Needed! your thoughts on getting a goat

[LauraSBale]

Hi

were thinking about getting 2 Nigerian mini Goats.

for the people who have them, I would to get your feed back on them.

care
health
feed
shelter
winter
breeding
what sex makes good pets
do and dont
pro's and con's
and any thing else you can share

thank you
laura

 

[kcardella]

I have been thinking about it also, and would love to hear the responses.

 

[faykokoWV]

I'm interested as well!

 

[Getaway Gal]

Yes, we took the plunge after lots of research! We got the Nigerian Dwarfs, because of their size...only get to 24 inches at the wethers (top of shoulders). They make really good pets and companion animals and take up less space, eat less, and poop less...all good things in my book! We got does because bucks are smelly, agressive and territorial, and need to be seperated from any other goats (this type can breed at 8 weeks before they are even weaned-I don't know about other breeds). I had originally thought that we wanted wethers (castrated males) because you always hear that they "make great pets," but they also get their version of kidney stones which can be deadly and I just didn't want to have to worry about that. We went ahead and got them at 3 1/2 weeks so that we could bottle feed them which typically makes them more focused on humans because we really do want them just as "pets." We ended up finding a breeder that has been fantastic and answers all my questions, so we paid more because these are pure blooded and registered...not our main concern by any means, but that would be important if we found that we wanted to breed and milk them some time in the future. They are really a riot...jumping up in the air, twisting, and playing. You have to get at least two because they don't do well alone. They are very easy keepers. We've had no health issues thus far (got them in May) other than what I believe was Coccidiosis, but that was solved easily with starting an herbal wormer program and no issues since. Feed is minimal grain (only started bag #2 of feed), hay, and browse. Just don't expect them to eat grass...think of them more like deer. We built a 4x8 shed that we put them in at night for protection, and they have a covered area for when weather is bad, and a yard area. I think that the only con so far is that they really would like to be with us at ALL times!

We are sort of pulled in too many directions right now as we are getting the chicken & turkeys housed first, then will move the goats down with them to their permanent home. Once they are all in the same area, it will be easier to spend time with all of them together. Hope that helps!! For any goat questions, I rely on www.fiascofarm.com. Tremendous site, and this is where I get the herbal wormer.

 

[ksalvagno]

I just got my Nigerian Dwarfs. I plan to milk them. I have only had them since the end of May. I do just love them. I have a barn already so they are in a 12x14 stall with 10x30 overhang space and about a half acre pasture. Right now I have 2 but will have purchased 3 more that will be bred this fall and coming home after they are bred.

I would say if you are just getting pets, wethers would be the best. No hormones to deal with. There are regular worming and vaccination schedules but you would need to find out what they are in your area since it is different in different parts of the country.

I would suggest going over to www.backyardherds.com and viewing all the subjects there.

 

[agnes_day]

get wethers if you just want pets..i love my sweet girls but my boy is just an outright baby.

 

[vicki2x2]

Wethers can get "stones" called urinary calculi but it helps if they have a proper diet and if they are not wethered too young. Try waiting until they are a little older to wether them, so them urinary system has time to grow more, this will help. Grass hay, no grain except as babies, apple cider vinegar in the water helps too.

It is an individual thing, but for the most part, wethers are more friendly than does. Though Nigerians are friendly goats anyway. We have several of each. The wethers are all super friendly except one, who broke his leg as a baby by playing in the hay rack and is now kind of stand offish (he didn't appreciate the vet trips) and the does are all a bit more stand offish than the wethers, not much, just not quite as in your lap friendly as the boys.

Most bucks are not people aggressive, just aggressive with other bucks when does are around. They can be kept with other buck or wethers if separate from the does. They are somewhat smelly and then during breeding season can get quite smelly as they "mark" themselves! However, not really what you want for pets or even for a small breeding operation, easier to just use someone else's buck unless you have several does.

 

[Epona142]

I always recommend thegoatspot.net to people. Saved my life it did.

Also, fiascofarms.com is a must have for all goat owners.

 

[Zahboo]

Don't put the shelter beside a fence. Stupid goat kept going BLEH BLEHHHH BLEHHHH and then learned she could jump on the house. you heard BLEH BLEH *silence* CLACK CLACK (getting onto the house) BLEH BLEH *silence* CHING CHING CHING *silence* and right at my window BLEH BLEH BLEH. I sent her to live with Patty

 

[agnes_day]

also..they will eat your windowsills.