Goat Thread

[cherrynberry]

@cherrynberry if you have any questions about them, I will be happy to answer

I have most answered. I don't have FB, but I asked my sister to try a source a local breeder.

 

[lomine]

1.) Do you keep a goat spread sheet to keep count on who needs to be bred and their due dates and such?
I record exposure dates on my phone calendar. I also keep an excel worksheet with dam and sire names, exposure date, expected delivery date, actual delivery date, number of doelings/bucklings, the tattoo numbers for the kids, and any notes I think are worth remembering.

2.) I know that ND goats tend to get leg issues. So do you have recommended supplements? I know copper is one goats may be deficient in.
I've never had any leg issues. I think it's more in the genetics then in the diet. Goats should have mineral with copper in it. However, they may not need additional copper if they get a lot from their diet. My area has high enough copper in the ground so by eating from my pasture and eating locally grown alfalfa, my herd gets enough copper. If I were to give them a copper bolus without a blood workup, I could kill them because too much copper is toxic. Talk with a local goat vet. They'll know what's most common in your area.

3.) Do you recommend getting polled goats?
I don't have any polled goats. However, I think whether the goat is polled or not should be a lower priority over other aspects. I'd pick a horned goat with great milking genetics over a polled goat without good milking lines, for example.

4.) How often do you deworm your goats if you do?
I live in a very dry area and have never had to worm my goats. I suggest you talk with a local vet or goat breeder that has experience in your environment. It makes a big difference in what you will need to do.

5.) What are your favorite goat treats?
My goats love horse treats, especially the peppermint ones.

7.) Where did you get your goats? I am planning on asking a few of my neighbors for recommendations, but I am taking lots of opinions.
Different places; found goats on the breeder sites, Facebook group, Craigslist, and found one through another breeder that used their bucks. Honestly, I got really excited about getting goats after I moved to my current home. I wish I had done a bit more research and asked questions, particularly about milking. My does are mostly average, they have some great qualities but are mostly average in the milk quantity area. When I was ready to get my own buck I spent more time looking and spent more money to get some from great lines. Ending up getting my first two bucklings from a breeder over 6 hours away and spent a day driving to another state for them. My third buck was an unplanned Facebook find; a buckling from championship lines at a great deal. My bucks improve my herd. Though I will say that getting does that are average was a good way to get my feet wet. I wouldn't have spent as much as I did on my bucks on starter does, not knowing how far I would take it. If they had just ended up being pets, I might have been upset to spend a lot on them.

8.) How many times do you breed a year? How long can you milk a goat after it gives birth/after the babies are fully weaned?
Once a year. You don't want to do more than that unless you are okay with shortening your doe's lifespan. I sometimes start milking at two weeks after kidding by separating the kids overnight. Sometimes I wait for the kids to be weaned and sold. I sometimes milk up to two months before the next kids are due. This gives the doe time to dry up and take a break. Sometimes I'll stop sooner if my schedule is too full and I want a break from milking. It depends on how much time I have.

 

[cherrynberry]

1.) Do you keep a goat spread sheet to keep count on who needs to be bred and their due dates and such?
I record exposure dates on my phone calendar. I also keep an excel worksheet with dam and sire names, exposure date, expected delivery date, actual delivery date, number of doelings/bucklings, the tattoo numbers for the kids, and any notes I think are worth remembering.

2.) I know that ND goats tend to get leg issues. So do you have recommended supplements? I know copper is one goats may be deficient in.
I've never had any leg issues. I think it's more in the genetics then in the diet. Goats should have mineral with copper in it. However, they may not need additional copper if they get a lot from their diet. My area has high enough copper in the ground so by eating from my pasture and eating locally grown alfalfa, my herd gets enough copper. If I were to give them a copper bolus without a blood workup, I could kill them because too much copper is toxic. Talk with a local goat vet. They'll know what's most common in your area.

3.) Do you recommend getting polled goats?
I don't have any polled goats. However, I think whether the goat is polled or not should be a lower priority over other aspects. I'd pick a horned goat with great milking genetics over a polled goat without good milking lines, for example.

4.) How often do you deworm your goats if you do?
I live in a very dry area and have never had to worm my goats. I suggest you talk with a local vet or goat breeder that has experience in your environment. It makes a big difference in what you will need to do.

5.) What are your favorite goat treats?
My goats love horse treats, especially the peppermint ones.

