help choosing a goat

[snowbunnisub]

Hello fellow farmers and farm enthusiasts! I am going to be getting 2 acres and starting my own farm in about a month! I'm super excited but scared because I have so many questions, hence why I am here asking my friends in the forum!!

1st - Which breed of goat has the sweetest temperament usually? I have a 6 year old farm loving daughter who is eager to be involved

2nd - Which breed is the most quiet? It is only 2 acres after all.

3rd - Which breed will eat weeds and overgrowth etc...?

4th- Male or Female?

I have heard of goats being almost like a dog type pet and that's kinda what I am looking for. I don't intend to breed it or get milk or meat. Just a lawn mower! Haha. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated! I have read books but I want first hand experience!

Thanks friends!

Samantha

 

[abbymckinn]

Hi! I have a nubian doe, milking nigirian dwarf, and a baby ND, she was a bottle baby. Personally, I am quite partial to te Nigrian Dwarfs!! They have amazing temperaments, Lady (our milk doe) was incredibly patient while we where learning to milk another plus, is that they are a smaller breed. So they are easier to handle, and you can have more on the same amount of land, less feed consumption etc. I would say they are only loud when they really want attention, dinner time, something is wrong etc. as to male or female, if you want babies and milk, obviously get a doe, or just a pet, you can always find wethers for cheaper (a wether is a neutered male goat) but DO NOT get a buck! They can be aggresive and not to mention most smell really bad when in mating season. I would not get a buck until you had a lot of expiring e with goats. Any goat will eat brush, there really isn't a breed that is "better than others". Hope I helped!! I absolutely LOVE our goats! They act like dogs following and running around their pen with you! If you haven't already thought about it, I would definantly say get chickens too, they are so cute and quirky!

 

[abbymckinn]

Oh and also, you can't get just one goat!! You need at least two or three, they are herd animals and will be very sad and lonely if they have no goat buddies. They will also be super loud if they are lonely.

 

[animalgirl12]

Lamanchas are known to be super sweet and as quite as you can get for a goat. Really you never know with bucks or does. Bucks can be known to stink and be a pain to keep in the fence but really it depends on the goat!! I had only two buck before and one would tear up the fence and be a mess and now I have one that would no sooner lick the fence than tear it up. I like the does best because they are the sweetest but they can be a bit moody during there heat!!
I have had several different breeds of goats and I have found that my favorite are nigerains and saanens but it really depends.

You can PM me to get all the goat info!! I can tell you pretty much everything! I would love to hear any of your questions

 

[animalgirl12]

I would also suggest you get two to keep them happy

 

[PioneerPrincess]

Hello fellow farmers and farm enthusiasts! I am going to be getting 2 acres and starting my own farm in about a month! I'm super excited but scared because I have so many questions, hence why I am here asking my friends in the forum!!

1st - Which breed of goat has the sweetest temperament usually? I have a 6 year old farm loving daughter who is eager to be involved I would say that depends more on the goat and how it is raised or just plain personality-wise. Some goats love attention more than others and some don't really care much for it. I have four goats (Nigerian Dwarf & LaMancha) that enjoy being petted and will come right up to me for back scratches. One of my other does usually gets more 'attached' when kidding season approaches; otherwise, she doesn't really come up to me wholeheartedly, if that makes sense.
On the other hand, size would be something to think about if you want your daughter handling them. If you do acquire a standard-breed goat, I'd recommend getting it when it's a kid. In this way, you (and your daughter) can leash train your goat (s) and get them going on some nice lead manners before they grow into large, difficult-to-control adults.

