Goat Thread!

[Allyoope]

Thank you waddles99. I feel if I spend time with the kids when they're young, and the dam is accepting of having me around her babies, that should go along way toward friendly goats.

 

[waddles99]

Thank you waddles99. I feel if I spend time with the kids when they're young, and the dam is accepting of having me around her babies, that should go along way toward friendly goats.

I used to own a pair of nigerian doelings who were dam raised. Friendliest things ever. They used to follow me around all the time. I had a chair out in their pen and they would hop up on my lap and sit on it. My current and past boers were all dam raised and they are very friendly. Come up to the fence, enjoy being petted, eat out of my hand. I have never owned bottle raised kids. I know someone who raises bottle saanens because they milk their does. They sold a bottle baby to another farm I am at quite frequently. The kid is always at the fence and in everyones faces. But, I worry that he isn't socializing properly with the other goats. He is always isolated from the rest of the herd.

I don't breed my goats but I can speak for those who do, and can speak with my experiences with goats that were both bottle raised and dam raised. I think that spending time with them them will definitely help.

 

[cassie]

As you said working with them when they are babies is key. I had a neighbor who dam raised her Toggenburg kids. She didn't play with the kids much either. Working with that herd of goats was like wrangling deer. She conned me into milking for her once when she went out of town for a few days. Never again.

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Anyone had experience with Goat Vet fb?
What about Goat Vet Corner fb?

 

[henny1129]

Spring is just around the corner, and I'm so looking forward to it! In the next two weeks I am making visits to farms where there are Nigerian Dwarf Goats being bred and raised. One of the owners is all about dam feeding, the other is all about bottle feeding. I have mixed emotions on this topic. I understand how some breeders feel dam raised gives the kids the best start, and I also understand the human contact through bottle feeding makes for friendlier goats. Please offer your opinions. I am planning to get a pregnant doe and another doeling to begin with. I have done more reading and research, spoke with the area Vet, and am currently looking for a good provider of hay. I also have a few contacts,for emergencies. Our goat barn is up and ready. There's a large fenced in area and large wooden spools for the goats to play on. I just need to figure out which goats I want to purchase.

Definitely dam raised! As long as you spend time with them they will be just as friendly as bottle raised goats. My boys were dam raised, but they are still super friendly and follow me everywhere. I just made sure to spend lots of time with them when we got them. It also helps to just sit with them and read a book or look at your phone so they get used to you without you necessarily touching them.

 

[henny1129]

Anyone had experience with Goat Vet fb?
What about Goat Vet Corner fb?

I do not have any experience, so unfortunately I can't share any advice.

 

[waddles99]

Late spring and early summer through fall is a great buying time for goats. All the spring and summer born kids are weaned and ready to go to new homes. I will be expanding my herd largely in the months of August and September this year. I hope to start seeing some good goats up for sale within the next couple of months.

 

[CorrieW]

Our goats busted the fence and have gone on an adventure. We have dense bushland and a river so I am hoping they will come back. They are weathers and one is very attached to me. I am so worried it is so dark now. It's not cold as we are just in autumn in a hot climate but I am so worried about them getting eaten by foxes or getting a snake bite. My neighbour says hers have wandered but never too far and they came back so I am hoping ours follow suit or go visit her goats.

 

[henny1129]

Our goats busted the fence and have gone on an adventure. We have dense bushland and a river so I am hoping they will come back. They are weathers and one is very attached to me. I am so worried it is so dark now. It's not cold as we are just in autumn in a hot climate but I am so worried about them getting eaten by foxes or getting a snake bite. My neighbour says hers have wandered but never too far and they came back so I am hoping ours follow suit or go visit her goats.

Don't worry too much. My guess is that they are going to find some nice grass to eat or they are going to find somewhere to sleep. When it gets light out, go outside and make some noise and make sure to repair the fence as well. They know that your house is home and they get fed well at your house, so think of this as a little road trip they are taking. It's always nice to travel, but it's nicer to come home. One time one of my goats escaped his stall at fair. Someone took a picture of the stall with only my one goat in it and said "your goat is really cute". I was like "there should be two". I went up to the goat barn and Elliot was back in his stall. My point is that goats will go on adventures, but they will come back. Keep is updated!

 

[CorrieW]

Thanks for the reassurance I hope they come home soon.

Don't worry too much. My guess is that they are going to find some nice grass to eat or they are going to find somewhere to sleep. When it gets light out, go outside and make some noise and make sure to repair the fence as well. They know that your house is home and they get fed well at your house, so think of this as a little road trip they are taking. It's always nice to travel, but it's nicer to come home. One time one of my goats escaped his stall at fair. Someone took a picture of the stall with only my one goat in it and said "your goat is really cute". I was like "there should be two". I went up to the goat barn and Elliot was back in his stall. My point is that goats will go on adventures, but they will come back. Keep is updated!