Keeping Doe in shape after breeding

[wamplercathy]

Alrighty, my litter 1 is 3wks old and loving hay, pellets, and mama's milk.
Sooooo, how do I keep my doe trim while providing enough food for the little ones?
Don't have a creep feeder, any ideas for a redneck c-feeder?

Thank yall in advance,
Cathy

 

[imajpm]

I've not been able to keep them trim lol. My does take full advantage and pig out. Perhaps nest box sized contraption with slats wide enough for the kits but not enough for Mama Piglet. On my to-do list as well

 

[wamplercathy]

I have a plan but DH thinks I'm :insane: as usual. :lol: :lol:

 

[Ramjet]

I'd just let her eat .... Otherwise those kits will suck her dry and she'll be skinny as a rail.

Mine don't put on any weight as long as they are nursing .... Once the kits are removed I cut their food back from free feed to their normal limited 1oz/lb. I don't make any changes while they are pregnant either but once they kindle I free feed them.

 

[wamplercathy]

With my second doe I do that, but I just did weight checks and Tartar in 1 week has gained 1 1/2Lbs. She was at 8Lbs before pregnancy got to 11Lbs by the end of it, 3wks in she was 8Lbs and now is over 9 1/2Lbs. Which is OK for now I just don't want too much weight on her.

 

[Ramjet]

Keep in mind a lot of that weight is swollen mammary glands & milk .... it'll be gone once she stops producing. She needs fat reserves to produce that milk.

 

[Marinea]

Gotta agree with Ramjet. My experience has been free-feeding nursing does and then cutting back once the kits are weaned. My does have big litters and that takes a toll on them.

I have yet to have a problem with a doe becoming overweight after weaning.