Goat Cookies

I had seen YouTube videos of people making treats and cookies for their goats and wondered, "WHY?"  That seemed like a lot of work when they are just as happy with a raw peanut, shell and all, that takes 0 time to prepare.  But I changed my tune when I decided to use a natural wormer.  First I tried Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth.  I had some I was using as a dust for Goat Lice, and I had read that you can sprinkle it on the goats' food to help with internal parasites. So I tried it! My picky goats refused to eat.  Next I read about an herbal mix you can buy on line.  Again my goats turned up their noses.  I tried mixing the herbs in water and using as a drench.  It was a mess!!! Now I make goat cookies and they can't get enough!  It is their Sunday treat!  If you have something you want your goat to eat, but they won't touch, or if you really love your goat and want to make her happy, you should try this!

GOAT COOKIES
Making cookies is easy.  I would love to give you a recipe that is easy to follow, but I don't measure anything when making them so you will  have to experiment and find what works for you.  Here are the basics.
You will need:

1. Herbs, diatomaceous earth, or other powdery substance that is good for goats but they don't like (optional)
2. Wet stuff: unsweetened apple sauce, fruit that is too mushy to eat, leftovers from making applesauce, pumpkin mush...
3. The Bait: sweet stuff like Molasses and/or Honey to cover the taste and smell of the herbs
4. Treats: chopped apples, carrots, pumpkin, cucumbers, grapes, raw peanuts...
5. Dry Stuff: Dry Oatmeal or flour

How to do it:

• I start with my herbs and diatomaceous earth.  If you are not using these things, skip to the next ingredient. I mix the appropriate amount for my four goats into a bowl.

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• Then I add the wet ingredients. Fruit sauce and molasses.  I put enough to make it wet but not so much that I need to add a lot of oats, that just makes more dough.  I would guess about 1/2 c. sauce and 1 T. molasses or honey.
• Next comes some chopped fruit or veg.  My goats love carrots and I usually have them on hand because my kids like them too.  I chop about 1/4 cup and throw it in!
  

• I stir that all together and check the consistency.  It should look like cookie dough.  If it is too wet and sticky, you need to add more dry ingredients.  If you did not use herbs or powder, you will definitely need  dry ingredients.  I add Oatmeal a handful at a time, stirring it in, until it is thick and not too sticky.
  

• The next step is to form your cookies on a cookie sheet.  I have a silicone baking mat designated for the goats that I use so they come off the pan without a problem.  I make cookies in quantities that are divisible by four, because I have four goats and that way I know they are given an even portion of the wormer.
  

• The final step is to bake your cookies at 350* for about 10 min.  If your cookies are large, leave them in a little longer.
  
• Feed the cooled cookies to your goats and watch them gobble them up, and beg for more!