Do I really want goats??

[zatsdeb]

I love my goats too! I have sanaan and boer goats, I love the larger goats myself, they tend to not jump on my truck, unlike the kids, they jump on everything!
I love the goat milk, and they are great for eating the weeds and some of the grass, but my miniature donkeys are better at keeping the yard mowed. they eat what the goats don't, and visa versa!!

 

[Jenlyn9483]

I LOVE my goats! My Nigerian Dwarf doe is my BABY! She is so sweet, she is a dog in a goat suite. I love my milk I get from my Oberhaslis. Wish I had more room to get more.

 

[MagsC]

I forgot about Saanens!!! Thats a breed I want once we get moved. I think they are worth you looking into.

 

[feathersgalore]

My angoras are really great. They are like fuzzy dogs plus they are very laid back (no climbing fences or great escapes).

 

[annmarie]

Goats are great, but if you're looking for lawnmowers, you'd be better off with sheep. Goats are the brush-hogs of the animal kingdom.

 

[Indiana hens]

DON"T DO IT!
Oh! NO!
I made the mistake once! I can't get rid of the beasts! Or if I do there is hell to pay! Boer goats eat lots of grass; like little lawn mowers.
Bale the grass is more cost effective.
We do make great stuff from goats milk , but it takes extra work. I suggest buying feeder calves(steers); people are more likely to eat them. They don't have to ever stay in the kitchen. They are happy with the food inside the fence. They don't try to trip you,jump on you, want to sit in your lap, untie your shoes, unzip your coat, eat your jewelry, demolish your orchard, pee all over you; you get the idea!

 

[farmnut]

Quote:
What is water share? Is it only in UT? This is new to me

 

[chicken stalker]

Wow thanks for all the feed back! Yes I realize they wouldn't "mow" my lawn, I was just lacking a better word. So now what should I do about housing? Do they need to be shut in everynight? I have a small barn but I was cosidering erecting a small shelter (3 sided with a roof) in one of my fields until winter. I hope finding a breeder is easier than finding a chicken breeder here in NY. Any suggestions?

 

[Chirpy]

I have both NDs (Nigerian Dwarfs) and Alpines. My NDs are only six months old and just like little puppies. They follow me everywhere, love to get hugs and be on my lap and on the car and on the picnic table and on anything else they can get up to, and constantly try to sneak into the house. If we're outside working, they are literally under our feet. I learned real quickly to never muck stalls with them running loose. As soon as I get the wheelbarrow filled up, one of them jumps into it and tips it forward and all the poop falls out ... and I start over!

I milk my Alpines. They were two years old when I got them and are very, very sweet. They love to wander around but stay pretty close to where we are when they are loose. I actually don't let them out of their fencing very often though, it changes the taste of their milk.

You need to spend some more time deciding what breed(s) you want and then start looking for someone in your area that has that breed. You can watch craigslist (be careful of unscrupulous people), local feed stores, country vets, etc.

Goats aren't good lawn mowers as already mentioned. They are browsers and will take out your small trees, flowers and shrubs. (I agree, if you want more of a lawn mower - get sheep.)

Goats do really well in a small shelter that has a small, low door. Depending on the severity of your winters a three sided shelter can work. But, if you have snow or cold, windy days they would be healthier in a four sided shelter with the small door.

Fencing is everything with goats. If the fence can't hold water... it can't hold goats! Well, it sure seems that way..

Good luck and have lots of fun with your new adventure.

 

[TanksHill]

Great thread. It seems to me that the next step for a lot of people is to go from chickens to goats. I have done a ton of reading on the subject but expierence is best. So tell me??

What type of fence would you recomend? Height? Material?

I have a couple acres in the middle of a some what pretty urban city. Could I use 6 ft chain link?

Vet bill??? How much is the up keep on goats? Do they need vacines or health checks, monthly, yearly???

From what I read the Nubians are good for milk. Do the mimi Nubians also have good milk?

Is it true you should have two so they keep each other company?

I have also been told my goat owners that they are lousy at clearing the hill side, very picky eaters. What do they prefer? Hay, straw, feed? Just trying to get an idea of monthly average on food cost.

Thanks in advance, gina