Lets talk about goats!

[GitaBooks]

we have 4 goats .
2 San Clemente Island Goats ( doe and Wether )
oberhasli ( wether )
nubian ( wether )

may look into breeding these San Clemente's down the road
they hang out with Hannah the Akbash

I love San Clementes and Oberhasalis. I just love that deep color of red contrasting with the black.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Okay, goat folks!

We brought our 2 boys home for brush clearing. They have been here for a week.

If I want to rake berries from an outdoor pen, is there a special rake that has small enough tines to catch the berries?

 

[BabyandCotton]

I really want some goats but my dad is unconvinced. I have a few questions
1.) If I bought a bottle baby and raised it inside so me and her bonded (I'm homeschooled so I'd be home most of the time) could I keep just one goat? I can own two but it would easier for us to own one.
2.) What is the average bill for two goats, including feed and vetinary costs?
3.) Could I keep one doe and one buck, if they are together outside of the breeding season?
4.) If I hand reared a buck would he be gentle?
Thank you ahead of time,
-Liv
PS I would be getting Nigerian or Nigerian X Nubian

 

[cassie]

One goat is a bad idea no matter what you do. If you want to breed your goat and you have just a few, your best bet is to take your doe to a breeder to be bred and not have a buck at all. Aggression is bucks is not a problem. Their behavior is. First of all, they smell when they are in rut and the odor is very pungent. They will do their best to rub it off on you. They pee on their heads. They spray. They blubber. Personally, I like bucks. I think their antics are amusing. But they are obnoxious.

I suggest you do what you can to learn about goats. Your local ag extension should have some pamphlets written for 4H. They are either free or low cost. Contact the American Dairy Goat Assn and see if they have some information they can send you. Just write ADGA, PO Box 865, Spindale, NC 28160. Go to caprinesupply.com and send for their catalog. There is a wealth of information in it and it is free. Caprine Supply also has a number of books on goats and you should be able to fine one to suit your purposes.

 

[BabyandCotton]

Thank you Cassie! I've read all the goat books from the library, but I'll probably get the pamphlets soon. For us, the behavior of the bucks doesn't bother me or my dad, nor anyone else. ( We've all been around bucks; especially in the rut)
Thanks again, Cassie! I'm about to go order the catalog also
-Liv

 

[CLSranch]

I really want some goats but my dad is unconvinced. I have a few questions
1.) If I bought a bottle baby and raised it inside so me and her bonded (I'm homeschooled so I'd be home most of the time) could I keep just one goat? I can own two but it would easier for us to own one.
2.) What is the average bill for two goats, including feed and vetinary costs?
3.) Could I keep one doe and one buck, if they are together outside of the breeding season?
4.) If I hand reared a buck would he be gentle?
Thank you ahead of time,
-Liv
PS I would be getting Nigerian or Nigerian X Nubian

I personally don't like the bottle raising on goats or calves unless I have to. It's a LOT more work and money for the formula than getting one just weaned even if weaned a little early. And I'm with cassie on 2 nannys even if your not bothered by the bucks antics. If you want to increase your herd later then get a buck. Just my preference and thoughts.

 

[cassie]

I personally don't like the bottle raising on goats or calves unless I have to. It's a LOT more work and money for the formula than getting one just weaned even if weaned a little early. And I'm with cassie on 2 nannys even if your not bothered by the bucks antics. If you want to increase your herd later then get a buck. Just my preference and thoughts.

The trouble with mother raised baby goats, unless they are handled a lot, is that many of them are wild and they aren't all that easy to tame, either. Bottle raised kids are much tamer. Oddly enough, I haven't noticed that big difference in calves. I could get calves nicely tamed down whether they were raised on their mother or on a bottle.

 

[CLSranch]

There is still the cost. I've had good luck "taming" about anything with just sitting there with a treat. Horses, Chickens, or goats. And that time spent can be done at anytime not twice 3, 4 times a day on schedule with a baby starving if you don't. The horses don't like to be caught keep a treat in my pocket when I go check on the chickens or fixing fence. But not to much or they'll be in your pocket to much.

