather in. because of Michigan winters I prefer buildings for my goats to live in.

My folks raise beef cattle on a large farm- so the pasture rotation philosophy is ingrained in me verses raising animals on dry lots.

My doe area and my buck areas both have a barnyard area (the dry lot) that attaches to 3 pastures for rotating grazing. If I had less goats this would work better than it currently does- which is why this coming year is to expand fencing into the woods.

How our goats live