Thank you both for replying. I have read two books and watched videos as well as read information on the net about raising goats. None of which stated not to feed the goats in the summer because they can browse so I figured this couldn't be true. Also I have never seen Roy not feed his goats in all the times I have been to his farm. I'm not really sure how my husband came to this determination out of discussion but I think it was with another farmer he was speaking with who has boar goats not milking goats.
Thank you for mentioning the problem with the wet/damp morning grass I would have never thought of that because I don't recall reading it anywhere. I've still got pages and pages to read on this forum so I will probably come across it. I'll make sure the goats are not out before 10am so I know the grass is dry. I'll also not let them browse in the canopy area I believe it stays wet most of the time.
I had to do a lot of research on the goat feed because I have gluten allergies. I've had to deal with so much pain even from "gluten free" products that we moved to this 7 acres so I could grow my own food. We started with the chickens which happily live on free ranging and lots of gluten free seed/feed. My goat feed mix came from two articles on the net from others that fed gluten free feed to their milk goats along with help from our vet.
One thing suggested by our vet and Roy the man we are purchasing the goats from is to be very careful about major changes with their feed. So, I have purchased goat rations to start the goats on when they arrive ( same rations Roy feeds). I will slowly decrease the pre-mixed goat rations while adding the gluten free mix I have designed. (I've already had the feed mill mix it for me).
I am wondering though by what % should I decrease the goat rations by while replacing with my gluten free mix? I am thinking every 4 or 5 days? Do you think this might be too soon? A lot of my gluten free mix has the same things in it as the goat rations just not the wheat, rye, and barley. Roy wasn't sure about this because he's never changed the feed for his goats. I forgot to ask the vet the last time I was there. So I thought I would ask here and see what time frame you all would suggest.
As for hay: I am happy to say we have a nice field area with a good mix in it. Not sure what it is other then not really having wheat, rye, or barley but when the farmer that's going to bail it came to look he said it would be really good for goats and the only thing lacking is the alfalfa. I've already taken care of the alfalfa problem by purchasing bails of alfalfa from another farmer that does not plant wheat, rye or barley on his farm.
I'm thinking about getting one of the plant identification books to help me determine what is safe for my goats to browse and what isn't. Do you have any suggestions for a book?
thank you for all your help =). I better get back to my pages of reading so I can get caught up on goats here.
