Help getting goats

[jenna2030]

Hey guys I going to be getting goats but first I need to learn about them any help will be thanked

 

[snoopysflock]

Goats are hard to keep in so have tall tightly spaced electric fencing. If you are new to goats do not get any bucks because in the fall they get nasty and pee all over the place. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask.

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

If you want help, get wethers (Neutered males) I've got four goats: Two does and two wethers. I've had a buck before...ugh...
One of my little wethers is the sweetest goat on the whole planet! What are you wanting them for?

 

[silkieloverz123]

If your looking for a pet definitely get a whether. They are complete mamas boys and love attention.
If your looking for milk production I've heard that LaMancha's are pretty good.
If your looking for meat production maybe Boer's?
Definitely get more than one as goats are herd animals and will get depressed if they are alone.
If you have chickens, don't let the goats chicken food as it gives them bloat, which can be deadly.
Make sure to give them minerals, as they need a lot of them, and make sure its for goats, because anything else wont have enough salt.
I strongly suggest Nigerian Dwarves. They are adorable with they're blue eyes and can be very loving!

Other than that good luck with your babies and i hope i helped!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I agree, goats can be hard to confine, goats are ruminants, so they need roughage, and a proper diet, though a proper diet can be more confusing than chicken feed. Don't over feed rich foods and grain. Goats require copper in their mineral, goats are like dogs crossed with monkeys, they like climbing and eating wood. They will eat all your trees and shrubs before grazing any grass, They won't eat hay after it touches the ground, they will poop in their feeders, I could go on all day.

 

[javaferret]

I use to have fainting goats and they were so much easier to contain than my alpine/nubian crossI had before. You can milk them, they just don't produce like a milking breed, but more often they are used for meat or as I used them: landscape crew! They were very personable and didn't do the fence climbing or find ways to get out. I had two does, a wether from one of their first kidding and a billy, and ugh ya the pee thing was so gross.....
Storey has a good book on goat raising, that is similar to the chicken book which I thought was great for being a newbie

 

[jenna2030]

Thank u all we do have chickens and we want the goats for milk but I've heard

 

[jenna2030]

That u have to milk them every day so we aren't sure yet

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

If you want for milk I would suggest Nubians, I've never personally owned them but I have a friend who has them and they're great milkers. Their milk tastes great too :-D
I have smaller breeds. Two Nigerian dwarf, on pygmyXfainting (she's fainted three times, it's so cute!) and one little mix of just about everything in the book. He's the sweetest!

 

[jenna2030]

I'm not sure what kind we r getting we r getting them from the Amish I think