SLCG PRO TIP: Straw is great to use for goat bedding. Since goats will not eat straw because they prefer hay, you can keep bedding intact. There are three different types of hay, Grass, Legume and Cereal Grain. Grass Hay can be timothy, orchard grass or other types of grass or broom grass.

Which straw is best for goats?

Allow 25 - 30 bales (of small rectangular) bales per adult goat per year. Straw is generally ready to buy off the field in August (sometimes September). Barley straw is generally considered to be the best as goats will be happy to eat it as well (although nutritional value of straw is low, it is good roughage).

What should you not feed goats?

What Should You Not Feed Your Goats?

• Avocado.
• Azaleas.
• Chocolate.
• Plants with oxalates such as kale.
• Any nightshade vegetable.
• Holly trees or bushes.
• Lilacs.
• Lily of the valley.

What hay is bad for goats?

Never feed moldy hay to goats! It can cause digestive and respiratory problems, among other things. Grass hay may contain a blend of different grasses. You may hear of types such as timothy hay, orchard grass, canary grass, fescue, etc.

How much straw do goats need?

Each goat needs about two to four pounds of hay per day (3-4% of body weight in pounds), which can be fed free choice or twice a day.

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34 related questions found

Do goats prefer hay or straw?

Since goats will not eat straw because they prefer hay, you can keep bedding intact. There are three different types of hay, Grass, Legume and Cereal Grain. Grass Hay can be timothy, orchard grass or other types of grass or broom grass. Legume includes alfalfa, clover, or soy.

Do goats sleep on hay or straw?

Goats aren't too picky when it comes to their bedding. They'll gladly sleep on the ground, but some do like straw. Each goat has different preferences. Many times when you place straw down for them to use as bedding, they will use it to poop on instead.

What can I use for goat bedding?

Straw: Straw is easy to store because it comes in bales, and it's inexpensive. Wheat straw is preferable to other straws because it's easier to muck out when used, it's less dusty, and the goats like to eat it when it's fresh. Wood shavings: Depending on where you live, wood shavings may be a better option.

How many bales of hay does a goat need?

One rule of thumb says 1 square bale per goat per week. Again, there are a lot of factors, but if you have absolutely no idea how much hay you need, start there and keep track. I've said it before, write it all down, because you will forget how many bales you had and how long they lasted.

Can goats live on hay alone?

Grain – (0-10% of their diet) – Goats don't need grain to survive, in fact, they can live happily on pasture or hay, or a combination of both.

What are good snacks for goats?

Treats For Goats

• Banana.
• Carrot.
• Celery.
• Grapes.
• Lettuce.
• Pears.
• Pumpkin.
• Squash.

What are goats favorite food?

90% of the food they eat is pasture or hay. Undebatably this is the most favorite. In general, goats love to eat pasture, raisins, greens, chaffhaye, sunflower seeds, carrots, pumpkin seeds.

Can goats eat chicken feed?

Goats love chicken feed, but it's imperative you keep them clear of it. If your goats get into chicken feed, they may end up suffering from diarrhea and bloat — and if it's severe enough, it can be fatal. ... Start by keeping chicken feed in a hanging feeder inside their coop.

Can goats eat moldy hay?

Do NOT ever feed wet or moldy hay or grain to goats. Wet grain must be thrown out, but wet bales of hay can be broken and aired out until thoroughly dry, then used as goat feed . . . . IF the bales are lightly wet and all mold and mildew has disappeared.

Is corn good for goats?

Corn is safe for goats in small amounts. ... Although there is a tendency to feed corn because it is less expensive, never feed more than 50% of the total diet, except for heavily producing dairy goats.

Can goats eat hay pellets?

Hay pellets are pulverized, so goats really don't have to chew much at all when they eat pellets. ... As long as your goats are eating some long-stemmed hay, either in the form of pasture, browse or baled hay, they can eat as much as they want of hay pellets.

How long will a bale of hay last a goat?

A bale of hay will last 10 days for one goat

Generally speaking your goat should be getting 3-4% of her body weight in hay per day, let's use 3.5%.

Can goats survive on just grass?

In spite of their grazing preferences, goats can be grazed on pasture alone. The feeding strategy of goats appears to be to select grasses when the protein content and digestibility are high, but to switch to browse when the latter overall nutritive value may be higher.

Do goats need hay in summer?

Goats need the extra nutrition that comes from feeding hay. They get a good deal of protein and energy from hay, especially in the winter months. ... You will use less hay in the summer than you do in the winter months if your goats have access to pasture and a lot of forage.

How often should you muck out goats?

How Often Should You Clean a Goat Pen? If you're using the deep litter method, you should clean out a goat's pen once in the spring and once in the fall. For non-deep litter methods, cleaning out a goat's pen every 10-14 days is suggested.

Do goats need blankets?

While it can be tempting to blanket your beasts, it will not help to keep them warm. ... The natural fur winter coat that goats grow is as warm or warmer than any blanket you can put on them, so it is good to expose them to the cold weather as it approaches and allow their fur to do its thing.

What is too cold for goats?

Goats with a healthy winter coat can withstand a 32-F day, though their thermal neutral zone typically lies within 54 to 75 degrees.

What is the best hay for goats?

Legumes can have as much as twice the protein and three times the calcium of grass hays, so they are the preferred hay for goat kids and lactating does. Grass hay, such as timothy, orchard, brome, and bluegrass, is a suitable maintenance hay for goats.

What does healthy goat poop look like?

Normal Goat Pellets: Goat droppings should consist of hard, solid, oval-shaped pellets. They should be dark brown in color and separated, meaning not clumped together. Anytime the bacteria balance in a goat's digestive system becomes out of whack, diarrhea can occur.