Planning on buying kids.. HELP!!

[GreenGoddess]

Ok... I've been planning on getting two nigerian dwarf doelings... I will have them in a drylot setting (with supervised grazing) since we have loose dogs in the neighborhood... It seems, the more I read, the more confused I get as far as what I will need for them... I still have a few months before I actually get them so I am trying to get my ducks in a row now....

I have a pen/shelter for them already so, that is not an issue... The shelter is a shed that is partitioned down the middle and the run is a dog pen.. PLENTY of room for two little girls... (I will also be building a new mega coop but still in the plans for now).. I have my chickens in there now but they will be moved to another pen I have and will be cleaning it out...

Here is what I need to know..

Please give me a list of things that I will need... Things you absolutely could not go without, things that are absolute necessity and things you wish you never used/bought...

I think the most confusing thing to me is that there are so many brands out there and some are similar but I don't know the difference or which would be better...

I would also like to raise the goats in the same fashion I have my flock... No fancy smancy stuff... Here's what I have so far for necessities.. Please feel free to correct me or give me further details on them if you can...

Bottles/nipples (most that I see can be put on soda bottles)

Colostrum and milk.. Would love to go natural but plan on getting CAE free and would like to keep it that way so will probably go with powdered.. But, the sticky says cows milk is better? See where the confusion is?

Hay feeder (either bought or made)

Hoof trimmer and plane (still haven't found a source for these.. still looking... Which are the best for nigerian dwarfs?)

Pitch Fork

Collars or harnesses/leads

Trace Mineral Salt (Which one?!?!)

Goat Wormer (again, Which one?!?!)

Soft bristle brush

Something to put feed and water in (Any suggestions?)

Ok... I think that's the basics.... Would anyone like to elaborate?

Goddess :bun

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Here is what I need to know..
Please give me a list of things that I will need... Things you absolutely could not go without, things that are absolute necessity and things you wish you never used/bought...
1. Feed
2. water and feeding buckets
3. Hay for eating and hay for their stalls
4. Bag or rack for feeding hay ( make sure its safe and your goats can't get their heads stuck...)
5. Depending on where you live You might want a fan/heating system to help heat/cool.
6. Hoof trimmers ... and a brush. Also a milking stand s nice when trimming hoofs ... I got mine here : http://dansberg.com/index.html (it needs to be right for nigis because they are so small)
7. A LARGE dog crate to haul them to vets/breeder... ETC. Very helpful for me !!
8. Collars and leashes ... Great help to me !!
Think thats it ...
Are you going to milk them ???? Just curious ... Then you will have to add more stuff to the list !!!
I think the most confusing thing to me is that there are so many brands out there and some are similar but I don't know the difference or which would be better...
This is what I use: http://www.tractorsupply.com/purina-reg-goat-chow-reg-goat-feed-50-lb--2801012
I would also like to raise the goats in the same fashion I have my flock... No fancy smancy stuff... Here's what I have so far for necessities.. Please feel free to correct me or give me further details on them if you can...

Bottles/nipples (most that I see can be put on soda bottles)

Colostrum and milk.. Would love to go natural but plan on getting CAE free and would like to keep it that way so will probably go with powdered.. But, the sticky says cows milk is better? See where the confusion is? Can't help you there...

Hay feeder (either bought or made)

Hoof trimmer and plane (still haven't found a source for these.. still looking... Which are the best for nigerian dwarfs?)
They have some nice ones at tractor supply that my breeder uses.
Pitch Fork

Collars or harnesses/leads .. THOSE ARE GREAT !!!

Trace Mineral Salt (Which one?!?!) I do not fee extra minerals or salt ... It is in the feed

Goat Wormer (again, Which one?!?!) Talk to your breeder or Vet ... She should inform you.

Soft bristle brush Good !!!

Something to put feed and water in (Any suggestions?) At tractor supply they have nice over the fence feeders that work GREAT in my barn ...
There are other options but, Remember : ( what ever works for you) and Mine have measurements on the containers to help keep track and measure what you
feed.

Ok... I think that's the basics.... Would anyone like to elaborate?
I think you look like you have a good plan. I would talk with your breeder/vet ... They can help you understand all about wormers/shots ...
and I like to keep a little journal to track eating/heat/milking/etc. IT is GREAT for telling when they get sick or showing you the increase in this or that ...

 

[GreenGoddess]

Thank you for the insight... As for milking, yes, I will need to find out where I will be breeding them since I won't have a buck but I still have time for all of that... My biggest thing is making sure they have the most crucial stuff since I am new to goats and will be bottle feeding...

Goddess :bun

 

[ksalvagno]

Don't have time right now for the list but minerals are an absolute must. There is not enough in the feed. Manna Pro Goat Minerals at TSC are fine for goats. It should always be put out free choice.

Also, if you aren't going to let your kids nurse on mom, I would either milk mom out and heat treat the goat milk or give whole cow milk. There have been many problems with using the powder.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Don't have time right now for the list but minerals are an absolute must. There is not enough in the feed. Manna Pro Goat Minerals at TSC are fine for goats. It should always be put out free choice.

Also, if you aren't going to let your kids nurse on mom, I would either milk mom out and heat treat the goat milk or give whole cow milk. There have been many problems with using the powder.

Most likely I will not be anywhere near the mom.. It's been hard enough finding a reputable breeder anywhere in a 50 mile or so radius of me... I want the doelings to come from a CAEV free herd and I want to bottle feed them... I have a friend that has goats and almost always has milk available but I'm not sure they've ever been tested so I wouldn't chance it.. Unfortunately, he does not breed ND's... Whole milk would probably be the best choice for my situation...

