What age to get goats at?

[EverythingBunnies]

I don't know a whole lot about goats, not do I know anyone that has experience with them. I won't be getting any til after a few years, so I'll do lots of research before hand.

These will be my first goats, and I'm wondering what would be a good age to purchase them at. I'm looking at getting Tennessee Fainting goats and Nigerian Dwarfs. The fainting goats will really just be for entertainment and we'll milk the
Of course I really want to have babies, but I've heard they're better mannered when raised with their mothers? I guess they probably wouldn't sell them until they've weaned off their mother though.

I've also seen lots of people buy pregnant does. Would that be the best option is I want babies and eventually milk?

Or. since this is my first time would it be best to just get some 1 or 2 year old does? That way I would get some more experience with goats before having babies.

What would y'all recommend for a newbie?

 

[EverythingBunnies]

@JadeFarms

 

[JadeFarms]

@JadeFarms

My first goats were year olds. Babies have much more energy and are amazing escape artists. I believe you should get a year old because they’re much easier to handle and they’re still very young.

 

[secuono]

If you're new to livestock, best to get adults, 3+ years old, proven, in the spring.
They shouldn't have any trouble with worms, even if stressed, unless exceptional circumstances arise.
You can then work on befriending the does before adding the buck. Let them do what they do, separate and continue making friends.
By the following spring, with new kids arriving, you should be on good terms with their moms. Unless they happen to be a feral type of breed or you were unlucky and got a wild-child. But at 3, it should be obvious at the breeder's farm. Ask them to feed them or at least send videos. My sheep get very defensive around more than one person, since that only happens when it's time to shear! So, while most will come running for treats with strangers around, some will not believe it either way.
You could get pregnant does and work on making friends before birth. If they're first timers, things may not go well and that'll be a lot to figure out when you're starting out.

 

[Daxigait]

I would agree that an experienced slightly older animal like she said would be a good deal. babies are susceptible to a large number of illnesses and issues and there's a lot to learn and deal with so an animal that is already proven to be healthy and has some size of maturity behind it is a good idea. just be careful you don't buy somebody's problem. As to babies on their mama's unless you do a lot of handling with them bottle babies are friendlier and if given proper boundaries not a problem. if spoiled they can be a problem. on the other hand those raised on the dam you must handle them a lot and have a friendly dam or they may be standoffish.

by the way, I didn't vote in your poll because it really is dependent on the person and their circumstances/experience so I answered based on the information you gave us.

 

[Daxigait]

good luck by the way and let us know what you do. also never be afraid to ask questions I still go to my mentor and ask questions and people that buy from me ask me questions. there's so much that's just not written or available that experience will teach you. in fact I have a whole thread on this site for people to share things that they have learned or wish they had known. my friend and I kind of sadly comment we wonder how many goats will die before we learn what we need to know. just be very aware when you see a goat not eating or doing some symptom of off behavior or illness to act quickly because they can I quickly. and some of the basic conditions that can kill them quickly are not that hard to cure if you simply know about them like goat polio/lysteria, worms, coccidia, pneumonia, etc.. unfortunately sometimes there's no one to teach you.

 

[Missing_Peace_Farm]

I don't know a whole lot about goats, not do I know anyone that has experience with them. I won't be getting any til after a few years, so I'll do lots of research before hand.

These will be my first goats, and I'm wondering what would be a good age to purchase them at. I'm looking at getting Tennessee Fainting goats and Nigerian Dwarfs. The fainting goats will really just be for entertainment and we'll milk the
Of course I really want to have babies, but I've heard they're better mannered when raised with their mothers? I guess they probably wouldn't sell them until they've weaned off their mother though.

I've also seen lots of people buy pregnant does. Would that be the best option is I want babies and eventually milk?

Or. since this is my first time would it be best to just get some 1 or 2 year old does? That way I would get some more experience with goats before having babies.

What would y'all recommend for a newbie?

I had pet go

 

[Missing_Peace_Farm]

I had pet goats for the first 10 years of my life and loved them. my educator parents moved to a university town on sabbatical and sold them. it was 62 years before I replaced them. I bought 2 Nigerian Dwarf Bottle Babies. I recommend bottle babies if you want pets. they bond with YOU instead of the HERD. they are kind and gentle as opposed to herd animals. we raised them in the house because of the cold winter. they love the herd animals, but had rather be playing with people.

sure it takes time to raise baby goats, but that time is invested in babies that grow up to be gentle and loving.

I highly recommend that you raise bottle babies.

Howitt Cook
Missing Peace Farm