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shellybabe_gw

Goat feeding

20 years ago

I have a small herd of goats, one of the females is very dominant, I guess the alpha female. She hogs food from the other goats to the point I have had to separate feeding bowls so she thinks she is the only one eating, for a while at least, when she is done with hers, she runs the othes away from theirs. I also supplement with hay. She eats more than her share of that as well. She is weaning twins, and getting very fat, how can I control what she eats so she doesn't over eat and the others can have their share too, without me going broke? I let them out to browse the yard several times a week, but this goat will pig out on grass, then hay and feed for the babies, and still bawl like she is starving!!

Comments (6)

  • 20 years ago

    Wow, thats a tough one.The only thing I can think of is to seperate her at feeding time if possible. I know thats a pain to have to do that but I just cant think of any other solution. I have 3 goats and I have a feeding pan for each one and the hay I just throw it in different piles for them to eat. She just sounds kindly hateful.I have a horse like that.

  • 20 years ago

    I have separate feeding bins for all goats, and I have tried to separate her. She really tends to be spiteful at the goats and nice to humans as long as you don't touch her. She is an excellent breeder but I don't know if it would be profitable to keep her since she eats more than her fair share. I was wondering if she might be doing this due to a lack of something in her diet?? Any help would be appreciated

  • 20 years ago

    Can you tether her during feeding and leave her tied until the others have had a fair chance at their food? Kind of a pain, but it sounds as though she is eating greedily at the expense of the other goats' health.

    Is it possible that she is rundown due to raising kids? I ask this because you say she is an excellent breeder. Maybe if you tether her and feed her up a bit she will improve her manners... although if she is getting fat then it is not likely quantity that is lacking.

    Has she always been this way or is this recent behaviour? Have you consulted a vet? (You'll have gathered that I am better at questions than answers...)

  • 20 years ago

    Well, Maggie
    the tethering was a good idea, I have tried, however I must confess it is rather a pain in the neck.
    She had twins in November, and we have had her a year and a half and this was the first kidding she did with us. So over kidding isn't a problem.
    As for the vet, we don't really have a vet in our area that knows didly squat about goats. I found that out the hard way when this same goat needed help delivering her twins. I had a quick delivery lesson.
    She was very agressive when we got her, but after spending a month at a friends' house with their billy, she was very meek when she came back. But after she kidded she went back to her old ways. I might have to accept the fact she is a dominent goat and just live with it I guess.

  • 20 years ago

    I have one like that. I just put out the hay in a little pile for each goat. They run back and forth between piles, but they all eat.

  • 20 years ago

    I have solved the problem.
    I have started milking her and keep the feed there while I am milking so the others are not so afraid to get neer the feed bins. and she only gets what she needs. She is slimming down and the others are fattning up a little, and she gives 1/2 gal/day of some of the sweetest milk!!
    Thanks for all the advice it is what prompted me to start milking her to keep her separated and to keep her from bawling while in there.