Pygmies or Nigerian Dwarfs?

[Chirpy]

The thing about it was, it was still warm and the guy didn't grain them or anything. He just left them in the pasture to fend for themselves.

Yuk is right! Getting wonderful, sweet tasting fresh goats milk is such a pleasure. To get that wonderful, sweet tasting goats milk your equipment must be extremely clean, your milk needs to be strained and gotten very cold, very quickly after milking. What your goat eats truly affects the taste of the milk, goats who are on pasture can actually have the taste of their milk change from milking to milking depending on what weeds they've ingested during that time. Most people who milk (not all) keep their milk does contained and feed them consistently every day so their milk tastes the same every day. And, having a buck near your milk does will give your milk that 'goaty' flavor also.

Having said all that I chose ND's over Pygmys solely because I wanted to have the option to milk and ND's are a dairy breed whereas Pygmys are not. You can still milk Pygmys - you just won't get as much milk nor is it as high in butterfat (if you want that). Also, ND's need to come from a line that have been bred for milking to get the larger teats and udder - that all makes it much easier to actually milk them.

Either way .... you are going to LOVE them!​

 

[key west chick]

Pinkchick is right about the colors. Mind you, those are purebreds. Mixes come in more mixed colors. Nigi x pygmies can be very colorful.

 

[bheila]

Well, you guys aren't making this decision easy on me. There is a lady that I just sold chicks to that has about 15 ND's and she milks her's. I would love to be able to at least try the milk before buying a ND. Otherwise I'll probably just stick with my Pygmies. I do love the idea of being more self sufficient though. I would love to see pictures of your Mini's if you'd like to share. Also let me know what breed they are.

 

[nightshade]

for pets I would go with NDs they look more in proportioned right then a pygmys which look like kegs with legs. Where every ND I have seen has looked like a living stuffed animal. I personally just think that they are cuter. I hope to get a wether for pet but currently we have Nubians and LaManchas. We pick out smaller sized ones that are knee high on me to the top of their backs. We milk them and just love the milk. Most people say that ours are small for the breeds but I like them little, they are easier to handle.

 

[greenthumb89]

there are 3 main color groups but this http://www.npga-pygmy.com/resources/conformation/color_samples.asp can help you

personally i think NDs would be better, i like the look better, the slimmer dairy look, not the 2 ton tank look of a pygmy, there are others to look at also like pygoras, or mini nubians...just suggesting. i plan on getting a small mixed, herd, some pygoras, nigerian dwarfs and mini nubians mayber some others i plan on milk them though.

...pygoras are a angora and pygmy cross that has to be sheared in some form. they look kinda like sheep but arent stupid like them.

 

[Haviris]

I've had both, but right now just Nigis, I like the colors and variety, the blue eyes and moon spots! And of course I like that they are a dairy breed. For me it wasn't between pygmie or nigis, my picks were actually the larger breeds, but I liked that my male kids can be placed as pets much easier. As for noise, most of mine are quiet, I have one that is a loud mouth.

Here are a few pics (these are purebreds, another option if you're not interested in the milk is a mix of the two breeds),
these are Jade and Dixie,

Lone Star

Willow (my loud mouth)

Lone Star and Ranger,

Sage (sister to Lone Star and Ranger)

Pie

Dallas,

 

[bheila]

I did look at the NPGA website last night to see the colors. So here is a picture of Daisy and Chester. I was told they are both Pygmies. Someone made the comment that they thought that Daisy was ND though

I'm all new to this so I wouldn't know the difference unless they were standing side by side I suppose. I haven't even seen a ND in person yet.

 

[nightshade]

havaris - how tall do your ND's get? some people tell me that the littler ones are a lot harder to find then the 20+ inch to the tops of their backs ones.

 

[Haviris]

None of mine are over 20 inches. I honestly have no idea how hard it is to find smaller, I generally buy on quality and as long as they fit the standard I'm happy. On average pygmies and nigis are about the same size, I would think nigis are alittle lighter because of their builds (not sure on that though).

Daisy definately looks more nigi then pygmy, she's definately not pure pygmy. Chester's color is typical pygmy color, but he may also not be pure (are they siblings?).

 

[bheila]

Quote:
No, they aren't siblings. I bought Daisy from a BYCer and I bought Chester from someone who only had Pygmies. I sure do love the colors of ND's.