Is a Goat right for me?

[ArtisticFarmer]

May I ask why you have to get rid of your dog? While care for a dog is somewhat different than caring for goats, the 'farm chores' are work too. You may have to haul water to the goats if there is no facet near the goat area. You may need electricity for lighting or a heated water bucket in the winter if you have below freezing temperatures. Bedding needs to be changed, shelter needs to be clean. Depending on what you choose to use as bedding/ground covers, it can be everyday, week, month....for cleaning. The longer you wait, the more work it can be. You'll need to trim their hooves about every month...or hire someone to do it. Since you have to breed your doe to get milk after she gives birth, you have to decide what to do with the kids, keep or sell them? Disbud or let them grow horns? Depending on your does, you may be breeding at least one of them every year or so to keep milk steady coming. Of course, you don't have to breed any of them if you decide you don't want milk. Also, find out what sort of predators you have in your area and you'll need to protect them from them. A fox may not hurt your goat but your neighbor's big dog can. If you have coyote, mountain lion or bears, you'll need to think about locking them up every night even if you have electric fencing.
Goats are great. I love mine and it seems easier caring for them than caring for my dog. But I spent more time cleaning, feeding and making sure they have what they need than I spent on my dog. I can take my dog everywhere...even on vacation. You'll need to find someone to care for your goats. Goats are easy...dogs are too. That's why I ask why you get rid of your dog. Time spent on a dog may be different than spending on some goats, but pets are pets, they depend on you to care for them everyday...

I understand your concern. It wasn't the time/work that was a problem, but I knew nothing about his breed, (american eskimo) and he turned out to be aggressive. That wouldn't have been a problem to train out IF we didn't have little kids running around- a 2 year old and a 9 month old. We didn't want to risk it, and we knew someone who could better take care of the dog and he is currently happy in his new home. I don't mind the physical work. And I'm homeschooled so I'll have more time then most to spend time with it. (History reading in the goat pen...LOL) The 'someone to take care of when I'm gone' I still have questions on. I'm assuming they still have to be milked everday? (why wouldn't they, right?) I have coyotes around sometimes. I was already assuming to bring them in every night.

So, after that, what do you think? Do you think I'd be able to take proper care of a goat?

Homeschool? Definitely go for the goats!!! I think it would be wonderful for the kids!! Yes, when you are gone, your goats will still need to be milk. You may be surprised to find people willing to help....especially if they get to keep the milk!

Haha! Yes, I am sure especially the younger kids will love it. We have 5 or so people that take turns coming over, and when they do the chickens, they get to keep the eggs. I really want to get it this summer, but they are advantages and disadvantages to that.

Advantages-
I get it sooner. LOL

Disadvantages-
I have less time to prepare (not that big of an issue)
I have to get the fence up soon (eh, not too big of an issue)
We are going on a 2 week trip this year, and that might be a little hard for the people taking care of it.

Later

Advantages-
I still get a goat
I have more time to prepare
I have more time to get the fence up
We will have the trip over and done with


Disadvantages-
The goat will be a long time in coming.

 

[Catahoula]

Haha! Yes, I am sure especially the younger kids will love it. We have 5 or so people that take turns coming over, and when they do the chickens, they get to keep the eggs. I really want to get it this summer, but they are advantages and disadvantages to that.

Advantages-
I get it sooner. LOL

Disadvantages-
I have less time to prepare (not that big of an issue)
I have to get the fence up soon (eh, not too big of an issue)
We are going on a 2 week trip this year, and that might be a little hard for the people taking care of it.

Later

Advantages-
I still get a goat
I have more time to prepare
I have more time to get the fence up
We will have the trip over and done with


Disadvantages-
The goat will be a long time in coming.

How much later are you talking about? When is your trip? Are you getting goat in milk right away or are you planning to get a yearling and then bred her? As for fencing, you can work on the shelter and a smaller pen in area first so you can have your goat before your big fence around your acre. That's what we did. We have a shelter that we lock our goats in at night and a 50' round pen around. We fenced in about 2 acre with T-posts and field fencing that took us a 2-3 weekends to finish. I still have the round pen around the shelter but I leave the gate open. Sometimes it is necessary to keep the goat in a smaller pen so we can work in their area...such as fixing the fence. I know exactly how you feel about wanting the goats sooner but if I had to do it over, I would take my time. I would have build the shelter bigger, figure out where to put the fence, take my time to find the right goats. Since we have gotten our first two goats, we have built an addition to the shelter (which seem to be too small still), added fencing around the house so they don't poop near the house, added two more goats (still wanting another one...another color I really want...). We are going to reconfigure the fence around the house to give us the human more space with out poop... I probably shouldn't have gotten my two new goats (beautiful Alpine doe and wether) but to stick to Boers...and just maybe add one more so I'd have a total of three. I will be getting another boer this summer hopefully a black dappled. I don't know if I can handle 5 goats. I am trying to sell my dairy doe and possible the wether also...but I am attached to them already and don't want to let them go...
Anyway, be patient and don't think you'll miss out on this goat...if you dont' get it now. There are really many many goats out there.... too bad you are so far from me.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

Haha! Yes, I am sure especially the younger kids will love it. We have 5 or so people that take turns coming over, and when they do the chickens, they get to keep the eggs. I really want to get it this summer, but they are advantages and disadvantages to that.

