Shoulda/woulda/coulda?

[Ladobaze]

Hey there. My husband is currently serving in the US Army National Guard (Kentucky). When he gets home he would like to get a couple Nigerian Dwarf goats. He had larger goats growing up but never Nigerian dwarfs. I am a city girl who is just making my way into this backyard farm life. We have several chickens and I have absolutely fallen in love with them, and the idea of goats is exciting but also terrifying. I know nothing. I’m working on doing my research but honestly just feel overwhelmed with all the info out there.

As he will likely deploy here and there, I would really like to know all of the things you WISH you knew before you got goats or the things you think are most important for newbies to know.

Any and all info is welcome. Thanks!

 

[MiniGoatsRule]

Hey there!

First off, I'd like to know if you intend on pet goats, dairy goats, or both. If you plan on having meat goats, I'd recommend not doing Nigerian Dwarves because they are a dairy breed.

Honestly, I would recommend just having pet or pet/dairy goats, or just pet goats. I have a Nigerian Dwarf and a Pygmy goat. Great animals, they are just like pet dogs, and they are partially housetrained!

 

[Ladobaze]

Hey there!

First off, I'd like to know if you intend on pet goats, dairy goats, or both. If you plan on having meat goats, I'd recommend not doing Nigerian Dwarves because they are a dairy breed.

Honestly, I would recommend just having pet or pet/dairy goats, or just pet goats. I have a Nigerian Dwarf and a Pygmy goat. Great animals, they are just like pet dogs, and they are partially housetrained!

Pet/Milking.
Id like them for pets. My husband thinks milk would be fun but as he is on a high deployment schedule with his unit, im not really willing to do all that sort of work! The milking not to mention the pregnancy and kidding and such that goes with that. I have enough on my hands as it is with three little human kids!

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Vitamins and minerals are extremely important for them. Most areas have a deficiency in soil such as copper and selenium both are very important to for healthy goats selenium more so for expecting mothers and kids. They hate rain so they need a shelter large enough for hay and also make it large enough to seperate the kids from does over night and if you get Nigerians they breed all year so you'll need a seperate buck pen and a buddy for him. Also make sure the buck pen isn't on the same fence line as the does or the breed through the fence. The large breeds like nubian(I have a nubian toggenberg mix now but was just nubain) breed only during certian times so can be housed with a buck full time unless they are birthing then a few days seperate and back they can go. Also some plants a poisonous to them so i would look up the list and maje sure they don't have access however most won't eat enough to cause issues.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

How old are your kids? By the way thank you both for serving our country!
We have four kids 7yr old daughter, 4yr old son, a 2yr old son and a 5 month (almost six month old) daughter.

 

[Ladobaze]

How old are your kids? By the way thank you both for serving our country!
We have four kids 7yr old daughter, 4yr old son, a 2yr old son and a 5 month (almost six month old) daughter.

Thanks so much! When my husband is back he will be a police officer in our city. Scary times! But I’m thankful for such a selfless man willing to serve.
Our girls are 8, almost 7, and 5 right now.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

That's is scare my husband worked as a jailor for a long while and a fire fighter. But after our first born we end up moving and he decide to go with another career. Now he owns his own business hotahoting(transporting vechials, rvs ect.) We deffient be praying for his safety. I have a friend whose son is in law enforcement near washington dc with everything going on its unnerving for sure

 

[Ladobaze]

That's is scare my husband worked as a jailor for a long while and a fire fighter. But after our first born we end up moving and he decide to go with another career. Now he owns his own business hotahoting(transporting vechials, rvs ect.) We deffient be praying for his safety. I have a friend whose son is in law enforcement near washington dc with everything going on its unnerving for sure

How funny. We went the opposite way. My husband had his own successful business and at 36 decided he had to fulfill this pull he had to be in the military and serve his community. When we were talking about marriage (11 years ago) I had two hard no’s. I didn’t want to be a military wife. I didn’t feel I was strong enough for that sort of thing. And I didn’t want to be the wife of a police officer. My dad was a LEO and it doesn’t always make for the best family life. Here we are 11 years later and he’s doing both Haha

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Lol that'd funny yeah life is sure interesting lol he had talk about joining the Texas guard prior to all the craziness but hadnt unlisted yet. I am kinda of thankful for that and I know what you mean. I felt the same way. He had me join the fire department (before kids) as support lol i would get called out with them. Then I got pregnant and he decided i wasn't allowed to any more lol. One of the not happening on my list was not living in a Rv full time for any reason we now looking at it so until we can build lol. Things we say never would do seem to happen more often lol atleast around here lol.

 

[purplequeenvt]

Where are you in KY? I’m just outside of Elizabethtown.

I can’t advise you on goats as I am not a goat person. I will say that if you are unsure of things and your hubby won’t be around all the time, don’t start off with milking. Ease into things with a couple pets and go from there.