How do I raise goats?
Question by Dulci: How do I raise goats?
I was thinking of raising goats. I already keep chickens, and was just wondering how much harder goats are to keep on a work level. Here are my questions:
-Do all goats have horizontal rectangle like eyes?
-How large does their living area need to be?
-Can I keep them in a forest?
-Do they escape fences much?
-what age goat would I need to buy?
-would they need to be registered?
-What number of goats should I start with?
-How much milk does one doe produce?
-Is it easy/difficult to make cheese?
If you can answer any of these answers please do. I don’t need all of the answers to them
Thanks so much!
What do you think? Answer below!
3 Responses to How do I raise goats?
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1.i don’t think so, but most do.
2.it really depends how many… but you want to give at least one goat, about… 12 by 13 cage. always make sure there is some stuff for the goats to climb on, and a little shelter!
3.along as there is fencing, and a shelter!
4.no, just make sure the fencing is high, and sturdy!
5.doesn’t matter!
6. if u mean having a vet, yes… especially if u keep then in a forest, they could eat plants that are bad for them and get really sick!!!
7.Start with about 4 or 5 i think.
8.don’t know! sorry!
9. don’t know! sorry!
Katy F
February 25, 2012 at 4:09 am
Congradulations. Keeping goats can be great fun!
1. All goats have the same type of eyes.
2. They need as big an area as you can provide for them. Each goat needs about 36 square feet of indoor shelter that is dry and draft free. They should have at least 150 square feet of excersice area. More is always better.
3. They would LOVE to be kept in a forest as goats are browsers like deer and not grazers like sheep. They prefer to eat brush and trees rather than grass.
4. Goats are experts at getting out of fences. They need to be at least 5 feet tall and tight. Some goats like to escape more than others.
5. You can buy kids that are still on milk but for your first goat you are better off buying a couple of older does that are already milking. I’d suggest ones between 3 and 5 years of age.
6. No, they don’t need to be registered but it’s easier to know what you are getting if you buy from a serious breeder who does register and show his animals.
6. You need at least 2 goats to start with
7. Depends on the goat. A poor milker may only give a few cups of milk a day for only 3 to 5 months. A fantastic milker may give 2 gallons a day for 10 months or more. The only way you’ll know what you’re getting is to buy from a breeder who keeps records.
8. Some varieties of cheese are extremely easy to make and some is very difficult. New England Cheese Making Supply has great supplies and recipes.
Everbely
February 25, 2012 at 4:43 am
1. Yes all goats have the same kind of eye, except color, the color can vary slightly from a copper brown to dark brown. Nigerian Dwarf and Fainting goats can have blue eyes which also varies from icy blue to dark blue.
2. As Stated above, as much as you can give them. But if they have a large barn, they will only sleep in one corner. I have 12 Nigerian Dwarf does in a 10×16′ Stall. They have plenty of room. Large goats need 2-3 times that amount.
3. Yes you can keep them in the woods. They do enjoy the wide variety of browse. Mine will graze or browse. Just be sure to check for toxic plants. This time of year your main concern would be wild cherry (choke cherry)
4. I keep my Nigerians in a 4′ Welded wire fence, which i don’t like. I prefer hog or combo panels. Now if you have does and bucks, i would def. keep bucks in something NO LOWER THAN 5′. I keep mine in 6′ just to be on the safe side. I keep my full size girls (nubian and lamanchas in 4 strands of electric. they stay in. it is only 3 1/2 feet high. but i have a very strong voltage, around 10,000. so they won’t go near it. When they are young they are a little more able to clear a fence. But most of mine stay in. I can a stray jumper that will occasionally get out. But you can’t be too careful.
5. It would totally depend on what you want. I agree with “everbely” kids can die from anything under the sun, from cocci to worms. adults are a little more hardy, this can also depend on the breed. Nubians “which i love to death” but are very delicate, and get sick very easily/often.
6. No, it depends on what you want to do, do you want to breed to improve milk production? or just have a couple of milking does.
7. At least 2. But they are addictive lol. It starts with 2. I am at my lowest number right now. i have 26 or so. I usually have up to 40 in the summer.
8. this varies widely by the breed, bloodline, and the way feed them. highest milker= saanen, alpine or togg. Nubians are near the bottom, but mind you they have the highest butterfat of the large breeds. which is desireable for cheese. I would say a full size doe should milk at least 4 pounds a day (half a gallon) mind you first freshners (first time having babies) will not give as much. they hit their peak 4th time. My nigerians give at least 1 1/2 quarts a day, most of mine do give 2 quarts. Some nigerians milk as little as a cup. which to me is pathetic.
9.don’t know about the cheese
IF you need any other help you can e-mail me at barehnh@aol.com
bryanabare
February 25, 2012 at 5:37 am