Hi All - sorry no pics yet but will post plenty when I get them next Sunday. The breeder has raised most of them as pets. The mother and aunt of the two doe twins were raised in her home so they are super friendly. The two doe twins that are four months old are "large for their age" but the little itty bitty one I picked out is five months old and "very small for her age". Bella is 18 months old and smaller than my grown German Shepherd which is a small shepherd to begin with. The two does are smaller than my 4-month old GSD puppy. The little tiny one looked like a miniture little deer - about the size of a cat. I know in the breeder world I probably should not have picked out and paid full price for the "runt" but she was so tiny and so cute I just couldn't help myself. Hubby said "that's just you" meaning I'll always pick the underdog. Plus if I'm going to be breeding minis isn't the idea to breed some small size into the mix?
My plans are to get registered as a herd "Bethel Farms" is what we just incorporated as and to start raising my own. I picked ones that aren't directly related to one another so that I can breed offspring.
As far as milk production - I think I read about a quart per day which would be more than enough for hubby and I. I'm mostly getting them for their cuteness and to add to the "farm" we've just started. Hubby read that you can sell goat milk, just can't advertise it.
I have a lot to learn and will have to join the various associations. You all are to blame because it's on here that I learned about them and saw pics and watched you all talk about them and then I just had to have some. Shame on all of you.
The previous owners had goats at one time and there is a goat pen right next to chicken coop that we are working on cleaning up and getting ready.
I must ask - why all the warnings against them getting chicken feed - is it just because they will eat it all or because it's harmful to them? Since my chickens freerange I'm hoping to let the goats and chickens interact a lot. Chickens like goat poop and bugs it draws (from what I've read). All the coops and pens are in backyard and safe from predators thanks to GSD Rex and other dogs and cats. Of course the goats will go through introductions slowly and under close watch. There are also stables and barns that could be safely enclosed and which have electricity in case I need heat or air for them. But, heck, they'll probably be living in house with me. That little tiny one could sleep on my pillow next to my head she's so little.
Question - the breeder also had a two year old that I liked that has never been breed. She would keep her and breed her and then return her and I would have babies (and milk) in Dec. or Jan. Would it be getting too cold then to fool with babies - given that I do have a warm/heated barn/stables they could be in - or should I just wait till winter and breed her and have a late spring kidding?
I'm going to have lots of questions. Thanks for any and all links to informative sites. The breeder is also willing to answer all questions. She is only selling them for the first time because she just had a baby herself (in vitro) and really needs to get rid of some and raise some money. She was having a hard time letting them go - they had always been her babies.