7.) Where did you get your goats? I am planning on asking a few of my neighbors for recommendations, but I am taking lots of opinions.
Different places; found goats on the breeder sites, Facebook group, Craigslist, and found one through another breeder that used their bucks. Honestly, I got really excited about getting goats after I moved to my current home. I wish I had done a bit more research and asked questions, particularly about milking. My does are mostly average, they have some great qualities but are mostly average in the milk quantity area. When I was ready to get my own buck I spent more time looking and spent more money to get some from great lines. Ending up getting my first two bucklings from a breeder over 6 hours away and spent a day driving to another state for them. My third buck was an unplanned Facebook find; a buckling from championship lines at a great deal. My bucks improve my herd. Though I will say that getting does that are average was a good way to get my feet wet. I wouldn't have spent as much as I did on my bucks on starter does, not knowing how far I would take it. If they had just ended up being pets, I might have been upset to spend a lot on them.

8.) How many times do you breed a year? How long can you milk a goat after it gives birth/after the babies are fully weaned?
Once a year. You don't want to do more than that unless you are okay with shortening your doe's lifespan. I sometimes start milking at two weeks after kidding by separating the kids overnight. Sometimes I wait for the kids to be weaned and sold. I sometimes milk up to two months before the next kids are due. This gives the doe time to dry up and take a break. Sometimes I'll stop sooner if my schedule is too full and I want a break from milking. It depends on how much time I have.

Thank you SO much! Very informative.

I do have a question for those who give shots. When do you give shots, what shots do you give, and how? If not stated, I would expect them to be intermuscular shots given at the shoulder.

 

[cherrynberry]

Another question. What are your thoughts on inbreeding? Would it be a good idea to only have one buck and two does?

 

[HomesteaderWife]

A few thoughts about goats:

- Give them time to adjust when bringing home new goats. They’ll probably be pretty shy and scared. We made sure each visit to our new members was a positive one and brought them brush or a bite of hay when we checked on them. Give them some quiet, especially if they’re adults or older youngsters.

- Clicker training is a fun way to train them and build a relationship. It can be for fun, or teaching them useful things. Positive reinforcement training. We learned over time that directly hand feeding them a treat can cause nipping, so you way want to have a small cup with their treat in it.

- If they have babies, make sure to get the little ones used to humans and their care. A very interesting thing to work with them on if you are looking to sell is halter training. A well behaved goat definitely stands out.

- Have a trusted veterinarian lined up. Do lots of homework on their care and the specific breed(s) you are looking into. Be aware of breed predispositions/health concerns. Have a small “just in case” medical kit prepared.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@cherrynberry - to your previous post, inbreeding is a no no. Especially direct relatives - in some cases you may see something like horses have a grandparent on one side be a parent on the other and somehow all is well. A stud may be in their pedigree multiple times. But if you end up with parent x offspring or sibling x sibling you could have severe birth defects.

 

[HipMystic]

Yes. I watch a lot of births. Thank you! Weed 'em & Reap is my favorite. They seem pretty reputable.

Weed ‘em & Reap is probably the best channel you can watch, in my opinion
Another really good one is Blue Cactus Dairy Goats, they have a lot of experience and explain a lot in their videos

 

[cherrynberry]

A few thoughts about goats:

- Give them time to adjust when bringing home new goats. They’ll probably be pretty shy and scared. We made sure each visit to our new members was a positive one and brought them brush or a bite of hay when we checked on them. Give them some quiet, especially if they’re adults or older youngsters.

- Clicker training is a fun way to train them and build a relationship. It can be for fun, or teaching them useful things. Positive reinforcement training. We learned over time that directly hand feeding them a treat can cause nipping, so you way want to have a small cup with their treat in it.

- If they have babies, make sure to get the little ones used to humans and their care. A very interesting thing to work with them on if you are looking to sell is halter training. A well behaved goat definitely stands out.

- Have a trusted veterinarian lined up. Do lots of homework on their care and the specific breed(s) you are looking into. Be aware of breed predispositions/health concerns. Have a small “just in case” medical kit prepared.

Thank you! I will definitely ask around for vets and other experienced people.

 

[cherrynberry]

@cherrynberry - to your previous post, inbreeding is a no no. Especially direct relatives - in some cases you may see something like horses have a grandparent on one side be a parent on the other and somehow all is well. A stud may be in their pedigree multiple times. But if you end up with parent x offspring or sibling x sibling you could have severe birth defects.

Is it easy to rehome a wether or buck? (where you live)

 

[cherrynberry]

Weed ‘em & Reap is probably the best channel you can watch, in my opinion
Another really good one is Blue Cactus Dairy Goats, they have a lot of experience and explain a lot in their videos

Oh yes! I love watching them showing goats too. Probably won't get into showing though. Thanks!