Advantages-
I get it sooner. LOL

Disadvantages-
I have less time to prepare (not that big of an issue)
I have to get the fence up soon (eh, not too big of an issue)
We are going on a 2 week trip this year, and that might be a little hard for the people taking care of it.

Later

Advantages-
I still get a goat
I have more time to prepare
I have more time to get the fence up
We will have the trip over and done with


Disadvantages-
The goat will be a long time in coming.

How much later are you talking about? When is your trip? Are you getting goat in milk right away or are you planning to get a yearling and then bred her? As for fencing, you can work on the shelter and a smaller pen in area first so you can have your goat before your big fence around your acre. That's what we did. We have a shelter that we lock our goats in at night and a 50' round pen around. We fenced in about 2 acre with T-posts and field fencing that took us a 2-3 weekends to finish. I still have the round pen around the shelter but I leave the gate open. Sometimes it is necessary to keep the goat in a smaller pen so we can work in their area...such as fixing the fence. I know exactly how you feel about wanting the goats sooner but if I had to do it over, I would take my time. I would have build the shelter bigger, figure out where to put the fence, take my time to find the right goats. Since we have gotten our first two goats, we have built an addition to the shelter (which seem to be too small still), added fencing around the house so they don't poop near the house, added two more goats (still wanting another one...another color I really want...). We are going to reconfigure the fence around the house to give us the human more space with out poop... I probably shouldn't have gotten my two new goats (beautiful Alpine doe and wether) but to stick to Boers...and just maybe add one more so I'd have a total of three. I will be getting another boer this summer hopefully a black dappled. I don't know if I can handle 5 goats. I am trying to sell my dairy doe and possible the wether also...but I am attached to them already and don't want to let them go...
Anyway, be patient and don't think you'll miss out on this goat...if you dont' get it now. There are really many many goats out there.... too bad you are so far from me.

Trip is later this year, august/september. I'm not sure whether to get a goat in milk, or a yearling. Yearling would be easier to tame, I suppose, but I don't know if I want to handle breeding one right away.
The housing is a stall in the barn, already basically made, about 15' by 8'. I am thinking the fence won't be to hard. Of course, I have still to find out WHERE to get goats, I can't find any! (Even though, I don't really know where to look.) I am planning on making a hay feeder and milk stand.

 

[Catahoula]

Trip is later this year, august/september. I'm not sure whether to get a goat in milk, or a yearling. Yearling would be easier to tame, I suppose, but I don't know if I want to handle breeding one right away.
The housing is a stall in the barn, already basically made, about 15' by 8'. I am thinking the fence won't be to hard. Of course, I have still to find out WHERE to get goats, I can't find any! (Even though, I don't really know where to look.) I am planning on making a hay feeder and milk stand.

Start with Craigslist in your area. There should be many kids available and even more through summer/fall.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

Trip is later this year, august/september. I'm not sure whether to get a goat in milk, or a yearling. Yearling would be easier to tame, I suppose, but I don't know if I want to handle breeding one right away.
The housing is a stall in the barn, already basically made, about 15' by 8'. I am thinking the fence won't be to hard. Of course, I have still to find out WHERE to get goats, I can't find any! (Even though, I don't really know where to look.) I am planning on making a hay feeder and milk stand.

Start with Craigslist in your area. There should be many kids available and even more through summer/fall.

Oh, I didn't think of that! Thanks! I'll look.

 

[babsbag]

I think you should start with 2 bottle babies. (Aren't I evil ???) Your kids would love it and the goats would love you forever. You have a barn for them already and kids wouldn't need a big fenced area until they get bigger. You can go and get one now

You have to breed once a year to get milk so might as well get used to it now. (told you I was evil).

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

I think you should start with 2 bottle babies. (Aren't I evil ???) Your kids would love it and the goats would love you forever. You have a barn for them already and kids wouldn't need a big fenced area until they get bigger. You can go and get one now

You have to breed once a year to get milk so might as well get used to it now. (told you I was evil).

You. Are. Very. Tempting!!!!!!! I have a couple questions now- How much does it cost to breed and what do I need to breed them?

 

[cjhubbs]

I am assuming you would want to bring your doe to a nearby buck to be bred. Generally it can cost anywhere from $20-$50 without boarding and typically pays for all "mating sessions" y until the doe settles (keeping the doe at the bucks place or vice versa. for a longer period of time, say 3 weeks). The only thing I needed for breeding was the "know how" to notice when my goat was in heat (thank you fellow BYHers ) and a small rag that was rubbed down with a buck. You don't need the "buck rag", it just helps to show you when your does are in heat. I kept the rag in a sealed jar and opened the jar every day until the day where my goat nearly mauled me over the jar and realized she was in heat .

 

[cjhubbs]

Oh, and if you are using a nearby buck then you will also need a means to transport your goat(s) to and from the bucks place. We have just used our mini-van, took out the seats, covered the floor in an old sheet and were ready to go.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

I am assuming you would want to bring your doe to a nearby buck to be bred. Generally it can cost anywhere from $20-$50 without boarding and typically pays for all "mating sessions" y until the doe settles (keeping the doe at the bucks place or vice versa. for a longer period of time, say 3 weeks). The only thing I needed for breeding was the "know how" to notice when my goat was in heat (thank you fellow BYHers ) and a small rag that was rubbed down with a buck. You don't need the "buck rag", it just helps to show you when your does are in heat. I kept the rag in a sealed jar and opened the jar every day until the day where my goat nearly mauled me over the jar and realized she was in heat .

Problem is I don't know anyone nearby with a buck!