After much research I have found what works well for my herd nutrition wise. Obviously mineral deficiencies differ all over the country and can even differ animal to animal so some may need more nutrition than others dependent on their specific needs. Keeping an eye out for rusty colored fur, rough fur, bald spots especially around the eyes and down the middle of the nose or around the ears, and fishtail are all signs that your goat is mineral deficient and needs extra support.

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  Bucks/Bucklings/Wethers:

• The boys get alfalfa pellets once a day. When a buck is with a doe in the breeding pen, I also add in a PM feeding with alfalfa pellets(or Chaffhaye) to help boost their energy.

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  Dry Does: A small amount of Chaffhaye given AM & PM feedings. Depending on their body condition they might need more or less.

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  Doelings: A small amount of Chaffhaye given at AM feedings to help give extra nutrition for good growth. 

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  Pregnant Does: 

• 1.) Chaffhaye is given AM & PM feedings to help keep their calcium and energy levels steady and also be able to support their growing babies. 

• 2.) Red Raspberry leaves(I just get the brand Frontier off of Amazon) are started 6 weeks prior to their due date. I start off with about a teaspoon size once a day, then build it up to a handful. Then I start adding a teaspoon size twice a day and build that up to a handful so that by the time they kid they're getting 2 handfuls a day. Over a 6 week period a doe should have eaten about 1 lb of red raspberry leaves! These are given to help prepare the uterus for giving birth. The leaves also have a natural form of calcium to help fulfill the pregnant doe's needs to hopefully prevent pregnancy toxemia and milk fever.

• *Steps 3 & 4 should be given starting 14 days prior to guesstimated due date.*

• 3.) Herbamins Extract from Land of Havilah supports the doe's body with an extra boost of vitamins and minerals and is also beneficial to the babies as well.   

• 4.) EZ Birth Extract from Land of Havilah will help prepare the doe for the birthing process & should help with smoother deliveries & faster healing afterwards.

• * The link to order the EZ birth extract is at the bottom of the page. You will get a free class on how to use it with your order which will give you the details on when and how much to use of each extract. 

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  Does in Milk:

• 1.) Chaffhaye and at least a 16% goat grain(I'm currently giving Blue Seal Home fresh 20%) and a handful of BOSS(Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) is given AM & PM(or more if body condition is under par). This helps keep up the doe's energy, weight, & milk production.

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ALL GOATS RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING:

• 1.)Chemical Free Grass Hay fed free choice(we buy the BIG bales)

• 2.)Minerals: Sweetlix Meat Maker or Purina Goat mineral or Duraferm Concept Aid(THIS one is hands down my favorite!) has been put out free choice.

• 3.) Copasure is copper oxide needles in hard gelatine capsules used to supplement for copper deficiency. This goat supplement can help prevent barber pole worms in just a single application. Copper supplements for goats are effective against primary and secondary copper deficiency. I have just started using these February 2021. I have had goats since 2018, but have noticed I need LOTS of herbs to correct copper deficiency. After much research I feel that it is indeed safe and give it according to the Thrifty Homesteader's method. Click the button "Understanding Copper Deficiency" at the bottom of this page to go to her website for more info. 

• 4.) Durvet Sheep and Goat Selenium and Vitamin E Gel I just started February 2021. Every month on the 1st of each month I will administer some of this selenium to help offset first and secondary deficiencies since our soil is very deficient in selenium. *Note: Because the Selenium/Vit E gel is difficult to push out of the smaller tubes, we have replaced it with a dose of Replamin Plus Gel which is administered with the applicator gun. It has a high amount of Selenium in with many other vitamins and minerals that's chelated for easier absorption.

• 5.) Herbal Dewormer: Land of Havilah's Parasite Formula(most of my Nigerians fit within the 1/2 teaspoon dosage but give according to weight on the bag) mixed with Garlic Barrier(adults get 10 ml and juniors get 5ml) and drench  once a week to not only keep their parasite population down, but also nourish their organs & strengthen their immune systems to help ward them off. Babies starting at a few days old will get a pinch of Parasite formula 3 x's a week. Once they're about 8 weeks they are changed over to the garlic juice mixed with Parasite formula.

•  6.) EVERY gallon of water comes from our structured water unit(vibrancywater.ca) starting 10/2021. We used to filter our water through the Horse Hydrator(this filters minerals in our well water, such as calcium, sulfur, and iron in order to help prevent secondary mineral deficiencies that occur when these undigestible minerals block the goat's ability to absorb the organic minerals we give them). I truly do not notice much difference since using the Horse Hydrator so I cannot say for sure of it's efficacy.