You've already gotten great info, but I wanna talk about GOATS! I have mutts, but they are part ND. Here's my 2 cents:
1. Not too much. Very fair. That's what they go for out here.
2. Get 2. Goats are herd animals. They do much better in pairs (or more), and if he's a bottle baby, he WILL have separation anxiety! Plus, they are so fun to watch when they play!
3. I give mine hay year-round, but the hat is more of a supplement for my herd. They forage on our property, and we use temp fencing that we move wherever the blackberries and poison oak are! My 4 does go through a 50 lb bale a month in spring/summer. Double that in winter/fall. Still cheaper to feed than my chickens and ducks.
4. Mine get hay, whatever they want on our property, and goat feed, probiotics, and loose minerals. They also get copper bolus every 3 months and selenium supplement (we have a deficiency in our soil here). They get a handful of grain at bedtime. Easy. They go through 50lbs of grain about 3 or 4x a year.
HOWEVER, wethers are prone to bladder/kidney problems. I have heard it's best not to give wethers any grain, just hay.
5. As much as you can give them. ND are small, but a couple hundred square feet per goatie is good.
6. It depends on your climate and predator load. We gave mountain lions. My girls have a shed I lock them up in at night to keep them safe. Lots of folks use a 3 sided run-in shelter.
7. Idk. I have does, but most folks I know DIY it.
8. Imo, yes. Bucks are stinky and can be aggressive. Unless you want to breed, I'd castrate. You might be able to get the breeder to do it for you for a fee.
9. All horny bucks are - lol! Wethers aren't usually. It also depends on how well socialized he is and how his parents were raised and their innate temperaments.
10. Not at all! If it were me, I'd get 2 wethers or get your guy a doeling companion IF he's castrated and you don't plan on breeding.
1. Not too much. Very fair. That's what they go for out here.
2. Get 2. Goats are herd animals. They do much better in pairs (or more), and if he's a bottle baby, he WILL have separation anxiety! Plus, they are so fun to watch when they play!
3. I give mine hay year-round, but the hat is more of a supplement for my herd. They forage on our property, and we use temp fencing that we move wherever the blackberries and poison oak are! My 4 does go through a 50 lb bale a month in spring/summer. Double that in winter/fall. Still cheaper to feed than my chickens and ducks.
4. Mine get hay, whatever they want on our property, and goat feed, probiotics, and loose minerals. They also get copper bolus every 3 months and selenium supplement (we have a deficiency in our soil here). They get a handful of grain at bedtime. Easy. They go through 50lbs of grain about 3 or 4x a year.
HOWEVER, wethers are prone to bladder/kidney problems. I have heard it's best not to give wethers any grain, just hay.
5. As much as you can give them. ND are small, but a couple hundred square feet per goatie is good.
6. It depends on your climate and predator load. We gave mountain lions. My girls have a shed I lock them up in at night to keep them safe. Lots of folks use a 3 sided run-in shelter.
7. Idk. I have does, but most folks I know DIY it.
8. Imo, yes. Bucks are stinky and can be aggressive. Unless you want to breed, I'd castrate. You might be able to get the breeder to do it for you for a fee.
9. All horny bucks are - lol! Wethers aren't usually. It also depends on how well socialized he is and how his parents were raised and their innate temperaments.
10. Not at all! If it were me, I'd get 2 wethers or get your guy a doeling companion IF he's castrated and you don't plan on breeding.