WOW. They make you work for it.

[Xerocles]

Oops. I thought I was in my hay rack thread. Didnt realize this was still in intro. My bad!

 

[Xerocles]

Hello & welcome from VA.

As mentioned, we've just had an "upgrade" and the system is a little mangled for many of us right now. So, muddle along with us.

Others have addressed your rabbit questions, so let's get to goats. Fencing is expensive. Goats can be kept in electric but, not well. I would suggest a few cattle panels which can be moved as needed to other areas. You can add more or use them until you can get more fencing and area will be clearer to put it up. Goats need a shelter. They are awesome brush clearers!

As to milking -- Nigerians are smaller and I doubt your hands are. You may want to consider another breed or a milking machine. Why are you thinking NDs? Probably quantity of milk? I have full sized dairy goats, much easier to milk.

We often reply with more info than asked -- Attempting to save another from our own mistakes.

Yes. I have to do some serious research about fencing and budget before I play with the idea of goats anymore. Well, plenty of time.
But, your supposition about Nigerian Dwarfs was correct. Milk quality AND quantity. Its just me, and I HATE being wasteful. I can't even keep up with the eggs from 6 chickens. As to teat size and hand milking...you forgot to mention onset of arthritis (I am older). So I thought I would find this petite 20 something milkmaid.....wait,wait, that was last nights dream. I thought milking machine for sure.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

So I thought I would find this petite 20 something milkmaid.....wait,wait, that was last nights dream. I thought milking machine for sure.

That made me spit out my ice tea, lol!

 

[Mini Horses]

I'm with you FEM. Surely he is out of touch ---20 yr olds DON'T even want to look at goats.

When you get ready for goats...we will be ready to help you. FEM & I both have more than "our share" of goats. (THAT'S an understatement!) And we both milk, so when the time comes we can give you recipes to use that milk! I do soaps, cheese, yogurt, ice cream....feed some to chickens, cats, dogs, hogs. Oh, yeah, I drink it too. Eggs, we will teach you to cook them up in many ways. We all go thru the too much and too little times with seasonal changes.

Those thumbs of yours can learn to grow veggies. Ok, some die. Then some live and provide good food. We understand the challenges you face & how to adapt. Many of us are your age or more. I'm older than you by several years and still homesteading. One day, I'm even going to quit work and stay home full time.

I'll butcher a chicken but rabbits -- cute factor does it for me. But FEM, Baymule and others do the pigs & goats. I'll gut it & cut it but haven't done the deed on that size yet. See -- not much shocks us around here. It's a robust group.

 

[AmberLops]

I'm with you FEM. Surely he is out of touch ---20 yr olds DON'T even want to look at goats.

Hey! I'm 20 and i love goats!
I planned on getting a few boers next year

 

[Xerocles]

Hey! I'm 20 and i love goats!
I planned on getting a few boers next year

One of the first things i saw when I woke this morning. 20. AND she likes goats. AND she already has rabbits. AND she is Southern. As long as she says "ya'll" and eats grits.....this is better'n my dream. You people are great! I'm still laughing.
Amberlops, I think maybe minihorses was ALSO referring to OLD GOATS like me!
Hope everyone has a great day. Any day that begins with a laugh can't be bad.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Ya'll are killing me! @Xerocles - you're gonna fit in real well around here, lol!

 

[Xerocles]

so when the time comes we can give you recipes to use that milk! I do soaps, cheese, yogurt, ice cream.... Eggs, we will teach you to cook them up
Many of us are your age or more. I'm older than you by several years and still homesteading. One day, I'm even going to quit work and stay home full time.
It's a robust group.

@minihorses. Yeah, but you're a bionic superwoman. All that and still working outside the home? I'm a mere mortal who has spent the past 45 years in a soft cushy job with my most physical effort being RUNNING my mouth and JUMPING to conclusions. About the only thing I have raised are rates. Last week I made cornbread without a mix, and I was so proud you'd have thought I had prepared an epicurian delight! Soap, cheese, more than boiled, fried or scrambled for eggs? PLEASE! All that is more of a dream than the 20 something milkmaid.

 

[Mini Horses]

Not any of the "superwoman" stuff....it's just life, what I do. You will see many here who juggle time and love it. We share a joy for the many phases of self-sufficient living -- in a healthy & frugal way.

CONGRATS on the cornbread!!!!! Every little accomplishment leads to trying more. Hey, we'll have you canning those veggies before you know it!

 

[farmerjan]

I have only had an occasional pet rabbit in the past...... but won't they chew on, eat, shred, and tear up the cardboard liners???? I want to have Rex rabbits for the fur to make things, but don't have the heart to kill my own. Being single and not able to physically get around as well as I used to, having no other help with butchering, and having a limited amount of time, it is most cost effective to have my butchering done at a plant where I can take the animal in and get it back ready to go in the freezer. I've done it in the past, deer, chickens, turkeys, helped with hog butchering day....It is alot easier to have some help to do it and just less of a "chore" if someone is there to just share the doing. There is no one around that I know to kill the rabbits, so they remain just a wish..... seems silly, but there it is.