Just got some skinny goats

[babsbag]

We have a thread on here for Goat Addicts anonymous if you care to join. You may NEED to join soon....
Fruit Loops or peanuts are great snacks.

Actually PBJ sandwiches they would probably love.

Now you need a buck so Crepe Myrtle can make you some babies this year...babies = and cheese. Cheese = too.

 

[babsbag]

You may have to pen her while you feed the others. I would get one bowl for each goat, that can help. I know some people will tie them while they eat so that they stay in their bowl but you would have to stay there with them at all times. A tied up goat can get in plenty of trouble in short order.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

You may have to pen her while you feed the others. I would get one bowl for each goat, that can help. I know some people will tie them while they eat so that they stay in their bowl but you would have to stay there with them at all times. A tied up goat can get in plenty of trouble in short order.

I'll have to build a pen. I could tie up petunia, though. She's docile enough to just stand there if I'm there, mostly. I don't think I could get close enough to the other two to collar them, though. I see all these people who have collars on their goats all the time, but I'd be afraid they'd get hung up on something.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

We have a thread on here for Goat Addicts anonymous if you care to join. You may NEED to join soon....
Fruit Loops or peanuts are great snacks.

Actually PBJ sandwiches they would probably love.

Now you need a buck so Crepe Myrtle can make you some babies this year...babies = and cheese. Cheese = too.

Well, she came from a herd that ran bucks with does, lily did too. Could she be pregnant now? It took me forever to figure out why I had never smelled goat before I took home these two, and then suddenly my backyard smells like them, it's the buck scent! But if I had to admit it- it doesn't bug me. In fact I kind of like the smell, like good hay compost. I would like to get a buck eventually, but we're only on 1 acre of land, and I would need to build a whole new pen. How far do they have to be apart to not make the milk taste funny? And most of my other land has poisonous plants on it, I'd have to do some clear cutting and burning. But for right now, I just want to concentrate on getting them healthy and happy.

 

[sadieml]

@JenniferDuBay - Just catching-up on your new goat adventure. Welcome to the "Wide World of Goats". Sorry things started out really rough for you, but you seem to be bouncing back very well, and goat math is already at work for you! You have also learned firsthand how wonderfully this community works to help in times of need. All of the folks here are great and care deeply for goats. Of course, anthropologists say the goat was likely the first domesticated animal, and I strongly believe God made them to live in community with people (hence their naturally homogenized milk, and the fact that many "lactose intolerant" people can consume goat milk with no problem). The bonding that takes place between goats and their owners is instantaneous and powerful. Congratulations on the rapid growth of your herd, and ENJOY!!! Personally, I think goats are just about the most awesome animals EVER!

 

[JenniferDuBay]

@JenniferDuBay - Just catching-up on your new goat adventure. Welcome to the "Wide World of Goats". Sorry things started out really rough for you, but you seem to be bouncing back very well, and goat math is already at work for you! You have also learned firsthand how wonderfully this community works to help in times of need. All of the folks here are great and care deeply for goats. Of course, anthropologists say the goat was likely the first domesticated animal, and I strongly believe God made them to live in community with people (hence their naturally homogenized milk, and the fact that many "lactose intolerant" people can consume goat milk with no problem). The bonding that takes place between goats and their owners is instantaneous and powerful. Congratulations on the rapid growth of your herd, and ENJOY!!! Personally, I think goats are just about the most awesome animals EVER!

Yes, the people here have been amazing! I'm very, very thankful for the information and help (someone even offered me vet info!) I had no idea that goats were the first domesticated animal- I thought dogs were! My girlfriend is lactose intolerant, so all in all this has been very beneficial.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

If you are going to be wanting to milk them, I would not get a buck. That's just my opinion. Buck's can be really cute and sweet...six months out of the year...
The other six months...well they pee all over themselves, fight the other bucks and scream because they want the girls! (At least mine do)
For your situation, I might wait until you want to breed them, then pay someone else to breed their buck to your does. You probably will end up saving money because you will not have to build a separate pen, feed it, take it to the vet, etc.
And- I think one acre is too close together if you are going to be milking and don't want a goaty taste. I might be wrong. Some people say their bucks don't make the milk taste off, but in my experience it does!
Oh, AND if you got a buck, you would have to get him a friend so he wouldn't be lonely in his separate pen.

Again, this is just my opinion, other people might disagree.

 

[JenniferDuBay]

If you are going to be wanting to milk them, I would not get a buck. That's just my opinion. Buck's can be really cute and sweet...six months out of the year...
The other six months...well they pee all over themselves, fight the other bucks and scream because they want the girls! (At least mine do)
For your situation, I might wait until you want to breed them, then pay someone else to breed their buck to your does. You probably will end up saving money because you will not have to build a separate pen, feed it, take it to the vet, etc.
And- I think one acre is too close together if you are going to be milking and don't want a goaty taste. I might be wrong. Some people say their bucks don't make the milk taste off, but in my experience it does!
Oh, AND if you got a buck, you would have to get him a friend so he wouldn't be lonely in his separate pen.

Again, this is just my opinion, other people might disagree.

That would be ideal. I will be building another pen, however, in case I need to separate for kidding or something. My vet that gave me Myrtle is only about 15 minutes from me, and was in the process of changing his intact buck, so maybe next year I can get that buck to cover her. (He's adorable- blue eyed, tricolor) How does that work? Do you bring the buck back to your house and have them for a few days? How do you know if she's in heat?

 

[JenniferDuBay]

You will have to talk to your vet about who's bringing who to whose house.

Here is Fiasco Farm's page on heat and breeding:

https://fiascofarm.com/goats/breeding.htm

thanks!

 

[Green Acres Farm]

Although I do disagree with Fiasco Farms about the age you should breed. A year or year and a half is a better breeding age IMO.