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Goat question

11K views 33 replies 14 participants last post by  Erin_And_Jasper 
#1 ·
I'm thinking about getting a goat to save the environment :lol: *hidden meaning...no grass to mow*
I have been thinking of either a Nubian or a small Nigerian. My question is, since those are both dairy breeds do you have to milk them? If so how often, is it like a dairy cow that needs milked day and night?
 
#2 ·
If they don't have a baby, you don't have to milk them. If they have a baby or two the babies will look after it for you! :wink:

Beware -- goats are very difficult to contain and if you don't contain them they will get into and onto everything! Vehicles, buildings, fences, trees. They are extremely agile. We got some once to clean out some bush and when they ran out of leaves from ground level, they climbed the trees. They would jump onto our 4x4 pickup and try to get into the house. An electric fence will NOT contain them if they want to see what's on the other side. And they always want to see something else. :lol:

But they are awfully lovable and will be like a pet dog if you want them to be. (except a very stubborn dog)
 
#3 ·
NorthernMama is right, if they can't jump it( Ike cleared a 4ft fence with no problem) they will climb it. After chasing Ike all over the neighborhood I decided he had to go back to my aunt's house where he came from lol too much work for this old lady to round him up every time he jumped the fence and the fear of a neighborhood dog getting him wasn't worth it.
 
#5 ·
Exactly, especially since most goats are brought up with Pyrenees and other livestock guardian breeds. They don't realize that not all dogs are goat friendly some may be terrified and take off running ( like our corgi) and others see them as what they are "prey animals"
 
#9 ·
I have goats, and my dogs attack them but about 4 hours of being together the stop.

Milk goats NEED to be milked if theyre have been or are pregnant. Not dail if its past but just to help them get it out. Ive seen does with terrible udders that drag to the ground cuz of negligent people.

Anyways, get a wether. They are casterated male goats who DO NOT SMELL ! ee! i have 2 and theyre great.
 
#10 ·
LOL, thanks MIEventer and NM!

Vida, I agree that you consider a wether. That's your best bet. Also, your dwarf or pygmy breeds are easier to contain than the larger ones. Ours is a pygmy cross and we actually don't bother containing him anymore. (But not because he was hard to contain.) He just wanders loose on our property and hangs out with the dog and on the deck mostly. I just have to make sure I sweep the doodle berries off when people come over. :wink:
 
#11 ·
I have 2 boers and a Nubian, 2 wethers and a buck, theyre great for pasture/woods management. Lol i know ive already posted but i have to share their last pics..

My Boer wether, Pow is about 90 pounds+.



This was teken about a month ago.

My Bucky, Riot is supposed to get over 250 pounds, but i can still carry him around like a baby...



Aint he the cutest!? His ear tag came out thats why theres a hole in his ear.
 
#12 ·
You don't have to if you don't want to. Just don't breed her. If you do want to though you only have to milk once a day. If you aren't set on a dairy goat why don't you go with a boer? That is what I would do anyhow..
 
#20 ·
Interesting, I never thought of trying to grab a billy by his beard. I'll try to remember that.

Sorry, but I have to stick with billy and nanny because here if you say buck or doe you are talking about deer and deer only! Major hunting territory here! I'd totally confuse the neighbours otherwise.
 
#22 ·
I had thought of getting a sheep but I wasn't sure if the sheering was something I would be interested in doing. Only one sheeps wool would be hard to sell and I would have no use for it.
I also wonder if the poop looks the same. I like the little "doodle berries" rather than a manure pile. :lol:
I think I'll go with a polled type. My dad always kept polled cattle and they were much easier to handle. I didn't know goats could be polled
I'm also thinking I will wait till spring so I have a long period of good weather and plenty of grass at first.
This isn't my fence but this is the type
 
#23 ·
I don't know how close you're neighbors are, but I found out the hard way that Nubians are the most vocal of the goat breeds, and was not informed of that by the breeder. I got him to actually be a companion to my horse, and even my horse got sick of hearing him lol. If you have a lot of land though, it won't be an issue. My goat was very friendly, and loved people, but I think he would have been a bit less noisy, and bit happier if he had actually had another goat buddy instead of just the horse. They do get into everything though, so you have to be careful, and make sure that there isn't anything that they can get into and eat that they shouldn't. I think my guy was much happier when I gave him to a home that had a huge pasture full of goats, because they bred goats for FFA. They are fun animals though, and you can take them on walks, though some people give you funny looks when they see you walking a goat lol.
 
#25 ·
Oh dear, thats pretty funny:lol: We are some distance from the closest neighbor, but my plan was to have it inside the yard around the house. Maybe I need to rethink this if its going to get into my garden and flower beds hmmmmm :?
 
#33 · (Edited)
I'm thinking about getting a goat to save the environment :lol: *hidden meaning...no grass to mow*
I have been thinking of either a Nubian or a small Nigerian. My question is, since those are both dairy breeds do you have to milk them? If so how often, is it like a dairy cow that needs milked day and night?
Goats are horrible grazers, just so you know; they prefer browsing...trees, and other foliage are more 'their thing'...they do eat grass and hay of course, but one simply won't keep your lawn mowed...you're horses would do a better job of it! LoL!

At any rate, to your other questions, unless you breed her, you will not have to milk her. And if you do breed her, you can let her raise her kids, and let her decide when to wean, and thus dry up.

If you did decide to milk, you could do once or twice a day...the disadvantage to once a day is that you wouldn't get as much, but you also wouldn't be tied to such a schedule. But again, you don't have to milk her.

As far as dogs are concerned, yes, alot of goats will try to defend themselves, but there are more dogs who won't back down, so keeping the goat properly penned is really a must, for her own protection. And no goat stands a chance against more than one dog, which can be prevalent in towns or small farm communities, where people just let their dogs roam; and the dogs wind up forming packs.
 
#34 ·
i had a nubian wether and a nubian alpine doe. they best live stock ever. well besides for horses. they will graze if need be. go with a wether. they are lovable and dont smell. tucker was the best. (RIP Tucker and Layla)
 
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