I've wanted a couple of goats for a while. Just as pets. Right now we are undecided if DH is retiring next year or staying in for another 4 years after that, so another transfer.
Either way, we still plan to stay here - either next year or return after the next transfer and rent our house out during that time.
So until we KNOW what we are doing (next year - he'll either accept transfer orders or put in his retirement letter), we won't be doing anything about sheep/goats.
But in the meantime, I'd like to do more research. My only experience with goats is when my parents went to an auction and nobody bought the day old goats and the auctioneer mentioned giving them to somebody to eat, my mom paid $1 each for them to save them from dinner fate.
They lived in the basement for the winter until my parents found a place for them to go.
I went home once to visit during that time. That is my extent of personal goat experience. So nothing really.
I don't see myself wanting to milk goats. Does that mean male goats (castrated and no horns) only?
We have the back 4 acres fenced. Lots of brush back there. Not as much grass in the far back, but there are clearer areas that does allow grass to grow (back yard is full of pines). Also grass closer to the house - but the far back is just lots of pine straw on the ground with sprigs of stuff poking through and ferns. We do have to mow, but not regularly. I've been told it should be good for goats/sheep without needing to feed "feed" much. Is grass/brush enough for goats or sheep if there is enough of it? Is that enough nutrition or still need to give them feed to keep them healthy?
foot care - how difficult is it to learn to do it yourself?
Good links/books to look at for goat/sheep care
I'd like to hear people's personal experience, but also like to read how it should work as well.
Either way, we still plan to stay here - either next year or return after the next transfer and rent our house out during that time.
So until we KNOW what we are doing (next year - he'll either accept transfer orders or put in his retirement letter), we won't be doing anything about sheep/goats.
But in the meantime, I'd like to do more research. My only experience with goats is when my parents went to an auction and nobody bought the day old goats and the auctioneer mentioned giving them to somebody to eat, my mom paid $1 each for them to save them from dinner fate.
They lived in the basement for the winter until my parents found a place for them to go.
I went home once to visit during that time. That is my extent of personal goat experience. So nothing really.
I don't see myself wanting to milk goats. Does that mean male goats (castrated and no horns) only?
We have the back 4 acres fenced. Lots of brush back there. Not as much grass in the far back, but there are clearer areas that does allow grass to grow (back yard is full of pines). Also grass closer to the house - but the far back is just lots of pine straw on the ground with sprigs of stuff poking through and ferns. We do have to mow, but not regularly. I've been told it should be good for goats/sheep without needing to feed "feed" much. Is grass/brush enough for goats or sheep if there is enough of it? Is that enough nutrition or still need to give them feed to keep them healthy?
foot care - how difficult is it to learn to do it yourself?
Good links/books to look at for goat/sheep care
I'd like to hear people's personal experience, but also like to read how it should work as well.
