Getting Goats

[adna40082]

I have a four stall barn. The bucks have the end stall. They share an area under the roof (separated by fencing) and then their pasture links to the side and shares a few hundred feet of fence line with the does pasture. ND are year round breeders but they do go through a fall rut like other breeds. During rut they'll do the normal gross buck stuff and will be very stinky. The rest of the year they really aren't that bad, though I've been told by visitors I'm just used to the smell. I've never had a problem with my milk tasting off. And no one else who has tasted the milk or cheese I've made from it say anything about a goaty taste. It's usually the opposite, with them saying the goat milk/cheese they tried before was goaty but mine is very fresh and creamy.

Thank you! Do you just have one buck? If so do you have a companion for him?

 

[lomine]

Thank you! Do you just have one buck? If so do you have a companion for him?

I have 3 bucks. Originally I was only planning on keeping 2 but I couldn't pass up on a good deal. The 3rd popped up in a Facebook group for sale. At first the seller wanted a reasonable price but, while I did seriously consider getting him, I didn't contact the seller. A few months later he was posted again for half the price and stating if he wasn't sold he'd be going to the butcher. The seller told me she was just going to keep him after he didn't sell but her bucks were bullying him and he spent all day hiding in the feeder. Lucky for me, my bucks were great with him and they quickly became buddies.

Originally, I decided to have 2 bucks (instead of a buck and wether) because it wouldn't cost me any more to feed them. The only difference is the purchase price. Admittedly my first 2 bucks are much higher quality than my does so they were more expensive, but it gives me a lot more options when it comes to breeding. But I do have 9 does and a friend with 3 does that will use one of my bucks, so while 1 buck could easily cover all of them 3 bucks isn't unreasonable either. At least that's what I think. Plus I think if I ever got out of goats I'd probably sell my does before the bucks. I love my girls but I adore my boys.