Creep
Feeding
From the time they are two
weeks (or so) old we creep feed the babies. We have
an area only little ones can get into, and we try
(key word) to have food out for them all the time.
We cut PVC pipes in half - either
4 or 6 inch pipes with end covers also cut in half
so the food doesn't fall out the end - and screw
these "feed troughs" into the wall a little
over bottom high. We put a board underneath so the
kids can put their feet on to keep from straining
too much and to keep the feet out of the troughs.
This forces the kids to stand on their hind legs
to eat and keeps the feed from getting nanny berries
in it.
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We have a picture of a similar arrangement
on our web page where one of the bucks is eating
out of a pvc trough - but this one is free-standing
in the billy pen. Check out Hercules
to see how he is working the muscles in
his legs while exercising the muscles in his face.
We also have a Lil
Kreep'r that we fill with food after we separate
the bucks from the does and wethers when we have
a bunch of bucklings and they can't get into the
barn creep feeder with the little doelings. That
works great too except sometimes they somehow manage
to deposit nanny berries in it that we have to clean
out.
With the little ones we keep food
out all the time - or as much as we can. With the
"maidens" we feed one scoop (approximately
2 cups) per goat.
In addition to keeping grains in
the troughs for the small kids, we also put hay
in racks for them.
The Creep Feed "room" is also a place
the kids can go to hide from their mothers - and
to drive the mothers crazy because they can't get
to the little rascals.
That may not
work for anyone else, but it works for us <G>.
(I definitely don't tell anyone how to raise their
goats - just what works and what doesn't work for
us. I fully understand that all farms are different,
but we are all looking for ideas.)
