Are Timothy Hay Pellets ok for my 4 month old goats?

[gabygrl]

I have 2 four month old bottle baby Wethers that I've just weaned off their bottles for good, and feed them Timothy Hay, 1/4 cup noble goat grain each topped off with a tablespoon of rolled oats, (which they love) and free choice minerals. A farmer friend of mine says she switched over her goats to Timothy hay pellets by Standee a year ago, and says she's had no problems. I bought a bag, and give them a cup in the morning which they gobble up. My question is are these pellets safe for them? It's supposed to have no additives. But since they are wethers since 14 weeks, I don't want to set them up for UC. They also don't drink water as much as they were only drinking water through the nipples submerged in their water pails. Went cold turkey with the nipples 2 days ago, and they're finally attempting to drink on their own, but certainly not the amount they would suck through the nipples. I've always added some raw apple cider vinegar to the water to keep it acidic. So am I doing the right thing with them? I took up having goats because I'm retired and have plenty of time to spend with them. I lost a goat once to UC years ago, and I'm paranoid this time to make sure that never happens again. Any advice from you goat owners out there would be most appreciated. They are 1/2 Nigerian 1/2 pygmy by the way.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I keep only wethers now. I have never had problems with stones. I would not a ACV to their water. Goats are extremely picky about drinking and eating and they want everything clean and fresh. I would not want ACV in my water.

I personally feed my boys a grass mix hay all winter and pasture all summer. I may feed a bit of corn during winter some years which amounts to a handful per goat. After about 4-5 months I get them off the rations as they are good for growth, but not good on their stomach.

Getting them to consume forage that requires cud chewing builds a healthy ramen which is necessary for a healthy goat. I personally wouldn't feed solely pellets to goats, and I wouldn't feed alfalfa to wethers unless it's a small percentage of the mixed grasses in the hay.

I provide free choice loose goat mineral and baking soda. I feed tree trimming here and there, willow, fruit trees, and dogwoods, as they are actually browsers not grazers. An occasional treat of stale bread, cracker or chips, and that's what mine eat. Never a problem with stones or stomach.

 

[gabygrl]

I've heard that baking soda can actually make their urine more alkaline than acidic. I'm so confused, but thank you for your advice. I'm bringing up plain fresh water to them tonight without AVC and see what happens. Thank you.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

A goats rumen is highly acidic. A goat who eats a diet high in roughage chew a lot and produces lots of saliva which keep the acidity in check. If they get too acidic they can get acidosis. My goats eats more baking soda in the summer when eating grass and less in the winter on hay.

Stomach issues and bladder stones are two different issues. Rations and alfalfa can be too rich a diet for wethers and cause problems with imbalances which causes stones, as well as stomach issues.

Others may have a different opinion on it, this is mine.

 

[gabygrl]

I don't have much in the corral as far as pasture goes, but the pasture seed is finally growing grass. I provide timothy hay, cut forage branches from the wood each day for them, but now I've also given them timothy hay pellets, and they seem to love both the hay and pellets. I used to leave the baking soda out for them along with the minerals, but took it away when I read a few things about it offsetting the acid in the urine for wethers. But I may add it back in, since I don't think they ate too much of it anyway. As far as minerals go, I use the Manna Pro minerals, and they never seem to touch it. If I were to add wet oyster crackers and bury them in the minerals, the dig and eat those right up. I guess you could say I'm spoiling these two little boys. lol

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Goats don't mind being spoiled, they think they are royalty. Before I free choice fed baking soda I occasionally had one with stomach upset. They love it eating it, and for me it is something that just as important as the mineral.

From my understanding wethers get stones from eating rations made from grains. Your Timothy pellets will be better for them in the long run than any grain based ration will be.

 

[gabygrl]

Goats don't mind being spoiled, they think they are royalty. Before I free choice fed baking soda I occasionally had one with stomach upset. They love it eating it, and for me it is something that just as important as the mineral.

From my understanding wethers get stones from eating rations made from grains. Your Timothy pellets will be better for them in the long run than any grain based ration will be.

Thank you, I appreciate your words of advice. I will be adding baking soda to their "buffet" table. lol