I need your help! My husband and I are deciding if goats would be a good addition to our "farm" (we use that term loosely around here!)
We are considering Nubians/Nigerians and ? Our purpose for getting goats would be the milk. There are a couple of reasons why we are considering them: Cost of milk (we go through about 7-8 gallons a week, allergy issues, and lastly wanting "raw" milk for our family. I do know that we would need more than 1 goat, so we would be looking for 2. My plan is to only milk 1 of them. I do realize that the goat would have to be milked twice a day about 12 hours apart. I have a very basic knowledge of goats, but it stops there.
Here are my questions:
1. I know that the flavor of the milk changes with what they are fed, so I am guessing that feed would be a good option to keep the flavor consistant?
2. That being said, how much feed would 2 goats go through in a week/month? cost?
3. Can the goats be "housed" in my chicken run. It is quite large and we certainly can expand if need be.
4. What type/how large of a "house" do they need for shelter?
5. How much milk should I expect from 1 goat? Does the quantity of milk change during the summer/winter?
6. What breeds would be best for what we are looking for?
I am looking for any information that you can pass on to me as we contemplate this decision.
If you know of some goat websites, please pass them along as well, but I did want first hand information from my friends here on BYC.
Thanks for your help!
Here are my questions:
1. I know that the flavor of the milk changes with what they are fed, so I am guessing that feed would be a good option to keep the flavor consistant?
2. That being said, how much feed would 2 goats go through in a week/month? cost?
3. Can the goats be "housed" in my chicken run. It is quite large and we certainly can expand if need be.
4. What type/how large of a "house" do they need for shelter?
5. How much milk should I expect from 1 goat? Does the quantity of milk change during the summer/winter?
6. What breeds would be best for what we are looking for?
I am looking for any information that you can pass on to me as we contemplate this decision.
If you know of some goat websites, please pass them along as well, but I did want first hand information from my friends here on BYC.
Thanks for your help!
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