2nd - Which breed is the most quiet? It is only 2 acres after all. I've heard that LaManchas are a very quiet goat and after owning one for almost a year along with caring for a friend's purebred LaMancha and another friends' mini-manchas, I'd have to say I agree. They are very quiet and when they talk, it is a very low -and adorable maa. : )

3rd - Which breed will eat weeds and overgrowth etc...? Any goat will browse on your trees, bushes, and just about anything that is at their level or as high as they can reach. Goats will nibble on your grass, but they are more browsers than lawn mowers. I would also recommend you check to see if your area is deficient in any vitamins or minerals (especially copper & Selenium). It is very important that a goat gets its proper minerals for it to function properly in every aspect of its life. : ) Two acres probably won't last very long to feed two goats, so you will have to bring in hay and perhaps other feed for them.

4th- Male or Female? I wouldn't recommend getting a buck since he would go into rut and be pretty smelly, plus that scent will be sticking on you all day unless you change clothes and wash up well! Does might be fine to get, depending on the doe. My only concern would be if she went into heat and started crying, but then again, she might not without a buck being nearby. A wether would suit you just fine, too. Also, if your daughter wants to get even more into it, you could look into acquiring registered goats for her to show through 4-h or something like that.

I have heard of goats being almost like a dog type pet and that's kinda what I am looking for. I don't intend to breed it or get milk or meat. Just a lawn mower! Haha. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated! I have read books but I want first hand experience! Goats are herd animals, so you will need at least two goats for them to be happy. Think about whether you want your goats to have horns. If your daughter wants to be involved with them, would she be safe handling a goat that could accidentally turn and hit her? Make sure that you have secure fencing for your goats; they are little escape artists and will test your fence-making skills. You will also want to have a structure to keep them safe at night and to protect them from predators, rain, and drafts; goats do not like rain one bit! I'd definitely keep reading (there are so many helpful resources and web pages out there!!) and asking questions. It is so much better to be prepared and get started on the right foot. : )

I hope that helps! If you have any more questions, ask away!

 

[Stacykins]

Hello fellow farmers and farm enthusiasts! I am going to be getting 2 acres and starting my own farm in about a month! I'm super excited but scared because I have so many questions, hence why I am here asking my friends in the forum!!

1st - Which breed of goat has the sweetest temperament usually? I have a 6 year old farm loving daughter who is eager to be involved I have yet to meet any specific breed that was sweeter than any other. It all depends on how they were raised, dam's temperament, etc. Goats are individuals, but you should have a pretty good idea of what they are like when you meet them.

2nd - Which breed is the most quiet? It is only 2 acres after all. Nubians can be a little loud mouthed. But there are quiet Nubians out there, just like there are loud Nigerians. For instance, I have a young Nigerian who just yells and yells and yells, all the time. That is just how she is, she 'talks' a lot. I have another who hardly peeps! Loudness is again, an idividual trait, not really a breed trait.

3rd - Which breed will eat weeds and overgrowth etc...? All of them will. All breeds do this! They prefer browse and brush over grass. I actually had to mow the grass in my girls' pen, as they ignored it for other tasty tidbits.

4th- Male or Female? For pets, does or wethered (neutered) males are best. Since you are not looking for meat or milk, just pets, a pair of wethers would be more inexpensive. Remember, they are herd animals, so you will need two in order for them to do well. Keeping a single goat is just not recommended, resonsible breeders will not sell a lone goat to a single home, even if it means missing an opportunity to sell an animal.

I have heard of goats being almost like a dog type pet and that's kinda what I am looking for. I don't intend to breed it or get milk or meat. Just a lawn mower! Haha. Any advice or help is greatly appreciated! I have read books but I want first hand experience! Yep, goats often do act like little dogs with hooves. If you get kids who were well socialized (or if you bottle feed them, a little tougher for a person new to goats), they will be your best friend! They are loyal, trainable, friendly (actively want love and attention), and all around lovely critters.

Thanks friends!

Samantha

Kudos to doing your research beforehand! Be sure to look into diet, housing, health and wellness, etc.

 

[abbymckinn]

Oh, not sure is someone already said this or not, but your goats have to have a shelter!! They do NOT like ring wet, especially if its windy!