Jumping the Moon Dairy - the next chapter

babsbag

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I don't know if there has ever been a project that I wanted done as much as this one. I see the light at the end of that proverbial tunnel but also many many little details that still need to be addressed. My goal is to be done by March which seems a long ways off until I think about that fact that March 2016 seemed like only yesterday...it goes by so fast. Come Sept. I need to change focus and get a front put on the barn. I lived without it last year for only a few months and it could have been very miserable with the right storm. We usually get our first rains the end of Oct. so I need to get that done and then go back to work on the dairy. Also trying to figure out when to dig trenches for water, power, and gas...do it now and watch it fill up with water or possibly dig it in the mud. Neither is a good choice.
 

Southern by choice

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from-
http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/this-craigs-list-ad-is-too-funny.34297/page-4#post-441885

I think often many who are starting out with goats think the smaller ones are easier and/or friendlier.

We have found that our Lamanchas are truly the most loving.
The smaller goat may be a little easier to handle but I don't think they necessarily make the best pets. LOL but for blood draws etc BIG GOATS are easier hands down! LOL Small goats eat less and need less land. Nigies are really hardy though.

anyway- I see many at age 5-6 moved on to other homes. Usually great homes too! They tend to go to people that just need or want 1 dairy goat. They will often get 1 dairy goat and a wether or get a bred older doe and keep one of the kids.

It's nice especially for those "brat" goats, or persnickity goats that do better in a 2 goat environment.
 

babsbag

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So if you were buying a family milker what would you consider the oldest age to be for buying one?
 

NH homesteader

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I had a goat who was great when I had two of them... Then I added more goats and holy cow miserable attitude! Emphasis on "had", they were shipped off to a home with one other goat and are fine now!

I personally wouldn't buy a goat that is past 3, but I am not what one would call "normal" haha. I see a lot of 6 year old goats being sold near me. Anything older than that and it usually states they're best as pets.
 

Southern by choice

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I think 6 or 7 would be a good age. Aging out for a dairy but plenty of life still in them.

I personally wouldn't buy a goat that is past 3
One of our best does and most wonderful was just about to turn 5 when we got her. We chose her OVER her young 2 year old daughters. Her production is still great at 7. No issues. She WILL live her life out here.
I think 3 and 4 year olds actually milk fantastic.
 

babsbag

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My goal is no more than 30 goats and I own 41 right now and 6 of those are bucks. :hide I have 3 that will never leave and never be milked again. So that leaves me 32 goats to squeeze 25 gallons of milk out of and 10 of those are 2016 babies so that leaves 22 for that 25 gallons. Now while that is entirely possible I am not holding my breath and I just can't legally keep more goats; I am already over the limit. The majority of my herd is 2012 and younger but I do have a few old girls. The problem is that a first freshener just can't replace a 5 year old when it comes to volume so I need to keep all the replacement does for a year or maybe two before their truly earn their place in the dairy string. A lot of juggling and I need more land.
 

NH homesteader

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Sorry if you've already explained it, but what's the legal issue with owning more goats?

What breed(s) do you have? That's a lot of goats! Haha!
 
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