Goats!!!

[ShrekDawg]

Where do you guys find goats? I just looked on Craigslist for the first time in forever and I did find quite a few (kidding season??) but they're all either not quite what I want or too far away. :/ I guess I could travel a little but am hoping to find something closer

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I just keep checking Craigslist, other there are animal swap meet around here. It will take longer if you are looking for something specific. You could also do a search on Google for breeders in your state.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just keep checking Craigslist, other there are animal swap meet around here. It will take longer if you are looking for something specific. You could also do a search on Google for breeders in your state.

Thanks, I'll keep checking!

I'm not really too specific I don't think, I just want weathers in like any breed, and I think there were a few I liked. But I need to look again. Some are expensive which I know sometimes means quality but some does and bucks are like $200 or $300. Wethers seem to be like $150 or $125 though which isn't too bad but is still kind of a lot for pets and brush clearing. I don't reallt need the pedigree or milking characteristics etc. I was hoping for Nigerian Dwarf (there's actually TONS of those) or a dairy breed but wondering if Boers may be better fpr brush clearing? The only Boers I can find though are from this one guy in Connecticut, Luciano Farms I think it is? And they are supposedly high quality meat and show goats so they are expensive or being sold at meat prices/per pound which adds up.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I buy bottle baby boys in the spring as most dairy around here are kidding now. They sell for anywhere from 5-30 dollars depending on how old they are. You do have the expense of raising them on a bottle, I use a milk replacer and end up spending about 75 dollars a kid, but they are super friendly because of it. I find them on Craigslist, but here in Wisconsin there's lots of small goat dairies.

 

[ShrekDawg]

That's a good idea, thanks!

 

[FarmBoy124]

We have 4 goats nigerian dwarf goats (1 buck and 3 does.) Let me just tell you they are great pets and very manageable. Also they aren't as pricey as you think especially if you have a pasture or give them hay, you won't have to feed them much grain at all. I would recommend nigerian dwarf goats or smaller goats like pygmy goats and enjoy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

We have 4 goats nigerian dwarf goats (1 buck and 3 does.) Let me just tell you they are great pets and very manageable. Also they aren't as pricey as you think especially if you have a pasture or give them hay, you won't have to feed them much grain at all. I would recommend nigerian dwarf goats or smaller goats like pygmy goats and enjoy.

Thanks for the info! There's lots of Nigerian Dwarfs around here so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[waddles99]

I would imagine the nigerians dont eat much. I fed mine like half a cup of grain when I had nigerians. My new goats eat about 3 lbs a day.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I would imagine the nigerians dont eat much. I fed mine like half a cup of grain when I had nigerians. My new goats eat about 3 lbs a day. 

Wow that's a huge difference!

Is grain or goat feed necessary or can they survive on hay and forage? I don't mind paying for feed, that's not the issue, I'm just wondering if it's necessary or what people's opinions are.

 

[waddles99]

Wow that's a huge difference!

Is grain or goat feed necessary or can they survive on hay and forage? I don't mind paying for feed, that's not the issue, I'm just wondering if it's necessary or what people's opinions are.

My goats are on grain for show. I wouldn't recommend feeding 3 lbs a day if they are just being kept on a maintenance diet. Which basically means what it sounds like, you are maintaining the goat in that current condition. There are really 3 main instances where you need to feed a lot of grain: in growing goats, in lactating or pregnant does, or in goats you are trying to bulk up. Technically speaking if they are adult goats finished growing and not in milk, and they have forage/hay and all necessary minerals available, they don't need feed. Most keepers like to feed some grain for the fat/protein content and for some extra energy. A good feed will keep their weight on and their coat nice and shiny, especially in winter when they burn more body fat trying to stay warm.