How many sqft per dwarf goat?

[FLChick]

Hi everyone! I am a newbie here. I am getting ready to build a stall and pen for two nigerian goats and I wanted to know how much room they need. I haven't run across this answer yet. My husband will build this week and before he does, I wanted to make sure that we are building a proper size home for them to live comfortably in.

Many thanks!!

 

[elevan]

From:
http://www.nigeriandwarfdairygoats.com/faq.html#space

How much space do Nigerian dwarves require?

Nigerian dwarves only require 1/3 to 1/4 the amount of space and feed as the standard size dairy goats. The number of goats you can keep in an area really depends on how much hay you want to feed and how you feel about dewormers. If we keep four bucks in a 64X64-foot pen, they will eat down all the grass, which isn't a problem if we're willing to feed them a couple flakes of hay every day. (We have since added additional buck pens of the same size, so they can be rotated.) Our does never get hay while outside in the summertime, because they are in a 2-acre pasture, which has so much grass, we have to cut it!

The other issue in a small space is parasites. If goats are in a small area, you could find yourself needing to deworm them monthly, and in a fairly short amount of time, you could find yourself with internal parasites that are resistant to chemical dewormers. If you want milk goats, you will have to consider the fact that most dewormers are not approved for use in milking goats, because the drug will be in the milk. If you have a very small area, it might be best to let the goats kill all the grass completely, because internal parasites need grass to reproduce and be re-ingested by the goats. This means, of course, that you will be feeding 100% hay for the goats' roughage source.



What type of fencing do Nigerian dwarves require?

Although some does will stay in an area with electric fencing, bucks need woven wire or livestock panels. Some breeders have had good luck with electric fencing, and some have not. It really depends on the goats. We have had some who would run through electric, and we have had some who are constantly testing it and know as soon as it isn't working -- they'll be running around, stealing the chickens' grain the minute the fence isn't working! And we have some does that won't go near the electric fence! If you have a doe that does not respect electric, she will teach her kids to go through it, so eventually you could wind up with a whole herd of goats that don't respect electric fencing.

I highly recommend livestock panels for bucks -- the tallest you can find. Even then, some bucks are capable of jumping over four feet. We have learned that bucks will destroy woven wire if there is a doe on the other side. They will mash it down putting their feet on it and stretch it out by sticking their heads through it. We even saw a buck trying to mate a doe through a woven wire fence! He had put his front legs and head through the fence and was very close to success! If there is a pasture between your doe pasture and your buck pen, you might be able to get away with woven wire. Of course, if you can put a line of electric wire inside the woven wire, that will also keep them away from the fence.



What type of housing do Nigerian dwarves require?

Nigerian dwarf goats do not require anything fancy in the way of housing. During the summer months, our goats stay in the pasture with a 3-sided shelter that they can use when it rains. They also go in there to sleep at night. During the winter, the goats are brought into the barn at night. They ONLY stay inside during the worst winter weather, because fresh air is important for healthy goats, and even though our barn is far from air-tight, the fresh air outside is much better for keeping goats healthy. Pneumonia is the second most common cause of death in goat, and it occurs more often in goats that are kept inside all winter. (Parasites is first.) In case you're worried about these goats from Africa freezing in northern U.S. winters, you can be assured that they have adapted beautifully and do grow a thick undercoat of cashmere. Yes, cashmere comes from goats! To help keep them warm you should put a thick layer of straw in their shelter. We've personally learned that wood shavings do not insulate against the cold ground as well as straw does.

 

[L&L Ranch]

how much land are we talking about 1/2 a acre can house up to a maxuim of 1 to 6 dwarfs stalls i build stalls 6x6 4 ft high for each goat but for bucks i build them 6x7 6 ft high