Official SS Goat Thread

[cmjust0]

No, but I notice from the ingredients that it just lists "copper" without specifying what kind of copper..

Plus, it looks to be HELLATIOUS expensive at $20/8lbs.. A 50lb sack is over $80!



The mineral I use is formulated by the goat specialists at two local universities, and it's custom blended at a little local mineral supplement company here in central Kentucky.

Forgive me for not being more specific, but I'm actually not sure if I'm even really supposed to be using it.. That is, I don't think the formulation was really intended to be released to the public.. ..but I heard about it and called the mineral company, dropped a name or two of some of the goat people I associate with in this area, and the mineral company got in touch with the goat specialist at one of the universities to ask if it would be OK to mix up a small batch for me.. The specialist OK'd it, so that's what I'm using..

Thing is...it's only $15 for a 50lb sack and it's good, light-brown/gray mineral with lots of sulfates and chelates.

That said...I feel pretty confident that Hoegger must be making an absolute KILLING off this mineral.

Before I'd personally spend that kind of money, I'd probably buy Sweetlix or even a good loose mineral for cattle..

But that's just me, and like I said, I've never used the Hoegger to know. Maybe it's worth it for some reason.....though I kinda can't see how any mineral is worth $80/bag!

 

[ksalvagno]

After reading a lot of labels, searching for info on the internet and buying a few types of minerals, I have settled on Sweetlix 16:8 meatmaker loose mineral. The goats eat it very well with zero waste and it is one with a higher copper content along with the proper 2:1 ratio for calcium/phosphorus. So far I have been very happy with it. I was lucky, it turned out that my local feed store carries it so I can just buy it at the local feed store with my feed.

 

[cmjust0]

We could never quite get to zero waste.. You'd go down there and a bird would have pooped in it...or there would be goatberries in it...or certain LGDs who shall remain nameless may or may not have pulled the container off the rail, dumped out all the mineral, and proceeded to knaw on the plastic...or one of the goats would go get a big slug of water then practically spit it all out on the mineral for some daggone reason..

 

[Blackbird]

Thanks Cmjust! Very interesting!

 

[FarmerDenise]

One of my 6 day old kids has a slightly runny nose and slightly loose poo. She also did not drink as much milk this evening as she has before. Do I need to be concerned?

 

[freemotion]

Yes. I can't really help you with it, but yes, be concerned, since she is only 6 days old, watch her closely. Someone will chime in, soon, I hope. I throw probiotics at any change in poop as a first response.

 

[ksalvagno]

I would take her temp and see if it is elevated. Should be under 104.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Both of them have runny poo this morning. I am not too surprised, since I am switching them over from goat milk to cow milk.

I'll take their temps. I also was thinking of giving them AVC (my homemade stuff, that I take daily) and or yogurt.
I'll call the Goat Lady too. She told me to have Pepto Bismol on hand.

We took them outside yesterday. It was a nice and sunny day. The little brown one, who had been a little sleepy head came to life. She started hopping and popping and checking everything out. The one who was so active in the house, got shy and hid in the little doghouse or under a chair. After a while she got used to things and also enjoyed herself.
Our dog Spike kept inspecting them. Eventually she got bored and layed down in the straw in the kid pen (formerly the chick pen).

Once it started getting cold, we brought the kids back in the house.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I did a lot of reading this morning. BYH, websites and books.
I decided to feed my babies an electrolyte formula and feed them more often for today anyway. I just fed them a little early for their mid day feeding. I'll offer them some more around 5pm and then again at 8, their regular bedtime feeding. We'll see how it goes by tomorrow.
I believe they have runny poo, because of the change in milk. When I put them back on milk I am going to give them 1/3 cow and 2/3 goat millk. Even if I have to buy goats milk at $4 per quart.

They are lively and otherwise look to be healthy. The one that had a slightly runny nose yesterday evening, didn't have one this morning. So it may just have reacted to being outside and inhaling something.
They are climbing and jumping all over me when I go into their pen. We have them in the living room still. The weather here is cold and drizzly rain. It is so much easier to look after them, when they are in the living room.

I got the electrolyte formula out of a goat book. Here it is, if someone else wants to use it. It is from "The Goat Handbook" publushed by Barrons

2 tsp table salt 1 tsp of sodium bicarbonate
8 tbs of grape sugar or honey (do not use normal cane or beet sugar!)

Dissolve these ingredients in 4 quarts ($L) of warm water.
these proportions must be followed exactly, for a higher concentration can produce serious consequences. On the other hand, the anumals can be watered with this solution in whatever quantities they will take, and it is often astonishing how quickly they recover.

I used sea salt, and local organic unfiltered honey; it's what I have in the house.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I already noticed better, more solid poop. So far, so good.
The kids are very energetic and playful.