kelp supplement

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I have fed the girls a sprinkle of dried kelp powder(probably about 1 tablespoon) over their grain ration for about a year now. I have noticed that some of you have mentioned that this is something that you give free choice, so I put it out and they guzzled it, and fought over it. One doe demolished about a cup and didn't appear to be slowing down so I removed it. Do you think they could bloat on it? Would they slow down eventually? They have loose cattle mineral out, but do you think there is something they are missing? Honestly they acted like it was grain ration or even goat candy!!

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), March 17, 2002

Answers

Terri like you my does eat it until it is gone. It is way to expensive to even think about letting them have it free choice! It's down right scarry to even say that! :) I love the smell, reminds me of home (San Diego and the beach) but it tastes horrid, I have no idea why they like it so much???? Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 17, 2002.

Terri,

I have the kelp out free choice in 2 different types of feeders. The goats seem to know when they need it and when they don't. Sometimes it's devoured immediately and sometimes it will sit there for an entire week and nobody touches it. I tried sprinkling it on their feed but they refused it. Probably thought it was poison.

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhillfarm@yahoo.com), March 17, 2002.


In 1978 I was paying 16 dollars for a hundred pound sack of top grade norwegien sea kelp in southern Oregon.I used to fertilize my garden with it.I can't understand why the stuff cost so high now.

-- SM Steve (unreal@msn.com), March 18, 2002.

I don't find it extremely expensive expensive, $3.75cdn for 2 kilos. (2.2 pounds to the kilo, so over 5 pounds)and cheaper if I buy bigger, but then I am in Nova Scotia and we harvest it here.

-- Terri in NS (terri@tallships.ca), March 18, 2002.

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