What were we thinking?

[OneFineAcre]

I know that is the usual but at the same time I know of 2 small dairies averaging 20 goats or less that do not sell their kids right away. One dairy feeds kids milk from the does, no replacers the other dam raises. Because they are small dairies they can breed the does at different times and always have the milk available for cheese and kids.
It does make sense to sell them right away though.

I would have thought it would not be possible to have an actual dairy with 20 goats or less. You have my interest now. Can you share information about these operations?

 

[babsbag]

@Southern by choice WHAT was I thinking???? I have 5 due the first week of Jan. and possibly 6. I guess you can text me on those long cold nights in the barn too

 

[babsbag]

@OneFineAcre I hear that all the time about dairies and 20 animals, etc. I don't know if you saw the post I did in another thread but here is the link. I think the trick is to start small and design for growth.

I really should document all I am doing as I move forward.

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/new-milk-room-building-advice-welcome.30007/page-2

 

[jodief100]

I would have thought it would not be possible to have an actual dairy with 20 goats or less. You have my interest now. Can you share information about these operations?

I visited a micro dairy in northern Ohio. She had about 20 Sannans and LaManchas. She started with a class B dairy and creamery, making cheese and selling it at the farmers markets. Now she is a class A and sells milk and cheese to local stores, wineries and restaurants.

 

[OneFineAcre]

@OneFineAcre I hear that all the time about dairies and 20 animals, etc. I don't know if you saw the post I did in another thread but here is the link. I think the trick is to start small and design for growth.

I really should document all I am doing as I move forward.

http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/new-milk-room-building-advice-welcome.30007/page-2

@babsbag
I wish you good luck in your endeavor.
I look forward to hearing news of your progress.

 

[HoneyDreameMomma]

I was told that there is a bonding age with kids, they said around 10 days old. So I guess if you are going to pull after a few days with mom you might still get that bonding experience with the kids. No experience, just what I was told.

I haven't had extensive experience, but we had to bottle feed one of our doelings, Ami, for three days after she was born (she was premature). We wanted her to be dam raised, so we brought her out on daily 'field trips' to mama so they stayed bonded. It was sort of the best of both worlds. My husband and I both work full time, so bottle raising all our kids is more than we're up for. Three days was enough for us to not be exhausted, but not so long that mama goat lost interest.

Ami is definitely the friendliest of our kids - she's nearly full grown now, but still thinks that curling up in my lap is a great idea (I have the hoof-shaped bruises to prove it ), but many of the dam-raised kids watched the way she would cuddle all the humans and curl up in our laps whenever we'd come out, and they followed suit. We had a little buckling that was almost as friendly as Ami is. He became a lap baby even though he was dam-raised. We do have one or two of our goats that are harder to catch, but even being dam-raised, all the rest of them love to be petted and will often come when they're called. Might be because we have 5 people on our farm, plus several friends and family members who visit, that looove baby goats, and the kids get plenty of human interaction.

I agree with Southern, I think you just do what works best for you and your situation.