redlevel
Gold Member
I had asked for advice on winter feeding/care on a previous thread.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/224093-winter-care-feeding-goats-donkeys.html
Here it is the middle of December and the projected temp for today is 72, tomorrow about the same. That will make four days in a row over 70, and forecast for the next five days is mid to high 60s. We have had about five or six very heavy frosts, so the kudzu and bermuda is well killed back. There is still plenty of privet and some of the briars remain green. The goats nor the donkeys are standing at the gate cussing me when I drive up like cows would be doing if they are hungry.
Due to the warm weather, there is a pretty good growth of wild rye grass and common vetch, even a little clover. I think the donks are making a good living on that, and the goats are making it on the privet. I still give them some sweet feed once or twice a week so they will follow me when I need them to. I have not put any hay out. I want the goats to eat the brush. I have neighbors whose goats are lazy because they are fed so much corn and hay that they don't have to forage. I want to keep my goats healthy (salt, minerals, worm, etc) but I want to keep them working for me. I understand that the donks are pretty good foragers, too. Maybe the word is "browse".
Here is a picture of the rye grass and vetch.
Mostly vetch in the first picture, and ryegrass in the others.
There is still plenty of privet for the goats.
I built a shelter using cattle panels and a plastic tarp. I found the directions on the interwebs. It has held up very well through a couple of pretty tough wind storms. There is enough room for the goats and donks to get under it, but I am going to make another one a little taller for the donks.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/224093-winter-care-feeding-goats-donkeys.html
Here it is the middle of December and the projected temp for today is 72, tomorrow about the same. That will make four days in a row over 70, and forecast for the next five days is mid to high 60s. We have had about five or six very heavy frosts, so the kudzu and bermuda is well killed back. There is still plenty of privet and some of the briars remain green. The goats nor the donkeys are standing at the gate cussing me when I drive up like cows would be doing if they are hungry.
Due to the warm weather, there is a pretty good growth of wild rye grass and common vetch, even a little clover. I think the donks are making a good living on that, and the goats are making it on the privet. I still give them some sweet feed once or twice a week so they will follow me when I need them to. I have not put any hay out. I want the goats to eat the brush. I have neighbors whose goats are lazy because they are fed so much corn and hay that they don't have to forage. I want to keep my goats healthy (salt, minerals, worm, etc) but I want to keep them working for me. I understand that the donks are pretty good foragers, too. Maybe the word is "browse".
Here is a picture of the rye grass and vetch.
Mostly vetch in the first picture, and ryegrass in the others.
There is still plenty of privet for the goats.
I built a shelter using cattle panels and a plastic tarp. I found the directions on the interwebs. It has held up very well through a couple of pretty tough wind storms. There is enough room for the goats and donks to get under it, but I am going to make another one a little taller for the donks.
