I may be getting goats! YIKES! Now I am getting nervous!

[TXchickenchick]

I have been wanting goats for awhile to start producing my own milk. I have read a bit but wasn't thinking I would have them really soon. Anyway, some friends bought two male and two female goats planning to breed and sell them but have changed their mind. I will probably end up buying 2 of theirs and it could be very soon. So, I have questions. First, I have no clue what kind of goats these are but they planned on gost milk so I am assuming (hoping) these will be good for milking. They are young, never bred. The females are solid white and black and white. The males are both brown and unrelated to the females. Should I get one male and one female so I can breed my own or would it be better to have two females and just get them bred, possibly even staggering the breeding for extended milk production? What I would be using for their sleeping quarters right now, until I get a better house built for them would be a huge wooden dog house. It's approx. 7' long by 4' wide and about 4' high. I want to let them just roam the entire yard, if possible, and fence around my plants. I have just over an acre, fully fenced. It is privacy fence on two sides and welded wire with probably 4" square openings front and back. Will this keep them secure? I also have chickens and ducks that free range the yard. Does this sound like acceptable goat living quarters or do I need to pass on these until I have everything 100% set up? Thanks!

 

[Stacykins]

I have been wanting goats for awhile to start producing my own milk. I have read a bit but wasn't thinking I would have them really soon. Anyway, some friends bought two male and two female goats planning to breed and sell them but have changed their mind. I will probably end up buying 2 of theirs and it could be very soon. So, I have questions. First, I have no clue what kind of goats these are but they planned on gost milk so I am assuming (hoping) these will be good for milking. They are young, never bred. The females are solid white and black and white. The males are both brown and unrelated to the females. Should I get one male and one female so I can breed my own or would it be better to have two females and just get them bred, possibly even staggering the breeding for extended milk production? What I would be using for their sleeping quarters right now, until I get a better house built for them would be a huge wooden dog house. It's approx. 7' long by 4' wide and about 4' high. I want to let them just roam the entire yard, if possible, and fence around my plants. I have just over an acre, fully fenced. It is privacy fence on two sides and welded wire with probably 4" square openings front and back. Will this keep them secure? I also have chickens and ducks that free range the yard. Does this sound like acceptable goat living quarters or do I need to pass on these until I have everything 100% set up? Thanks!

Get the two does. Do not house bucks and does together permanently, because a buck will breed her as soon as she can be bred, even if she just gave birth. As you can imagine, being constantly pregnant while lactating and raising kids will destroy a doe's health, since it takes a lot of energy and she gets no chance to recover. Only allow bucks to breed when you want a do to be bred. Are the girls even old enough to be bred? Do they weigh enough to be bred (more important than age). A full sized dairy breed, the bare minimum weight to breed is 80lbs. For a Pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf, 45lbs. Smaller than that, you will magnify birth and pregnant complications. It would be like a human child becoming pregnant, not safe or good for the child.

Descriptions of color is no indicator of breed. Pictures sometimes are, unless they are quite mixed.

You would have to block off any plants you don't want eaten.

You will have to fence off the chicken and duck feed, which has killed plenty of goats who eat it through bloat.

The fence might keep them secure, it might not. Some goats are easy to fence in, others, no so much. If a similar fence system is working for them now, then it will likely keep them contained. Remove any objects they can use to jump over the fence. That includes ones they can simply wall jump off of. I've seen a goat parkour over a fence like a professional, they can do it if there is anything they can get a grip or jump off of.

 

[TXchickenchick]

Thank you for all the very helpful information. I definitely don't want a male, knowing that. I think trying to keep him away from her would be far more trouble than it's worth and besides, that would essentially make them both living alone. If I find out I am getting these I will do tons more research and make sure they are big enough before I have them bred. I have only seen these goats once, from a distance, but they looked to be fairly large. I asked them if they were breeding age and they said yes, but they aren't the most responsible people in the world so i wouldn't just trust their word on it. As far as having them for milk, I know some breeds are better milkers, some produce more or less and different levels of butterfat, but basically ANY goat can be a milk goat, right? We are not a really high milk use family, though I am hoping to have enough extra for making cheese and occasionally soap. When I do finally get goats they will be, first and foremost, a loved member of the family. The milk is just a bonus for being that kind of pet, just like with the chickens/ducks and their eggs.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

If you want milk, the only breeds I would definitely stay away from are meat breeds. They really aren't built to be milked and those suckers can be a butt to restrain for milking. Dairy breeds will still need to be trained to stand for milking (usually in a stanchion which can be home made) and one way I see commonly used to to get them used to eating in the stand. The earlier you start with these guys, the better. That can definitely be a restricting factor for some goats. If they are older and large, it could take quite a while to train them to allow milking.

Sometimes I do think it is worth it to wait and find a good breeder of dairy goats that can help coach you through milking. It would also be a good resource when you want to breed your does. Many breeders are more than willing to help more people get into goats!

 

[TXchickenchick]

Hmmm...I will try to find out what kind of goats these are. I do know they are young enough they have never been bred and that's about all I know at this point. They are (supposedly) very gentle and people friendly though. However, I also know there are plenty of goat breeders nearby so finding someone who breeds dairy goats probably wouldn't be that difficult. I think I will get to know these two a bit better and go from there.

 

[jwilson48]

I'd make sure to get dairy goats or dairy/meat cross. If you get a straight meat cross she will barely be able to keep up with production for the kids let alone you. Also, they won't milk for very long before drying up again. Then you have many many months of feeding and getting no milk. Also, consider if you want the milk to taste more pure or goaty. Certain breeds are known for strong tasting milk. Also, since you don't have very much land, consider Nigerian dwarfs. They don't produce quite as much milk due to size, but its the highest in butterfat and will produce for a long time. They seen to be cheaper around here as well because they aren't good dual purpose