Tammy did you ever get your goat? Paul and I went to look at some locally. While I was talking to the man he casually mentioned that his goats were just getting over CL. I didn't know what it was so when I came home I looked it up. Egads! It causes pus filled lessions and is highly contagious to both goats and humans! It stays in the soil too.
If you get one make sure it's free of this CL thing! I know I won't be buying any from that man!!
Anyone know a goat herder in my state with a clean herd? I'd like 2 bred does if you do. I like the darker colors in goats too. Wouldn't mind if the does were a mix of meat and dairy parents.
MollyD
Toying with the idea of getting goats... any advice?
Wow! No, I'm starting to think I should wait 'til I have more time.
I'm glad you mentioned the CL. I'll do a lot of research before I
get them, for sure.
Tam
What I'm trying to do is find a vet in my area who is familiar with local farms and can recommend someone who's herd is clean. We have a local auction but now I'm afraid to buy a goat from there. I wouldn't know one was ill if it wasn't actively showing the thing.
MollyD
that's a good idea Molly.
Tammy here is a good site:
http://bedford.extension.psu.edu/agriculture/goat/Goat%20Lessons.htm
MollyD
Something you might be concerned about with angora's,
is if you don't shave them, they tend to really knot up or
get lice. They do make a lice rinse for goats, but I haven't
used it before. They also get lots of grass and leaves
tangled in their coats, and it's hard to get out.
hi
i don't know if you've had all you can take with goat info.
just a few things i know from having a couple of dairy does for a few years.
-welded wire fencing 5' high has kept my girls in just fine
-they eat grass but really like leaves brush and bushes as goats are browsers more closely related to deer than sheep (which are grazers).
-they don't really mind being in a smallish area, you can move the area each year and get all that nice goat poo on each area of the field, have some resting emply and cultivate others. its a nice way to go.
-sheep are more grass eaters have you considered them?
-now is the time when a person can pick up newborn kids and bottle raise them, people who have dairy goats want that milk for themselves.
-if you get an adult goat, you will have a much better idea of the temperment, goats can be mild or nuts. i have one of each. the nuts one i got as a gentle baby but with babies you cant be sure. with say a cull from a dairy, they can tell you more about what you are getting.
-goats are half adorable pet half still very wild, keep this in mind
-there is nothing so delicious as a chilled glass of fresh milk
-and finally don't forget there is nothing, and i mean nothing as cute as a baby goat.
i encourage you to get goats, they are wonderful and with so many breeds there is a type just perfect for you. i have a wonderful gentle mild french alpine named millie, and a crazy vocal nut job boer nubian cross named wanda. good luck.
bigbuffy,
Thank you for the info! Can't be too much info when a creature's well being is going to be in your hands.
No sheep! LOL Years ago when I was young I helped a couple I knew worm and shear their sheep. THAT cured me for life from ever wanting sheep!!!
We've got tons (10 acres worth) of brambles (raspberry, multiflora rose and others) so a goat would have their fill of them and welcome! Now I'm not looking for pets (okay they'd be petted, scratched etc) but for breeders. Those kids are going to be dinners over the next few years. The original does would stay with us. I guess they could be considered working pets!
Originally I thought I would find two bred does but after doing a lot of reading I came to the conclusion I should focus on two doe kids. Spending rearing them, learning about them before breeding them. I'd have the better part of the year since it would probably be December before the question of breeding them would arise.
In addition to having trouble finding two clean does, I'm also having trouble finding a local vet. The closest one is a good distance away. Seems over the years as the old timers retired they've been replaced by small animal vets who don't want to deal with farm animals! The other thing is to find a clean buck to service the does each year.
I'm really drawn to Nubians and was surprised to learn that Paul too prefered brown goats over white!
Lots to consider!
MollyD
here our new one
elle
Aw what a cutie! Boy or girl?
MollyD
girl
here some more
elle
gril here too
are you going to keep her or sell her down the line? How many do you have besides her? What breed(s) ?
MollyD
here the boy
elle
mom and dad
i do not know what they are will ask human when he get in
we keep the gril and sell the boy
Good thing you're so far away or I'd swipe that little beauty! LOL She is a doll!
MollyD
yes they are cute when they are small
elle
Molly, if you want meat Goats that pasture well, please consider the Keiko... i don't have those links anymore... i spent quite a bit of time researching goats a few years back, before we even got chickens... and when we get meat goats that is what we want. in addition to their beauty and less feet problems, they kid well on their own and you get more lean meat as they don't have fatty deposits around their liver like some meat goats.
google and learn more about them.
i too thought it was worth the extra work and expense to raise some babies first. ours are Nubians, which are for milk. we may also use them for packing/hiking... they are quite big for their age, we kept them on bottle/grazing for three months before introducing creep feed.
tf it's real hard to find anything other than Boers and Nubians here. We just don't care for the look of the Boers! Nubians can be used for both meat and milk though it's true they won't produce as much meat as a Boer or a Keiko but since this isn't a commercial operation that isn't a problem. We just want to raise a few kids each year for our own use.
We both like those Nubian faces ^_^
MollyD
oh, so do I! our UPS loved it when he would make a delivery and the goats were free ranging as kids.... they would hop across the road, he would forget and think for a second they were deer!
somewhere i have pics of when we first got them. ...
Love to see those pictures!
MollyD
I have to agree with bigbuffy- I haven't seen too much
any cuter than a baby goat. They are hilarious.
That little black one with the spot on it's head is so cute!
MollyD
i love to wach them
they ran and jump all over the place
it too wet to be out righ now
i will send more picture
plese went you get your send picture
elle