Yummy Minerals

The goats are going through lots of minerals!  Dolly seems to think they are yummy.

Dolly

There are quite a few of the big ones that go in and eat.  Although there are several goats that I haven’t seen eating it (including both big bucks).

I really need the kids to eat them because they didn’t get the copper bolus.

Athena

Some of the kids like them.  Others not so much, but I keep trying.

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Treating the Herd

It has been a great relief to find out what is wrong with my herd.  I took some of the hay from my bottom to be analyzed, and the results were surprising.  Remember, I said the average ppm (parts per million) of copper in my county is 16.7.  My hay came back as 1 ppm.

It’s no wonder my poor babies have been struggling lately.  Seriously, I have been very frustrated the last several years.  I have goat specific minerals coming, and I hope that will be enough to keep the rest of my kids safe.

Antigone

But my copper capsules arrived for the big goats on Monday!

I gathered everything together and prepared to give the capsules to the goats.

Of course, since I ordered them before I knew the dosage, I had to divide them in half.  It was interesting to see the little copper rods that fill the capsules.

Then I used the idea from one of my goat sisters (Thank you, Tracy!) to get most of the goats to eat them without any fuss or muss.

Peanut butter was the perfect glue to put the peanut back together with the capsule in it.

Although, it was a bit of a mess.

Cookie

Dolly was my first to try it, and most really did do well.  I have done most of my pregnant goats and the ones in the worst shape done.

Dolly

There are probably a few more I can get them down tonight, but then I need someone to help me with the last few because we’re going to have to use a pill pusher with them.  I should start to see a difference in their health within a few weeks.

A Test Run

I’ve ordered copper capsules for the goats, and they are scheduled to arrive on Monday.  This weekend, I’m trying to figure out my delivery method.  Today the test medium was marshmallows. Clover was happy to try it.

Clover

Then she got this “OMG! What are you feeding me” look, and it ended up on the ground.

Fionn checked it out.

Fionn

I’m not sure that is a compliment.

His ended up on the ground too, but Xerxes loved it!

Xerexes

Bambi thought they were delicious.  She kept following me to see if she could eat anyone else’s if they didn’t want it.

Bambi

Maggie was about the same.

Maggie

Dolly would take them, and then throw them on the ground.  It was starting to look like the Easter bunny hopped through leaving marshmallow pellets as he went.  Later, I caught Maggie going around and picking them up.  No five-second rule in our barnyard!

Dolly with Diana looking at her

At lot of goats wouldn’t even try it.  You can see on Lily some of the signs of the copper deficiency–the light coloring around her eyes and lack of hair on her nose.

Lily

Tomorrow, I will try dates.  I think I might end up with about ten goats that I could feed them anything, and everyone else is going to be difficult.