Goats:
Adults-
All of our adult goats are fed high quality alfalfa twice daily, which always lasts them between feedings. They also have access to free choice Manna Pro goat minerals, Probios brand and Goat's Prefer brand probiotics, ammonium chloride for our pet whether, and occasional baking soda for minor tummy troubles. We also always have plenty of fresh clean water available at all times. Our one doe currently in milk is fed as much Dairy Parlor Noble Goat grain and alfalfa pellets mixed with alfalfa leaves as she can eat in about 10-15 minutes. We have recently began to incorporate some Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) for the selenium and protein. Also, our Lamancha yearling is fed one cup of grower daily to help her maintain her weight. In addition, all goats are given their CDT booster annually, copper boluses every 4-6 months, and vitamin E/selenium gel capsules a few times a month. During breeding season and pregnancy, does are given 5 ml of selenium/E gel once per month, and one 400i.u vitamin E capsule each every day. Non-breeding animals and breeding does during the Spring and Summer are given Selenium gel once every three months.
Kids-
Previously, all of our kids were raised on a CAE/CL/mycoplasma prevention program to ensure that our farm tested negative for at least 2 years. The kids were bottle fed heat treated colostrum followed by whole cows milk from the store, pasteurized goat milk, or a mix of both depending on the situation. However, we are constantly learning and as we gain more confidence in our herd's health, with two years running of CAE and CL negative tests and no evidence of illness, we have ventured into dam rearing and bottle feeding raw milk. When bottle rearing, we like to bottle feed until the kids are three months of age. In fact, they usually just wean themselves! We offer alfalfa starting at one week, and by two months they down that stuff faster than I can put it in their pen! This year we have been splitting one handful of grower grain mixed with alfalfa leaves between our triplets once a day. We do not practice cocci prevention and haven't had any issues yet. If we ever see loose stools in our kids, we just add a dab of plain cultured yogurt to their bottles and it works like a charm. We have been very lucky, and find no reason to use unnecessary medications here! We also vaccinate with CDT at 5 weeks and give a booster again at 9 weeks. So far, we have raised 5 friendly, healthy kids using methods outlines here.
Chickens:
Laying hens and Roosters-
We rotate our chickens between full-time free ranging and portable chicken tractors. This way, we can utilize natural feed in our pasture as well as reducing losses to the many predators in our area. We supplement their diets with table scraps and Purina pelleted layer feed. I haven't seen many eggs with yolks as bright and nutrient-rich as ours!
Chicks-
Chicks are fed either Purina flock Raiser or Dumor unmedicated feed from the time we get them until they are 4 months old. We try to avoid medicated feed at all costs and have never had any problems whatsoever in over 10 years of chicks who have been brooded both naturally by a hen and in brooders. We also offer free choice water and chick grit. For weak chicks, we add plain white sugar to the water for the first 5 days.
Ducks:
Our ducks free-range on 5 acres and have free access to our large pond from dawn til' dusk. In the morning and evening they are fed a scoop of Layena. Duckling are fed same as chicks. Same feeding meothods apply for our goose.
***Disclaimer: I am not a vet! These are simply my feeding practices. These are not intended as instructions for others' animals. Please read them and make your own judgment based on your animal's needs. Thanks.
Adults-
All of our adult goats are fed high quality alfalfa twice daily, which always lasts them between feedings. They also have access to free choice Manna Pro goat minerals, Probios brand and Goat's Prefer brand probiotics, ammonium chloride for our pet whether, and occasional baking soda for minor tummy troubles. We also always have plenty of fresh clean water available at all times. Our one doe currently in milk is fed as much Dairy Parlor Noble Goat grain and alfalfa pellets mixed with alfalfa leaves as she can eat in about 10-15 minutes. We have recently began to incorporate some Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS) for the selenium and protein. Also, our Lamancha yearling is fed one cup of grower daily to help her maintain her weight. In addition, all goats are given their CDT booster annually, copper boluses every 4-6 months, and vitamin E/selenium gel capsules a few times a month. During breeding season and pregnancy, does are given 5 ml of selenium/E gel once per month, and one 400i.u vitamin E capsule each every day. Non-breeding animals and breeding does during the Spring and Summer are given Selenium gel once every three months.
Kids-
Previously, all of our kids were raised on a CAE/CL/mycoplasma prevention program to ensure that our farm tested negative for at least 2 years. The kids were bottle fed heat treated colostrum followed by whole cows milk from the store, pasteurized goat milk, or a mix of both depending on the situation. However, we are constantly learning and as we gain more confidence in our herd's health, with two years running of CAE and CL negative tests and no evidence of illness, we have ventured into dam rearing and bottle feeding raw milk. When bottle rearing, we like to bottle feed until the kids are three months of age. In fact, they usually just wean themselves! We offer alfalfa starting at one week, and by two months they down that stuff faster than I can put it in their pen! This year we have been splitting one handful of grower grain mixed with alfalfa leaves between our triplets once a day. We do not practice cocci prevention and haven't had any issues yet. If we ever see loose stools in our kids, we just add a dab of plain cultured yogurt to their bottles and it works like a charm. We have been very lucky, and find no reason to use unnecessary medications here! We also vaccinate with CDT at 5 weeks and give a booster again at 9 weeks. So far, we have raised 5 friendly, healthy kids using methods outlines here.
Chickens:
Laying hens and Roosters-
We rotate our chickens between full-time free ranging and portable chicken tractors. This way, we can utilize natural feed in our pasture as well as reducing losses to the many predators in our area. We supplement their diets with table scraps and Purina pelleted layer feed. I haven't seen many eggs with yolks as bright and nutrient-rich as ours!
Chicks-
Chicks are fed either Purina flock Raiser or Dumor unmedicated feed from the time we get them until they are 4 months old. We try to avoid medicated feed at all costs and have never had any problems whatsoever in over 10 years of chicks who have been brooded both naturally by a hen and in brooders. We also offer free choice water and chick grit. For weak chicks, we add plain white sugar to the water for the first 5 days.
Ducks:
Our ducks free-range on 5 acres and have free access to our large pond from dawn til' dusk. In the morning and evening they are fed a scoop of Layena. Duckling are fed same as chicks. Same feeding meothods apply for our goose.
***Disclaimer: I am not a vet! These are simply my feeding practices. These are not intended as instructions for others' animals. Please read them and make your own judgment based on your animal's needs. Thanks.