So someone is trying to convince me I need goats...

[Wildsky]

Quote:

What they're REALLY saying is
"Is it time for FOOD yet - we're STARVING over here!!"

(thats what my goat always says and he's as big as a house)

 

[Wildsky]

My boy is easy to keep - he lives with his horsy girlfriend.

I have a Boer weather. He's like a naughty kid, escaped about 6 times in the first 2 days we had him, he has put on lots of weight since, I don't think he'd make it over the fence anymore.

I've thought about some girls for milk, but I struggle as it is to get out twice a day to feed and water when its snowing and MINUS 26 outside, I wouldn't want to HAVE to be out there MILKING.

(now if I could keep one IN the house it would be a different story)

 

[MichiganWoods]

Well, I think I'm getting convinced. I've been reading up on the various goats and I'd probably want to get either two female Saanens, or two female Nigerian Dwarves. I can't seem to find info on horns though. Are the does naturally hornless? Any idea which would consume less feed yet produce enough milk for my family daily?

Problem is going to be where to find a good pair that should produce well and won't break the bank. Wow can they be expensive!

I've thought about some girls for milk, but I struggle as it is to get out twice a day to feed and water when its snowing and MINUS 26 outside, I wouldn't want to HAVE to be out there MILKING.

In my case... I'd rather be out there milking than try to figure out how to get out of my snow covered driveway and drive the 18 miles to and from the store for a bottle of milk.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I never even thought about having goats until this spring when I heard my DH talking on the phone about a goat that needed a home. I said "I know a goat can live with my horses. Tell them that if it's a doe, bring it out." I knew nothing about it's age or breed or anything. Luckily my vet was scheduled the next day to visit my horses, so he checked her out. He did a milk culture and wormed her and gave her a rabies shot. He suggested having her dehorned, but said it's a major procedure and expensive. She is so sweet and loves to cuddle with me. She'll have her own bunk room in the new barn soon, but is now sleeping in the horses run in.
We let her out to play with the dog. They chase each other around the yard. She's so much fun to watch! I milked her all summer and into fall, but let her dry up slowly recenlty. I want to have her bred soon, but not sure where to find a toggenburg stud. I made gaots milk and honey soap. It's awsome!

get the goat!

Be aware that bucks are very stinky! I would prefer to have mine bred by someone else's.

 

[MichiganWoods]

I read that the bucks are stinky, and that's what sometimes taints the milk and makes it taste nasty. Otherwise it tastes just like cows milk, or is sometimes even better. I was thinking that we would stick solely with artificial insemenation...

(if anyone would have told me that I would be converting my property into a farm last year, I woulda told 'em they were crazy... but look at me now!!)

It would be easier for us to receive semen than it would be to transport our does to a buck, or to bring a buck here. At least, I think it would be easier!

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I never thought of artificial insemination. (sp?)
How would you do that? seriously! I'm interested and clueless!

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

You are in for a roller coaster of a ride, but you definately WANT to get some goats. I have them as pets. But I wouldn't mind have one for some milk, but I recently decided I don't have the time or the help to do the kidding thing (having babies) to get the mom lactating to have milk.

Most people borrow a buck when needed unless they have a a good size group of doe's. And yes, bucks are stinky. You can research on that, but it is all part of the courting thing.

As for horns, some naturally do not have horns (they are called polled). Other's are born with them but go through a process called disbudding very early in life which burns the horn bud and therefore stops them from growing.

I am relatively new to all of this, but this is what I have learnd so far. If you want to see my babies, so here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=4065-Goats

BYC people ROCK and will have more great things to add.

 

[Chatychick]

I love mine I started out with 3 and it soon became 7 within 3 mths. I know in my last post I didnt sound convincing about them but they are like most livestock and do require feed and hay. If your getting a milking goat you will need to either build or buy a stanchion for milking and it helps for trimming and worming also. They require shots each year. I do all the shots and wormings here and trimmings also. I do the milking too. Its alot of work but so gratifying too. Good lcuk in your decision. With Nigis they are small and wonderful, so are all the larger types too.

 

[Kittikity]

Saanens are a large breed and give a lot of milk.. The ones I've known are very greedy eaters but do just fine with free choice hay and a scoop of grain each.. A milking doe does have to be milked every day, but if you still have nursing kids you can leave them on her if you just can't get to her that day.. I think most people seperate the doe and kids at nite, milk in the morning, and let the kids nurse for the rest of the day.. And of course they need to be fed every day, hooves trimmed regularly, etc..

Nigerians are a mini goat breed, about the size of a border collie, and can be kept in a smaller area than the larger breeds like the saanens.. A disadvantage though is that they can have small teats which are hard to milk.. The larger breeds are less likely to have small teats.. But whatever you get, make sure she has decent teats..

The best thing about goats are that they can be very loving and affectionate.. Some goats who aren't handled much can be very shy or afraid just like a dog who isn't socialized.. Bottle raised babies are the friendliest but can also be very needy when it comes to attention.. There are advantages and disadvantages just like any other animal.. But I personally think they are so worth it.. A good milking doe can give you lots of milk which is really healthy for you and you can make so many things from it.. I'll be getting my three does by next weekend and I'm so excited I'm about to burst..

Goats can be very mischievous and are expert escape artists.. Strong fencing is key.. Cattle panels are the best but can be very expensive.. In my opinion, if you have a goat that can get out of cattle panels then nothing will keep them.. A lot of people also like electric fencing..

You do need more than one as goats are a herd animal.. If you go with saanens I'd suggest one milking doe and a wether (castrated male) companion.. If you go with the nigerian dwarves I'd suggest two does..

There is also a fairly new breed called kinders which are a cross between a nubian and a pygmy.. My girls are nubians and I will be getting a pygmy buck in about a year or so.. Kinders are a smaller goat that can have the milk production of a nubian.. But since they are smaller, they can be kept in a smaller area.. Being a pygmy cross, they can also be used for meat if you decide you'd like that.. As with any other breed, make sure she has good milk production and teat size in her background.. Unfortunately since they're a fairly new breed, they're hard to find.. That's why I'm starting my own..

Anyway, sorry to jabber on.. I hope this helps.. Go to the fiascofarm.com and read to your heart's content.. There are gobs of information there.. Finally (and what sells most people) baby goats are one of the funniest and most adorable creatures on the face of the planet..

 

[spook]

The first thing that I wanted was a goat, love them, adorable...grew up on farm, loved it... then you have milking at scheduled time, breeding to continue milking ability, milking 2 times a day, milking 2 times a day...

I would assume that goats like cows and sheep get tangled in wire, need added security because bear and dogs- neighbors dogs, like to kill them and eat. Then you have milk fever, problem births, mastitis, and bloat.
The vet bills and if it gets loose and eats your neighbors garden, there will be some hate in your neighborhood! lol.

I am sorry, most of you goat folks do not have all these issues, but it is a reality to owning any milking animal.

Oh, forgot that you have to buy or turn a field into hay, grain and wormer,Vite's, and with cattle they tend to step on their teats and when they do, it ain't pretty! Such a horrible thing.

Good luck on your choice!