goats goats goats

[Hillsvale]

goats milk is one of the world most utilized milk.... not to mention cheeses, butters ... ummm

I locked my lambs and goat up because we have everything from bear on down...

 

[Illia]

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Locking them up in a barn or something is a good thing, but we mainly do it to keep them out of possible rain. Goats are never too big for predators though. Of course, a raccoon won't do damage - but a coyote can.

I don't know of mini sheep, but there are plenty breeds that are very small.

Goat milk usually doesn't taste much different from cow's, but the higher butterfat in the milk (which Nigerians do have) the sweeter and creamier the milk. Far more delicious than the average cow milk. Milking a goat is pretty easy - You just need a milking stancheon (sort of a table with a place to lock the goat's head in) so that she can eat while you milk her.

Now it is true, though, that goats are more of a shrub/bush type of eater, and don't favor grass very much. But the nice thing is that a small breed like a Nigerian Dwarf can fit in the back of even a small car.

 

[EricH]

haha, luckily i have a truck so i wont be doin any backseat grazing! hahaha. the only pain in the butt is that i think id have to fence in every one of my fruit trees... i know those little devils would rip em to shreds... i was reading something about hoof trimming every month? is this at all as hard as it sounds? special skill-set? or can the average joe shmo do it?

 

[Bebop]

I took my Nigerian dwarf goats home in the back of my Toyota Matrix haha. Hoof trimming need not be difficult! Look up a video and just get good set of hoof shears (Here's a great supply website and you're good to go! The only problem I'm having is getting them to let me handle their hooves... I need to get a milk stand anyway..

 

[3chimama]

yep yep
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[Okla-doodle-doo]

Yes they do have a small-dwarf-breed of sheep one is the shetland,they are so cute and as small or smaller than pgymies. And they come in several colors. They would be a great option.

 

[jodief100]

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Hoof trimming is easy. Easier than doing my dogs nails. Some goast need hooves trimmed more often than others. If you have really rocky, dry land you may not need to trim them often at all. Rocks will wear thier hooves down.

They will eat your fruit trees and get sick doing it.

 

[ksalvagno]

If you would be interested in sheep, then you have to consider if you can shear them or find a shearer. Wool sheep have to be shorn once a year. There are hair sheep that don't have to be shorn but they aren't small. Nigerians don't get as wide as Pygmies. Goats will eat grass if that is all that is available. I have pasture, not browse and they eat it. The sheep would probably leave your fruit trees alone better than the goats would.