Lets talk about goats!

[SilkiesForEver]

Go here.... http://www.thegoatspot.net/forum/f186/ Much more active than this goat thread and goat specific forum so you will get many more people who might be able to help.

Thank you!

 

[GAMarans]

Ok, I may very well lose my mind during this ...

No known breeding date but first exposed to buck 133 days ago. Absolutely amazing to feel the kid(s) kicking when I feel her belly. She has some udder development and this is her first time around so I have no clue what to expect with her. How does one maintain some level of sanity through the excitement and preparations? lol

 

[GAMarans]

 

[SilkiesForEver]

How exciting!

 

[H Diamond]

Watch this, it will all be clear as mud!

 

[Bryanshantel]

I have been reading up on goats and visted two goat farms and no one had ever told me about baking soda. What is it for? Did I miss something important?

You're going to need to trim hooves more than once a year, as well as worm more than once a year.

I deworm 3-4 times a year with seasonal changes- dependent upon climate.

Hooves get trimmed every 4-6 weeks. A set of clippers/sheers will cost at most $15.

Minerals- daily

Baking soda- daily free choice

Monthly feed will vary based on what you're feeding. Organic is more expensive. Also it depends upon how much foraging goats can do where you live. If you have acres of pasture your feed bill will be considerably lower, if you don't it'll be higher. Also hay prices vary greatly from region to region as well as seasonally.

TotallyNaturalGoats on facebook is a place to check out if you're going the natural route with goats.

I have nigerian dwarf goats- so no experience with fainting goats.

 

[Bryanshantel]

We had 2 Nubian Toggenbergs and they looked like that. They were Lee and Leo but when they started getting out they became steak and stew.

LOL it works that way at my house too.

 

[Bryanshantel]

Here is a photo of my Nigerien Dwarf doe, It is a small dairy breed that weighs from about 40-70 lbs ( but can vary greatly). She gave about a third of a gallon a day. So, a little more then a couple gallons a week. This individual has cashmere, but she gets tons more in the winter, so she can handle very bitter winters, but then sheds almost all of it in summer, so she can handle the heat well. Now I'm not sure if this is typical of this breed, so I'm not saying you should get this type 100 percent all the way lol. but if it is, it may be a breed too consider. This breed also has TWO breeding seasons, which is rare for goats, (most only have one) it's the Spring and Summer. So if you miss one breeding season you just wait for the second instead of having too wait for a year.


As far as owning your own breeding buck, as a first time goat owner, this may not be such a good idea. Bucks acquire a rather harsh and potent stink, (I don't mind it, but most people do lol) they posses it because of a couple of stink glands either in front, or behind there horns, (I'm not sure lol.) too attract does, The stench travels far, and the neighbors might also not be big fans of stinking goats. In rut, They are very hard on there fences, (since there so strong) and they must be built soundly. Also when a doe is lactating the stench of the buck from the other pen can actually taint the taste and smell of the doe's milk. I could go on and on, but you must also notice that in having one male and one female, you have too feed both, but your only getting milk from one. I suggest getting two doe's and getting them bred at a different farm. Since I live in NJ I don't know any Nigerian Dwarf breeders where you live so I couldn't point you too one. : (
I hope this helped just a little, and good luck on this exciting venture!


P.S. Another small dairy breed is the mini Nubian, but I don't know much about them and they might not do well in the cold.

You can look up National____Breeders Association once you find a breed you are interested in, just fill in the blank. I also want to get started and after MUCH research have decided Saanens are the way to go for my family of eight. We go through alot of milk I think my 12 year old son could drink one gallon of milk a day by himself LOL so maybe three or four Saanens LOL. Anyway that is how I found a breeder near me because everyone has Nigerians around here. Hopefully in a month or so I can go get my kids from Tennessee! I'm so excited.

 

[Bryanshantel]

Your not so tough dad!

AAHHHHH!!!!

 

[Bryanshantel]

That is a horrible thing for someone to do I feel sorry for all your family has gone through. My only suggestion is a surveillance camera or even a gam cam or 2 set up. Catch the jerks in action so you have proof for the police who will hopefully start helping you out at that point. Take loads of pics when they do the things they do write every detail down date time everything. But 100% get a camera up and ready with out a doubt.

Honestly if it was happening to me personally I would have been sitting out there each night waiting for them DH I sure would have got a gun and sat there waiting too.

Know one should be on your property and invading your personal space ever. Not to mention putting all your animals lives at risk...

I hope you catch this person or people.

X3