Cashmere? Angora? Questions!

CaliannG · #21 05/01/05, 12:42 AM

[QUOTE=Laura Jensen]For gosh sakes, MILK the Nigerians before you buy them! There are some good ones out there, but many have all the same disadvantages as milkers as I mentioned before regarding cashmeres. I had one who was beautiful, good production, nice udder, milkable teats, but she had a short lactation and was an absolute terror on the milkstand. I milked her for three seasons and she never got any better. When I mentioned miniatures, I meant miniatures, not Nigerians, although as I said, there are some really nice Nigerians out there. Definitely try before you buy though. And if the seller buys milk from the store, that should be a hint to you to shop elsewhere.

I promise, promise, PROMISE to milk first, get ALL milking records, ect., before buying. Please realize that these will likely end up pet goats. *smiles* (I *do* know how to milk...that lovely country upbringing, on both goats and cows)

This is my bitter half jumping the gun, as I mentioned. If you know a GOOD place to buy minatures somewhere within two hours of Phoenix, Arizona, I am all for it! Thank you for the link! However, nigerians are what I found close by when His Highness said that we are to have small milking goats for the...*gasp*...back yard in a HOUSING ASSOCIATION suburb. ***rolls her eyes***

*sighs* Please don't think less of me...I AM brought up from a homestead where even human waste in use was considered saving money. However, at this point, we live in Grand Central Surburbia...looking heartily towards Wooded Tennesee. My husband is ACCUSTOMED to wasting as much money as we would spend on two milking (adorable) goats on a SHIRT in Australia. (He was shipped there, think money conversion)

To give you a hint, I have a Jaguar, which my DH is now trying to sell. I am NOT getting down on Jaguars (which I had hoped to restore to its pre-ford beauty. I DO understand cars.) but, seriously, I wanted a truck. Can you imagine the pain of a country girl being force to live in suburbia with a friggin JAGUAR?

Yeah, yeah, I know, everyone wishes they could afford that, but my heart aches. My mother still lives on our old homestead. She's moved up in the world and is now wealthy, but I don't WANT weath.

I want a simple peice of land, with with alternative energy...and never having to worry that one cannot eat because one's job has been shipped overseas.

I was BROUGHT UP with country kind of thinking. I am a SQL (computer database programmer) now, and I HATE it. I broke horses and raised a garden and feeder calves as a teen. (plus chickens, rabbits and assorted other critters) I don't WANT corporate America with its politics and snubbery. I am happy with a co-op (socialist as it may be).

No, I don't think that other city-dwellers will follow me. Only those that REALLY have a dream, whether from experience or fantasy. I have had enough from cringing as people give me hints of how to keep clover out of my yard (clover is FOOD, darn it!) and making, believe it or not, souped up golf carts. (Yes, they ARE real...complete with their bronze mag-wheels.)

So now, can I keep Nigerian dwarves in the back yard? Or does anyone have an alternative...and a number for an alternative? Right now, I live in upper-suburbia. TRUST me, no amount of bleating will EVER drown out our neighbor's dog, or our other neighbor's karaoke parties.

And please trust me, I grew up with bottle babies in our feeder calves: and cows, horses, gardens, ect., in SouthEast Texas. I am not completely ignorant. Just trying to get home.

Peace,
Caliann

CaliannG · #22 05/01/05, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen H

Well, factor in the fact that sheep and goats routinely run around or over 100 lbs and aren't all that excited about the whole shearing idea - and things can get a bit interesting. Also, those videos that show the sheep just sitting on it's rump still as can be? Judging by my sheep, those well behaved still animals are drugged to the gills. Having said that, Hubby and I did manage to get our sheep sheared with just a twisted wrist and a bloody nose - last year (the first year we sheared) I had a full-blown concussion we went to the emergency room for (I was seeing double and throwing up. Hubby made an executive decision). It's not the hooves you have to watch out for, it's the hard heads whether they have horns or not.

--** *grinz* My mother once had an article in Coutryside about our feeder calf that caused me 17 stitches. Seems that although he was a steer, he thought he was a bull. What a great 13th birthday celebration!

Of course today the sheep are back to normal, nuzzling up to me for sunflower seeds like nothing ever happened.

--** Don't they always? Austin was nuzzling up to me for treats right after I got out of the hospital. Sheep are MUCH smaller than steers!

Yes, it does get better and easier with practice. But don't underestimate that learning curve!

--*** *grinz* I promise I won't. I've had a few!

For fencing. Build the fence sturdy enough to take the full weight of a goat climbing on it. And tall enough that the goat will give up before getting to the top (6' oughta do it). I use 52" woven wire with electric along the bottom and the top mostly to keep the goats from even thinking about trying the fence. Both the sheep and goats do normally respect that hot wire. There are odd times when they go through it, but critters will get through any fence eventually - just to keep you on your toes if nothing else (there's nothing like driving home and seeing your goat walking down the middle of the road to wake you up in a hurry!). To make extra sure the buggers can't climb out, you could have the top foot or so angle in so the goat would just fall backward onto the ground before getting over the fence.

Enjoy the nigerians! You'll have such fun with them!

Please see hidden comments above. *grinz* Yes, I can imagine that it can be an eye-opener...about as much as coming home from school and seeing one's mother chasing the jersey steer down the road...that is chasing the telephone man. *smiles*

Again, without electric, what do you suggest? So far, I am leaning towards a good, strong polled fence ( stone posts since stone is handy and cheap) with 5 ft hardware (14 gauge, steel hardcloth), stapled and nailed firmly to it and buried underground.

As for the nigerians, if they can climb that concrete, 5ft+ fence that has 2 ft underground (7+ ft in all) I wish them luck. Ye gods, at least I'll know goats by the time I get out to Tennessee! Although they might climb up the Jasmine.

Does anyone know if Jasmine has an adverse affect on goats?

Love and peace,
Caliann

Jen H · #23 05/01/05, 10:59 AM

Your concrete fencing in the backyard should do just fine to keep the goats in. Make sure your gate latches require at least 2 motions in order to open them (you lift a pin then turn it, for example).

For your other fencing with no electric, the polled fence with 14 guage hardcloth should do just fine. Again, just make sure it's super strong and if possible angle it in toward the top.

Here's a link to a poisonous plants list:

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/poisonousplants.htm

Laura Workman · #24 05/01/05, 02:10 PM

I checked out the MDGA Breeder's Directory (link above), and there are a couple breeders in Nevada and Arizona (with phone numbers). These folks will be able to put you in touch with others who may be closer to you, since there are a bunch down there, and it seems they mostly know one another. It may be more than a couple hours' drive, though, with all the open space down there. I once drove 6 hours each way to pick up a bred doe, and many folks do likewise or more, just so you know. It's important to spend the time and money to get just what you want at the start, since you'll be living with it and dealing with it daily potentially for years.