Nigerian/fainting goats inquiry.....

[Grapescott]

Greetings- brand new to this goat thing...!

We made a connect with a farm selling Nigerian/fainting unregistered boys, seems cheap at 75 a piece. We will get two brothers.

Our use? Pets and brush control.we have the land to allow them to forage, PLENTY of brush! As a family of 3 we have all the time to be on the grounds with the goats. I've been doing homework about fencing, will have that, and housing, all set up if we decide to pull the trigger.....

My question- I know ZERO about goats....does this mix of breeds seem ok?

We've been to the farm- seems all the livestock is well taken care of, both mom and dad of the babies appear happy and healthy...born 12/20 or so ( I forgot what farm said)

As a complete novice, am I missing anything? The farm says wait as long as possible to band them, it helps with urinary health. Yes? How long do we wait.

 

[cindyg]

They'll be cute for sure. I have some of the same cross. Unlikely that they will be fainters though, that doesn't seem to carry through a cross. As for the banding, I have them done at about three months, you don't want them to get so big that the band doesn't fit.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Goats are great fun and are very useful for clearing brush. Good that you are learning before getting them.

The cross sounds fine for what you are wanting. They will be hardy and will take out thorny vines in no time.

Are these going to be bottle raised? If not, you will want to make sure they have been handled a lot and are friendly. Scared, untame goats are hard to care for.

We band our boys at about 8-10 weeks old. Any sooner does not really give them much time to develop as you mentioned and can predispose them for urinary issues. You also don't want to let it go because they can get too big for a bander and if let go REALLY long, they will start acting like bucks and smelling like bucks---the smell might fade but the bucky behaviors probably wouldn't go away entirely once they are learned.