Teach me sbout goats!

[SheepyClo]

Hiya! I'm new to goats and the farming/ranching experience! I need to know A TON more about goats before I get them. I'm going to write these things down in my handy dandy "farm book" to remember. Basically I need to know everything about goats. Any help? Thank you! :bun

 

[elevan]

What kind of goats are you getting? That'll make a small difference in some things.

What are you getting them for? Pets, Meat, Milk?

This post has links to the different goat breed websites: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=8177

Goat First Aid List: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7446

 

[SheepyClo]

I'm getting them to 1. Mow the lawn 2. Milk possibly 3. Kinda as pets
NOT FOR MEAT! I just couldn't do that.... I have NO idea what kind i'm getting. Any suggestions on a newbies goat?

 

[elevan]

Smaller breeds can be easier to handle. If you're looking for milk...nigerian dwarf.

Here's another link that may be helpful: http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2153

And they'll be more interested in the weeds, trees and bushes than the grass

 

[themrslove]

I know I am partial since it is the only breed I have owned...but Nigerian Dwarves are FANTASTIC animals! They don't take up a whole lot of space and are so colorful and sweet!
I would recommend them to anyone!

 

[cutechick2010]

I second what Elevan said, they will ignore the grass and eat any bushes, weeds, trees etc that you have. If you want lawn mowers, your best bet would be sheep.
If you want to milk, your best bet is going to be some kind of dairy goat, of course. If you want a pet, go to a breeder and either get kids that you can bottle raise, or get adults that have been bottle raised. They will be much more tame and friendly that way. I am partial to Nubians myself, but others have their own favorites too.
Keep in mind, if you are going to milk them, you will have to breed them. That means either finding someone near by that has a buck, or keeping one yourself. And during the breeding season, or rut, bucks SMELL VERY BAD. It's only for a couple of months out of the year, but if you have close neighbors you will have to keep that in mind.
I am going to end this and hit submit because I can feel the lecturer in me starting to rear it's ugly head, LOL. Hope this has been some help anyway!

 

[SheepyClo]

Alrighty then. All I need to knbow now is the best type of housing, and do you recomend a specific brand of food? Oh and.... does goats milk tate good??? Cause if it's no good I probably won't milk them, unless I can make some sort of profit from it.

 

[elevan]

Taste is of course subjective to the individual human.

Goats milk is sweet (imo)

Housing: depending on the type of goat...for miniatures you can use large dog houses...larger breeds can be run in sheds, small sheds...it just has to be dry, draft free and safe.

Feed: my recommendation is a goat specific feed

 

[SheepyClo]

Nice. I always wished cow's milk tasted sweeter..... Anyway.... Do you recommend a specific brand of feed? I'm just SO unsure.

 

[elevan]

I don't recommend a specific brand of feed - just a goat specific one.

Brands available will vary depending on what area of the country you are in.

You'll also need to find out what they are getting currently from where you get them and switch them over slowly (if you switch their feed).