Flakey skin

[michael]

I have several goats with dry flakey skin. Especially the wethers. If it were the bucks I would blame it on their bad habits. Any ideas? They have plenty of loose minerals though we run out from time to time.

[Nanno]

Do you think they might need extra copper? Is their hair dull?

[michael]

We give boluses regularly.

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

Do me a favor and look at your loose mineral analysis. The four main minerals goats need are zinc, copper, selenium and magnesium. If any or all of those are sulfate or oxide based in your mix, then they are most likely not getting enough as those bases on minerals are the worst form. 80% or more of what they ingest, doesnt get absorbed but just passes right through them.

[michael]

The minerals are sulfate and oxide based. Will this be the most likely culprit?

[IdahoNancy]

I have 1 goat of 3 who gets dry flaky skin when he sheds his thick winter coat. It is like he shed a layer of skin with the coat. My vet told me get some oil in his diet which did nothing that I could detect. He does not itch so I brush him regularly to get rid of the dry skin. He loves being brushed. In warmer weather I will wash and condition him with ultra hydrating shampoo but by warm weather time the skin flaking is mostly resolved.

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

Low zinc causes flakey skin and patchy hair. So can a heavy worm load. When we worm in the spring, we often see the girls slick out and drop their winter goats pretty quick. As for oil, flack seed oil is great for skin and coat I hear.

[michael]

I also wondered about a seasonal problem. My goats still haven't shed their winter coat completely, can't really blame them.

[Dave-Trinity-Farms]

They will drop em when they feel they need to