Goat Thread!

[henny1129]

[COLOR=800080]Here is My Dry Yearling, Pure Bred Canadian Alpine Goat "Silversteeg Broadway's Rose" Can't wait to show her in 4H and at our provincial goat show!!!![/COLOR]

She's beautiful! 4-H is so much fun!

Hi everyone!! I have been researching dairy goats for some time. I plan to milk the girls, not use them for show. We don't have a lot of land, 3.5 acres, so I've been seriously looking at Nigerian Dwarf Goats. I plan to get 2 doelings in the Spring. I plan to breed them the following year, hopefully 2-3 months apart. The idea of having both kid at the time.........let's just say I'm not ready for that! Next month we are building our Goat House, and the fenced area about 1200 sq ft. With that being said, here are a few questions I have: is there anyone living in Northern New York or Vermont who has registered clean goats they are planning to breed and sell the kids? what are the opinions regarding block vs loose minerals? where is a good place to get clover and mixed grasses to plant a good pasture? Thanks for all your help...........

Yay! Goats are tons of fun and very addicting! Nigerian Dwarfs definitely sound like a good breed for you. For your first question I don't have Nigerians or live close to New York or Vermont so I can't be much help. Hopefully someone else can speak up, but I do have some advice I can give you. I'm not sure if your county fair has happened yet, but if not you could go and see if anyone has Nigerians there, if they do you can ask the owners where they got theirs. That's how we found our Boer breeder, we went to the county fair and asked the Boer owners where they got their Boers and they all led us to the breeder where we get our Boers now. You could also ask your vet or other vets in your area, they might know of a few breeders. I agree with what @oldhenlikesdogs said for your second question. Not sure on your third question.........we just fenced in an area with some grass that was growing good, lol! I would think probably Home Depot or some place like that but I could be wrong. Hope I've helped and if you have anymore questions please feel free to ask!

 

[Allyoope]

Thanks, I was leaning toward loose minerals, but I didn't even think about the goats breaking their teeth on the blocks.

 

[Allyoope]

Funny you should suggest the County Fair..........I went this year in hopes of building a contact with Nigerian Goat owners. There wasn't one at all. If I wanted Boer I could have bought one on the spot! I have been in touch with a family in Vermont who are in the process of growing their herd. I am hopeful I will be able to purchase doelings from her, but that will depend upon how many doelings her does kid in the Spring.

The loose minerals I feel will be the best way to go

I work for Lowe's and I know we don't sell the mixed grasses with clover, so I guess I will check at TSC or the feed store in town. I've just read the goats like clover and happy goats produce Good milk!!

 

[Allyoope]

She's beautiful! 4-H is so much fun!
Yay! Goats are tons of fun and very addicting! Nigerian Dwarfs definitely sound like a good breed for you.

For your first question I don't have Nigerians or live close to New York or Vermont so I can't be much help. Hopefully someone else can speak up, but I do have some advice I can give you. I'm not sure if your county fair has happened yet, but if not you could go and see if anyone has Nigerians there, if they do you can ask the owners where they got theirs. That's how we found our Boer breeder, we went to the county fair and asked the Boer owners where they got their Boers and they all led us to the breeder where we get our Boers now.

You could also ask your vet or other vets in your area, they might know of a few breeders.

I agree with what @oldhenlikesdogs said for your second question.

Not sure on your third question.........we just fenced in an area with some grass that was growing good, lol! I would think probably Home Depot or some place like that but I could be wrong.

Hope I've helped and if you have anymore questions please feel free to ask!

sorry haven't replied to many so I did it incorrectly...........see post 143. Thanks

 

[Allyoope]

I always choose a loose mineral over a block as goats will use their teeth on a block and you risk them breaking their teeth. Make sure it's a goat mineral.

sorry I haven't posted replies often, so I did it incorrectly. Thanks for the info. I was leaning toward loose, but I didn't even think about the goats breaking their teeth on the block.

 

[henny1129]

Funny you should suggest the County Fair..........I went this year in hopes of building a contact with Nigerian Goat owners.  There wasn't one at all.  If I wanted Boer I could have bought one on the spot!  I have been in touch with a family in Vermont who are in the process of growing their herd.  I am hopeful I will be able to purchase doelings from her, but that will depend upon how many doelings her does kid in the Spring.

The loose minerals I feel will be the best way to go

I work for Lowe's and I know we don't sell the mixed grasses with clover, so I guess I will check at TSC or the feed store in town.  I've just read the goats like clover and happy goats produce Good milk!!

Hmm, well at least you have someone in mind. Boers definitely take up most the population at county fairs.

Ok, I wasn't sure if they would sell it or not but thought I'd mention it.

sorry haven't replied to many so I did it incorrectly...........see post 143. Thanks

It's ok.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Comet just can't wait for those Acorns to drop....LOL!! Just had to get a Taste to check their Development....along with those Leaves...they truly Love those things!!

 

[henny1129]

Comet just can't wait for those Acorns to drop....LOL!! Just had to get a Taste to check their Development....along with those Leaves...they truly Love those things!!

Awe! He's so cute! Boog is our little (er, big ) tree trimming service!

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

Abbey!my mom really wants a goat and so do I!

 

[henny1129]

Abbey!my mom really wants a goat and so do I!

Hi! Goats are so much fun! And really, they're not that difficult to take care of, sometimes easier than our chickens!