My wife and I are looking into getting some dwarf nigerian goats. Mainly because we have 3 young children and a 4th on the way. We are really enjoying the country/farm type of lifestyle and want to continue down that journey. Plus with the economy in such a down turn the more we can do to support ourselves the better. We are looking into the dwarf nigerians due to their small size. We thought it would be easier for my wife to handle and safer for the kids to be around. Plus we have read they have good milk production and high level of milk fat and protein.
We would like to get a couple does (maybe ones that are pregnant) and then a buck (possiple later in the year). We live on 7.5 acres and I have an area I plan to fence that will probably be somewhere in the ball park of 40'x60'. The lot will have quite a few harwood tree's and would offer plenty of shade for those hot summer days. I know we will need a seperate area for the buck to prevent bad tasting milk and keep pregnancies under control. What I don't know is what kind of pen or shelter I need to build for them. Would a building with dirt floor and maybe 2-3 "stalls" that were 5'x5' be ok? I figured I would also have an area that was covered for a milking station as well. We have read to seperate the kids from mamma at night and then milk in the morning, then getting them back together. That is why I figured "stalls" might work. If this is wrong or a bad idea please let me know - you just can't believe everything you read on the net!lol!!
We think a small heard of milk goats would make a nice addition to our growing family and would give more things to us do together. Please let me know if our ideas are way off or need some drastic changes. Everyone on this site has been so great with advice on chickens so why not other livestock??!!
Thanks for looking
Patrick & Natasha
We would like to get a couple does (maybe ones that are pregnant) and then a buck (possiple later in the year). We live on 7.5 acres and I have an area I plan to fence that will probably be somewhere in the ball park of 40'x60'. The lot will have quite a few harwood tree's and would offer plenty of shade for those hot summer days. I know we will need a seperate area for the buck to prevent bad tasting milk and keep pregnancies under control. What I don't know is what kind of pen or shelter I need to build for them. Would a building with dirt floor and maybe 2-3 "stalls" that were 5'x5' be ok? I figured I would also have an area that was covered for a milking station as well. We have read to seperate the kids from mamma at night and then milk in the morning, then getting them back together. That is why I figured "stalls" might work. If this is wrong or a bad idea please let me know - you just can't believe everything you read on the net!lol!!
We think a small heard of milk goats would make a nice addition to our growing family and would give more things to us do together. Please let me know if our ideas are way off or need some drastic changes. Everyone on this site has been so great with advice on chickens so why not other livestock??!!
Thanks for looking
Patrick & Natasha