 

[GitaBooks]

I really want some goats but my dad is unconvinced. I have a few questions
1.) If I bought a bottle baby and raised it inside so me and her bonded (I'm homeschooled so I'd be home most of the time) could I keep just one goat? I can own two but it would easier for us to own one.
2.) What is the average bill for two goats, including feed and vetinary costs?
3.) Could I keep one doe and one buck, if they are together outside of the breeding season?
4.) If I hand reared a buck would he be gentle?
Thank you ahead of time,
-Liv
PS I would be getting Nigerian or Nigerian X Nubian

Those are some very good questions. Awesome that you are doing research before getting your goats. : )

I'm currently fostering 5 kittens and have worked with other orphaned animals and so I can say that they do best in pairs or groups. They will still bond to people, but the behavioral issues (aggressio, mood swings, ect) tend not to be so bad if they were raised with another of their own species. Bottle babies can sometimes over-bond if kept on their own, and when our first orphan cat did that, he not only has trouble around other cats but he tries to bite us all the time as well.
Orphaned animals can suffer with breeding behavior issues, aggression and mood swings, trouble with their own species, and over-bonding. Training them up during their time as a bottle-baby helps a lot. However, I guess my point is, if you do get a bottle baby, try to get one that lost its mother already so that it had no choice but to need bottle-raising.

The cost really depends on how you feed them, the vet you are using, ect. For example, if you administer you own vaccinations or wormers and trim your goats hooves it can save you money. Also, cutting your own grass-hay, providing forage, and buying in bulk can do the same. Just make sure you don't give up on quality when money-saving.

Many breeds of goats can continue to breed all year round, especially the Nigerian Dwarf breed. A whether and a doe would be good friends though, especially if raised together. Just make sure that the dude is fixed early enough, as even young bucks can get a doe pregnant.

Its those crazy hormones that drive the buck mad, not really his personality. A hand-raised buck is even more dangerous because he has no respect or fear of people. He will either consider them competition or another of his does (if you get what I mean) either way, it could end up with someone getting hurt. However, with the proper respect and training a buck can become a reliable member of the herd. If he has to be kept separate from the doe he may do best with a whether friend.

All and all, goats are awesome, fun pets and also good for milk too. They are unique and you'll have to be around them to understand just how unique they can be. : )

Best of luck in finding the perfect goats for you and your family!!!

PS: I'm home schooled too that's why I have time to take care of my foster kittens. They can't be left for more than about 3 hours at a time, so its a big commitment, but they are totally worth it. : )

 

[BabyandCotton]

Those are some very good questions. Awesome that you are doing research before getting your goats.  : )

I'm currently fostering 5 kittens and have worked with other orphaned animals and so I can say that they do best in pairs or groups. They will still bond to people, but the behavioral issues (aggressio, mood swings, ect) tend not to be so bad if they were raised with another of their own species. Bottle babies can sometimes over-bond if kept on their own, and when our first orphan cat did that, he not only has trouble around other cats but he tries to bite us all the time as well.
Orphaned animals can suffer with breeding behavior issues, aggression and mood swings, trouble with their own species, and over-bonding. Training them up during their time as a bottle-baby helps a lot. However, I guess my point is, if you do get a bottle baby, try to get one that lost its mother already so that it had no choice but to need bottle-raising.

The cost really depends on how you feed them, the vet you are using, ect. For example, if you administer you own vaccinations or wormers and trim your goats hooves it can save you money. Also, cutting your own grass-hay, providing forage, and buying in bulk can do the same. Just make sure you don't give up on quality when money-saving.

Many breeds of goats can continue to breed all year round, especially the Nigerian Dwarf breed. A whether and a doe would be good friends though, especially if raised together. Just make sure that the dude is fixed early enough, as even young bucks can get a doe pregnant.

Its those crazy hormones that drive the buck mad, not really his personality. A hand-raised buck is even more dangerous because he has no respect or fear of people. He will either consider them competition or another of his does (if you get what I mean) either way, it could end up with someone getting hurt. However, with the proper respect and training a buck can become a reliable member of the herd. If he has to be kept separate from the doe he may do best with a whether friend.

All and all, goats are awesome, fun pets and also good for milk too. They are unique and you'll have to be around them to understand just how unique they can be.  : )

Best of luck in finding the perfect goats for you and your family!!!

PS: I'm home schooled too that's why I have time to take care of my foster kittens. They can't be left for more than about 3 hours at a time, so its a big commitment, but they are totally worth it.  : )

I foster kittens as well! It's always so rewarding when they get adopted. I'm going to stick with two does for now. Thank you so much! I will do all the trimming, worming and vaccines myself, we have a store that sells all the supplies. I'm really excited to get my goats. Thanks thanks thanks!!
-Liv