What should I feed my new show wether? TOP
We recommend Honor Impulse sold by your local Purina dealer. We like the results and it will meet your goats nutritional needs. We strongly urge you to stay away from the cheaper goat feeds because they simply don't have the ingrediants to maximize your wethers potential and can lead to problems such as poor weight gain, inadequate muscle growth and an inceased risk of Urinary Calculi which is deadly to your wether. Make sure your wether has access to fresh clean water at all times. Use a smaller size bucket and clean out and refill with fresh water daily!
How should I exercise my wether? TOP
We track ours with a trained Border Collie. If that is not an option, there are other means that can be benificial. Lead your wether away from his pen and turn him loose and allow him to run back to his pen. Just remember you want to train in short bursts instead of really long distances. Compare the training to a sprinter and not a marathon runner. Treadmills are another good form of exercise that can really help build the muscle judges like to see.
Should I use supplements or additives? TOP
Depends on what your wether needs. Does he need more muscle definition? If so, Honor Champion Drive may help. Does he need more cover (Fat)? If so, Honor Power Fuel may help. Just remember there is no "Majic Potion" that will dramatically change the look of your wether. Good genetics are the basis for building a competitive show wether. If you start with good genetics your a leg up in the very beginning. Visit Fittersoutpost.com for high quality supplements and additives that have a proven record of success.
What type of pen and shelter do I need? TOP
It can be simple or elaborate. Wethers dont require an abundant amount of space. I have seen 10x10 dog kennels with a large dog house used as a shelter and I have seen big barns with big nice pens. Just make sure their area is kept clean and they are able to stay dry in incliment weather.
How do I teach my wether to lead on a chain? TOP
In the beginning, tie him to a fence for a few minutes a day. Make sure you stay with him so he doesnt hurt himself. After hes used to being tied, start trying to walk him around. Ive learned that if you will stay even with his shoulders, the tend to walk better. A goat likes to think they are leading the way. If you move up past his shoulder or get in front of him, they put the brakes on. Have someone get behind them to help encourage the goat to walk forward. Don't expect them to lead perfectly the first few sessions. Teaching a goat to lead by chain takes time. Work with him a little each day and you'll have him walking in no time. I dont like the idea of using a halter then graduating to a chain. If you start with a chain in the beginning, life will be much easier.
My wether wont drive! What do I do? TOP
This is another area that requires lots of patience and practice. Set them up on the egde of a trailer or even a trimming stand if its big enough. Push them off the back of it. When they realize there is nothing there for them to step back on, they will generally start driving back towards you. Goats hate water, if you have a small kiddy pool, you can try pushing them back into the water. This is another part of training that requires time and effort. Dont wait till a week before the show to train them how to set up and drive or you will be disappointed.
Do I need to deworm my wether? TOP
Absolutely! You should worm your wether about once a month to make sure he stays parasite free. We use Cydectin or Valbazen. You also need to keep an eye on lice. Cylence is a good product to rid your wether of any external parasites. It is important that you keep your wether free of internal and external parasites.
