Angora Goats

[michickenwrangler]

Getting Angora goats this summer (spoke with a breeder, getting 3 wethers once the youngest is weaned) for a fiber farm. I've ordered Angora goats the Northern Way and also been doign research online, as well as talking to the breeder for 2 hours on the phone yesterday.

Anyone else have any? Advice, stories, whatever is welcome.

I plan on spinning and weaving mohair. Also need recommendations for spinning equipment and looms.

 

[Stacykins]

No advise since I don't keep angora goats, but good luck! I LOVE my Nigerian dwarf goats, and I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun with your goats!

May I ask who the breeder is and if they are Michigan based? I (someday) want to add an angora to my small herd!

 

[dutchhollow]

I had a small herd a while back (about 6 years ago). I didn't spin, but sold the fiber. Nice easy going goats, I got lots of cautions about their worm resistance, but mine were always good about it, required no more care then the boers. Mine were all great moms. The fiber quality goes down as the goat ages, so if you can find does that still have a good micron count at an older age, choose your fiber animals from them. I had red, black and white, nothing cuter then a baby angora (I don't think I have any pics on this computer but will look. I did sell them as the shearing by myself was time consuming. Do buy the best pair of shears you can find, even if you have to take out a loan (loL) I started with a mid range pair, stopped halfway throught the first goat and whent and upgraded. They can get stuck on barb wire fences and in florabunda rose bushes (whish all boarder the top of my 40, even though they had a goat fences area, when I let them out to graze one would find something to get stuck in!)

 

[michickenwrangler]

No advise since I don't keep angora goats, but good luck! I LOVE my Nigerian dwarf goats, and I'm sure you'll have a ton of fun with your goats!

May I ask who the breeder is and if they are Michigan based? I (someday) want to add an angora to my small herd!

She's down near the Ohio border between Ann Arbor and Adrian. Who knows, I may be breeding ina few years and I'm closer to you than she is!

 

[Farmer123]

Did you get your goats yet? I have Angora goats in Michigan and they are very easy to keep and I've never had a problem with worms or lice (I do use premectrin and valbazon in my maintenance program though). These goats are hand raised and very friendly. I am probably going to sell some of my bucks so let me know if you are interested.

Best regards,
Farmer 123

 

[WallabyOfChaos]

Angora kids are absolutely adorable! They look just like a stuffed animal. The only thing I have heard is that they are not great range goats, but it doesn't sound like yours will be "range goats" so I think you should be fine. Have fun with them and be sure to update us with pictures!