Yet another doe waiting to kid

[PotterWatch]

I used the plans on www.fiascofarm.com . I just had to modify the height of the headstall since I have minis.

 

[BeardedChick]

Quote:
Thanks!

 

[DiVon80]

Hi! everyone! I am thinking of goats, I am limited on space would like to get dairy goats.I would like the small ones can any one give me the pro and cons of the large verse small. thanks

 

[PotterWatch]

Well, since I don't have standards, I can't give you any personal experience with them. As far as minis go, they don't eat as much as standards (though I am amazed at how much they do manage to go through), but they also won't give as much milk. We are a family of four and the one doe that is currently in milk provides just enough for our needs as far as drinking and baking go, but I could stand to have more since I would also like to make cheese, ice cream, etc. I am getting almost 2 quarts a day from my one doe and she is still nursing a kid as well. I have no idea if that is decent production or not as I am new to goats. Once I have two in milk, I think that will be enough for my family.

I live in the city, with just a backyard, no pasture or anything like that. It seems plenty big enough for the two adult does and one doeling that we have now, but I wouldn't want to have more than three adult does in this much space, there would just be waaaaay too much poop all over. Here is the area my goats have to hang out in during the day:

This is the house my husband built for them on the north side of our house, it is about 5x8:

There have been a couple modifications to it since then. We removed the black mineral feeder on the north wall as all they did was poop in it. We also boarded up around the sides and bottom so the kids couldn't crawl under or on the side. We had poured concrete on this side of the house before we decided to get goats. I sometimes think it would have been better to leave it dirt, but at least I can just hose off the concrete if it gets too messy. I know some people provide large dog houses as shelter for their mini goats.

I have thought every once in a while of getting a standard lamancha, but I really think that minis are best for us given our space and need for milk.

 

[PotterWatch]

Well, we just got back from a movie and she is breathing pretty hard and has a fair amount of mucus, but it isn't amber colored. I'm still thinking it might be today...