picking a goat- input please

[TeamChaos]

So, we'd like to get two or three goats for our farm... I'm not willing to buy in deeper than I can afford with the guise of making money in the future on meat or milk, these will be ambassador goats

I have found a few farms willing to let dairy bucklings go for $30 or $60 a piece. So, I'm thinking we'll go with those.

I assumed we'd have them neutered either by the farmer, if possible, or I'll find someone experienced in the area to barter services with...
BUT my husband grew up with an intact billy and swears that we want to keep them intact. I listen to the stories of his beloved goat pal and i think "ohmy, do we really want that?" I mean, it's funny when I think of my husband as a child running in a pack of twentysome hunting dogs and a giant horned goat tearing up the Georgia countryside but as the liable adult in the situation now, I don't think so.

I think he's also feeling a heartstring tug for all of the grown up, intact males that need homes, so if you have experience in adopting grown goats, I'd like to hear that too.


Thanks

 

[ky goat lad]

You don't want a buck (intacted male) for a pet. They pee on everything, everyone, and themselves so you don't want to pet them to much, and it don't come off to easy. I think dairy goats are great pets, dehorned seems to be nice too. I raise meat goats and they play when younger , but slow down due to size. Dairy breeds are little lighter. They are funny , and can be sweet. But sometimes trouble makers. They like to jump, on anything
(cars, houses, if not fenced in). I don't think they are really hard, just make sure dewormed, and manily grasses/hay not too much feed. Hope this helps

 

[jerseygirl1]

Quote:
I agree

They castrate bucks, also. The younger, the better. Pygmys and dwarfs are nice, myotonic are sweet. Very cheap to care for, IMO. Hay, feed,not toomuch, water and minerals
My goats were full grown - I had the male castrated ASAP and he has since become very loving, rather than the old destructive self he was.

 

[terrilhb]

We got our 1st 2 goats this past June. Both Billy's. Unnuetered. They do spray on everything and anyone who gets to close. This I know from experience. They will make you laugh everyday. We just got our 1st female a week ago this past Sat. She is very docile and loving. I think everyone has an opinion and it is their right. Our 2 males we got for $70.00 for both. Our female we paid $60.00. Not expensive.But loving. Good luck.

 

[shadowpaints]

banding is pretty easy.. i could even send you 5 or six bands since they come in packages of 100

the tool is only about 10 bucks

you dont want to band them (casturate) till they are six to 8 weeks old

and FYI bucks STINK bad. they dont get too bad till their over a year old. but after that every time you touch them youll be fighting to get the smell off for days. AND if your not planning on getting females, they will be very miserable....

 

[sammileah]

if you want milk you'll need a buck. we buy a buckling, wait till we are sure girls are bred and off to the freezer he goes.
bucks stink but they can be funny things. all goat are comical pain in the rears. but really hard to not love them.

 

[iplsmama]

Yes, you should castrate the bucks. They STINK and are just gross. They drink pee, pee on themselves, etc... We have Nubian dairy goats and we bring our girls to be bred when they are in heat. Neutered males are good pets. You should have more than one as goats need some type of companionship or they will cry and drive you crazy. Also, make sure you have a really good fence. Goats are notorious escape artists and opportunists. We love our goats. I got 2 1/2 quarts of milk this morning from the two of our does that are freshened right now!