New to goats

[mama24]

I don't have them yet, but next month I am buying 2 female half Boer/half Nubian goats from a local farmer I buy stuff from at the market. He told me they were coming into season now and would be bred and pregnant when I get them next month. I am completely new to goats. I have had friends with goats in the past, so I know they are both easy and a pain in the butt. lol. I am just wondering if you have any advice for a newbie. I do not have housing for them yet. I haven't decided if I am going to make them a portable doghouse like shelter or just move them into the old tobacco barn when the weather's bad, or both. I am from PA, but we are in NC now, winters are much milder here. I did purchase and read a goat guide, but it's not the same as getting real time advice.

 

[Ms. Research]

from New Jersey

Congratulations on your new goats. And hopefully babies soon.

I don't have goats personally but they are in my future plans. This forum has lots of info on goats. Many informative "goat" people here willing to help a newbie.

My suggestion is to peruse the Goat threads for info regarding housing, feeding, births, etc.

But in time you will definitely hear lots of "hands on" experience from many experienced Goat Breeders.

 

[marlowmanor]

Where in NC are you from? I'm at the edge of Davidson county, not far from the Rowan county line.

 

[wooliewabbits]

My family has goats. We LOVE them!

 

[elevan]

Check out the FAQs list: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=150306#p150306

Read through the threads available on the forum...there is a lot of good information on here.

How to do a search for info on the forum: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=131

And ask a lot of questions.

 

[mama24]

Thanks! I'm in Guilford Co.

I will probably end up talking with the guy I'm buying the goats from quite a bit. I'm sure he'd be happy to help me get set up. He's very nice. We both have chickens, too, though he mostly raises CornishX to sell at the market, and I have mostly egg and dual purpose.

 

[Queen Mum]

From a former newbie to a newbie.

Goats are like zucchini. They multiply and you can't get rid of them. But you will learn there are so many things you can do with them. They grow on you. Next thing you know you will have one in your living room peeing on the floor and drinking out of a bottle and you will swear that was never going to happen.

They are sweet, gentle, funny, and loveable, as well and annoying and frustrating.

Start out understanding that you have to have 5 foot high fences - that extend at least one foot in to the ground. (just kidding about that part) But at least they have to touch the ground firmly.

Also, be prepared to trim hooves, kiss boo boos and wash bottoms.

Decide NOW if you want to disbud. And once you do, be consistent about it. It hurts the babies but they get over it like circumcision. (I disbud my girls, don't disbud my boys because I sell pack goats and milk the does.)

Get or build a milking stand. (Fias Co website has great plans for a very sturdy, milk stand.) Make it a comfortable height.

Making cheese is involved, but gratifying. Gourmet sleuth and cheesemaking.com are great places to start.
Buy milk bottles (stanpac or localamish farms) or get 1/2 gallon or quart size mason jars. You won't regret it. Six 1/2 gallons or 8 quarts should be enough to start. Get a good funnel and either cloth or synthetic filters.

Get a good grooming brush, a good sturdy feed pail, a good milk pail with a lid and a HUGE dose of patience.

Oh, and if you have plants you don't want them to eat, be prepared to make a lot of poo tea. Soak fresh goat poo over night, strain out poo into a sprayer bottle. Spray plants weekly or after it rains with a Heavy dose of poo tea. Keeps the goats from eating your roses. Encase smaller trees up at least 7 feet high on the tree in small mesh hardware cloth or they will girdle the trees.

Cattle panels make a great truck carrier.

Dried banana peels and orange peels are a great goat snack or treat.

Good luck,

Sara
Queen Mum

 

[MrsDieselEngineer]

All good sound advice!

Queen Mum, do you have a picture or plans how to make a truck carrier? I need something easily put in and out of the truck

 

[Queen Mum]

I have two versions of it: a tall one with a top with a top and a short version. One is made with hog panels (3 feet high) and the other with Cattle Panel (5 feet high).

Basically, I cut two pieces to fit on each side and cut out a section to fit over the wheel wells. Then there is a section that fits each end. At the front end I use snap hooks at the corners to hold the sides and front together. I use ratcheting tie downs on the sides to keep it snug in the bed of the truck.

At the tailgate end, I make a gate with the last piece and use snap hooks to hook it in place. You can make extra gates to divide the cage so you can separate goats. Or you can just move the gate in and out. I have one gate that has the bottom corners cut out so I can set it over the center wheel wells if I want to divide the bed in half. You need to use at least three rings on one side of the gate end if you want to make a swing gate.

For the taller version, use zip ties to hold the top on. Then cut them off when you take the top off.

Here are pictures.

This is the Tall version with tarp over it. The tie downs are at the upper part of the cage (red tie downs). It holds quite a bit of weight on the top. My goats were walking on it and head butting each other, including leaping up and down to fight for territory. I had to secure the tarp and put a piece of wood at the front end to keep the tarp from flapping. We traveled from Washington state to Texas without incident.

This is the short version with some details.

Snap rings for the gate.

I used wire tie downs but you can use snap rings, zip ties or rings with a nut on them.

Cut outs to fit over the wheel well and tie downs to keep the frame snug in the bed of the truck.

The gate with a snap ring and a ring with a nut.

Moveable gate in the bed of the truck. It isn't standing straight because I haven't closed it.

There you go.

Sara
Queen Mum

 

[DKRabbitry]

I know they are both easy and a pain in the butt

Hmmm... I have yet to encounter the easy part
Seems like it is always one thing after another with the goaties... and now they won't come into heat! The little buggers! They really are one of the most rewarding creatures I have ever had the pleasure of owning, as well as the most mindboggling. Kind nice to just go out in the pasture and sit and watch their antics while you sweet ones come up for scratches in turn. I haven't had them for very long either, just got my first ones a little under a year ago, and it has already been quite the adventure. Can't wait till spring for my first official kidding season

One thing that really caught me off guard was their dietary needs. I have known people with goats and I swear they never had minerals out and they never fed them good hay or anything. Just let them browse and they were happy. Well, now I know better. I jumped right in both feet first with a dairy breed that I wanted to milk and it turnes out their diet needs a lot more consideration that I had originally thought. Luckily the breeder I got them from has been a HUGE help and is right there with me whenever I have a problem or question. Not to mention the folks on this forum are a great resource as well. Now my ladies all have freechoice minerals and get the nicest alfalfa hay I can find with the lactating does getting grained as well. It is a crazy ride, but I now have the prettiest goats in the universe... of course I may be slightly biased

And QueenMum... That truck thing is wicked cool! I might have to make a tiny version of that with a solid bottom to slide in and out of my jeep so the goats stop jumping in the front seat and peeing all over the carpet