As for the minerals, At least now I have a *brand*! I kept reading "trace mineral (red)"... Well, there are several mineral blocks and such that are red but they all have different qualities.... Thank you!

Goddess :bun

 

[autumnprairie]

I will answer what I can in bold so it will be easier to read. I am new too I have had my goats for 3-4 months, I will tell you what I had at first and what I have switched to and why.

Hay feeder (either bought or made)I have one that screws to the wall and I hate it it ends up on the floor and it is wasted. I am making my next one. should be done this week. I will post a picture when it is done but it should hold a half of a bale and will be covered and off the ground.

Hoof trimmer and plane (still haven't found a source for these.. still looking... Which are the best for nigerian dwarfs?)I bought mine at TSC but this place has a nice set I like. http://www.hoeggerfarmyard.com/xcart/Hoof-Kit-w-Hoof-and-Heel.html

Collars or harnesses/leads I use dog collars

Something to put feed and water in (Any suggestions?)I made my feeder it is off the ground works well,pictured in my journal. http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14381&p=8
I was using a self waterer dog bowl for their water, but Molly also pictured in journal; punchered the hose. Some say to give warm water in winter but mine won't drink warm water when it is cold?

I hope I was a little helpful. They will make you crazy before it is all said and done , just anyone of us, will tell ya.


Ok... I think that's the basics.... Would anyone like to elaborate?

 

[esbee]

I am new at dairy goats, too, but here are some things I look at regularly:
Goat supplies -
Jeffers Livestock
Hoeggers (goats only)
Caprine Supply (goats)

Helpful website:
FiasCo Farm
The goat people here at BYH and there are some other goat forums that are very helpful.

Best mineral I recommend:
Bluebonnet TechMaster - according to more experienced folks, 'red' minerals is not the best for goats. TechMaster is not red.

Wormer:
I use Valbazen right now. But it may depend on the worms in your area.
If you are getting young kids, you might need something for cocci.

Yep, you are going to get a lot of stuff for your goats. But think outside the box and try to repurpose supplies from other kinds of livestock (like dog collars for goat collars, etc.)

Good luck!

 

[GreenGoddess]

I have one that screws to the wall and I hate it it ends up on the floor and it is wasted. I am making my next one. should be done this week. I will post a picture when it is done but it should hold a half of a bale and will be covered and off the ground.

I will definitely look forward to seeing your design... I have a ton of scrap wood and scrap fencing from when I built the chicken coops and pens....

I bought mine at TSC but this place has a nice set I like. http://www.hoeggerfarmyard.com/xcart/Hoof-Kit-w-Hoof-and-Heel.html

Wow... I really like that set... I tried looking at AgriSupply and TSC websites because I have both stores within 25 miles of me and they didn't really have anything but those huge clippers for horses.. I didn't know about Heoggerfarmyard so I will definitely have to check out their website and see what they have to offer as well...

I use dog collars

That's what I was figuring on getting...

I made my feeder it is off the ground works well,pictured in my journal. http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=14381&p=8
I was using a self waterer dog bowl for their water, but Molly also pictured in journal; punchered the hose. Some say to give warm water in winter but mine won't drink warm water when it is cold?

I was thinking of just using a few big plastic coffee cans or butter tubs and screwing them to the walls like I did for my chickens (before I decided to just throw the feed on the ground for them lol) but I know goats will eat just about anything they can get their mouths on.. Would this be a bad idea or am I just over thinking it like I tend to do with a lot of things?

I hope I was a little helpful. They will make you crazy before it is all said and done , just anyone of us, will tell ya.

You were definitely helpful.. I know this cannot be as complicated as I think it is.. Chickens aren't that complicated either and I definitely didn't take this approach on them.. We decided to get a few chickens, we picked out 5 chicks, brought them home and put them in a temporary "coop" for about 2 weeks while I built their permanent coop.. After we got them home, we went out and got feed and a waterer for them.... The only difference with the goats is that I already have the housing and pen for them...

Looking at the information on BYC about raising chickens, if I would have seen how "complicated" some make it sound, I would have been going nuts trying to "figure it all out".... I REALLY need to find a happy medium!

Goddess :bun

 

[GreenGoddess]

I am new at dairy goats, too, but here are some things I look at regularly:
Goat supplies -
Jeffers Livestock
Hoeggers (goats only)
Caprine Supply (goats)


Helpful website:
FiasCo Farm
The goat people here at BYH and there are some other goat forums that are very helpful.

Will definitely bookmark those sites and take a look at them!! Thanks!

Best mineral I recommend:
Bluebonnet TechMaster - according to more experienced folks, 'red' minerals is not the best for goats. TechMaster is not red.

That's the first I heard of *not* using the "red" mineral... Would you (or someone else) be able to explain why?

Wormer:
I use Valbazen right now. But it may depend on the worms in your area.
If you are getting young kids, you might need something for cocci.

I'm not sure what worms, if any are on my property.. I've had chickens for almost 3 years and never lost a chick (or adult) to cocci and didn't even know about medicated feed when I first got them.. I've never seen any type of worms in my droppings and I dosed them with Ivermectin when I found mites on them and never saw any dead worms afterwards... It's *supposed* to work for internal and external parasites so I would have thought if they had them, I would have seen them.... My chickens were also awfully thin but once the mites were gone, they put weight back on and now look great! So,


Yep, you are going to get a lot of stuff for your goats. But think outside the box and try to repurpose supplies from other kinds of livestock (like dog collars for goat collars, etc.)

I am definitely someone that "recycles" any materials so that will not be an issue! LOL

Good luck!

Goddess :bun

 

[KJ4SGU]

you and that mega coop are going to be the death of me greengoddess