What else do I need to provide in our goat’s diet?
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Question by dubbily: What else do I need to provide in our goat’s diet?
I’ve always loved goats so we’re getting two goats for organic lawn mowing for our new place. The backyard is overgrown and has plenty of wildflowers and alot of grass (one acre in total). I’ve been doing some research and I’m still not sure if I need to provide any chaff or the like to the goat’s diet?
Thanks in advance!
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2 Responses to What else do I need to provide in our goat’s diet?
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Goats are GREAT! They’re wonderful animals and can do fairly well on grass and leaves, but plan on providing some grass-hay, especially during the winter if the grass dies in your area. They may also eat your acre lot down fairly quickly, so you may have to provide hay year-round. One acre is not really a lot, so be sure you stay up on deworming the goats, especially if the grass gets short.
If you possibly can, also give your goats a little bit of feed to be sure they get the vitamins and minerals they need. If you have neutered boy goats (wethers) stay away from feeds with molasses in them, as this may cause the little boy goats to get kidney stones. If you ever breed your goats, you may need to provide a very good quality feed for the mother doe so that she can have strong and healthy kids.
Your veterinarian or local feed store may be able to help you decide on a type of feed to buy, and also what dewormer to use. You will also need to know how to give the goats shots (we give a CDT once a year) and how to trim the goats’ feet. Be SURE your fences are secure, that you have a secure latch on the gate, and that the goats have a shelter from rain and damp winds.
Congratulations on your new pets! A tame and friendly goat is one of the best pets in the world.
angelharp7
April 9, 2013 at 4:11 pm
You need to give them salt/mineral blocks. Without salt/minerals they will get sick, unless you have some extraordinary forage. Goat require copper in their mineral licks. Copper is toxic to sheep, so stay away from mineral licks for sheep.
If you live in a place that gets hard frost, you will need to provide hay for your goats in the winter.
The job you are asking your goats to do (lawn mower) is an unnatural job for goats. Goats have evolved to eat with their heads UP. They are browsers, not grazers. Because they are naturally browsers, they have not developed the same worm resistance other grazers, like sheep, cattle and horses have. Goats are very susceptible to worms, so make sure you keep their worming current, especially as the grass gets shorter.
Make sure they have fresh clean water at all times. Your goats will also need a three sided shelter so they can get out of the wind and rain. Bed the shelter in wood shavings or straw. Goats like straw better, and will enjoy eating some of it.
Do NOT allow your neighbors to give them lawn clippings, or pruned branches from their yard. Goats cannot tell what is toxic and what is not toxic when it’s all been chopped together, and pruned branches probably have lots of chemicals on them, and may very likely be from toxic plants, like yew, or rhododendrons.
~Garnet
Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years
Raising meat goats since 1999
P.S. Your number one killer of goats are pet dogs. Make sure your fence is good enough to not only keep your goats in, but dogs out.
Bohemian_Garnet_Permaculturalist
April 9, 2013 at 4:26 pm