How much is enough?

[Kathleen in WI]

OK so I am looking at everyone's goat pictures and I am sooo jealous. So I'm wondering how much space is adequate for a few goats. We have 3 1/2 acres. Of course we need house space, chicken space, dog space and garden space. So do I have too small of a place for some little goaties? Every time I look at those little faces I just melt.

Thanks,
Kathleen

[southerngurl]

Well, my chickens and goats share the same place.
1 acre to the dogs or so, 1 to 1 1/2 acres to the chickens and a couple goats. Then the garden won't take much.

[Hip_Shot_Hanna]

Well, I know a couple that run a goat dairy to make goat cheese. They have 50 head of dairy goats on 2 acres. Obviously they are feeding them, as there is no way there's any browse for them.

I would think you could quite comfortably keep a couple of goats on three acres. Say an acre for house and garden, you would have at least an acre for the goats. They can be quite happy with that.

Cheers
HSH

[ajharris]

I have 11 goats on 1/4 of an acre. I also have my house, rabbits, chickens, and dogs here. I only meant to have 3 goats but I like them too much. I do have to feed hay and grain. I section off places on my 1/4 of an acre for them to graze. I am currently working on a new barn to hold all of my critters except the dogs. When this happens the animals will have all of my yard except the pen that is around the house for the dogs.

[Wendy]

We have 3 1/2 acres & currently have about 20 goats, 80 chickens, rabbits, 2 pigs, a llama, & a sheep. Most of the acreage is in pasture. I have a huge garden out front & plan on putting some fruit trees in the front yard this year. You can really do a lot if you utilize your space well.

[dezeeuwgoats]

I have eighteen goats, a calf, a pig, four horses, misc. chickens, a dog, and four cats on just under two acres. Obviously, we are purchasing feed! I do have over an acre in bermuda pasture. Many goats are on dry lot here in Arizona. I'm moving mine to pasture as soon as I get rid of two of my horses - can't wait to see them 'free'.

Niki

[Kathleen in WI]

Wow! Well thanks all of you. That is encouraging. My kids will be happy too. I should mention that this is virgin land. Just had the electric and water lines run. Wooded in the back (lots of deer ). Sloping down in the front. I have alot of work to do before I can get animals but dogs and chickens are definate. Already have my dogs.

But I have seen where people have too many animals for their land and the poor animals suffer. I don't want to be one of those people.

It really surprises me how many critters y'all can have on your small acreage! My daughter wants a horse and a pig along with the goats and chickens and dogs. I figured that was way too many animals for the space. But maybe if we plan carefully we can manage.

Thanks so much for all of the input!
Kathleen

[Jim S.]

Not to rain on your parade, but be sure you calculate in the annual costs of feeding those animals on that small acreage, because they will not be able to get all they need from your land. You can carry tons of pets on a small place by bringing in most of the food they need, but you can't farm them. There are folks close to me that recently had to get rid of all their animals because they didn't anticipate the costs of overstocking, and their little farm crashed. Just be sure you have an idea so you don't get surprised by the costs.

I think it's great that you started out concerned about the land! Many folks just keep adding animals and never see that their land is becoming depleted, and that their animals are less thrifty than they could be. "A horse and a pig along with the goats and chickens and dogs" is a huge load for 3 1/2 acres. A horse alone can severely tax 5 acres (and I can take pix if you'd like...I have a neighbor with a horse on 5 acres...and practically no grass left).

If you add slowly and maintain your primary concern for the land, you can observe what it will carry by how it looks year after year. Carrying capacity is so variable that it can be different just down the road from you.

I like most of my feed to come from sunshine, it is cheaper that way. That means I stock lightly.

A place like yours would be great for free range layer and broiler chickens or a meat rabbit operation, if you wanted to farm it a little.

Good luck. The practice of livestock husbandry, observing the land for changes and exploring what it will support will bring you in a few years to a familiarity with place that you otherwise wouldn't have. It is extremely satisfying, and a great place for kids.

[moosemaniac]

14.25 acres....34 goats (so far)

Ruth

[Kathleen in WI]

Ideally I would like to grow most of the food for our animals. But of course that is not going to be easy on such a small parcel. But if I can grow most of our people food, that is my top priority.

My plan is to put in the gardens (including fruit trees and berry bushes) and a chicken coop and see what is left. I wanted to do rabbits but everyone here wants them for pets. I love animals but I don't want animals that don't provide for us in some way (besides snuggles And we have three dogs for that).

I really don't see getting a horse, much as I love them. And my hubby isn't too thrilled about pigs. lol

In the back of my mind I was thinking maybe I could have a few goats for milk (don't think I could eat them, but maybe) so I can make some soaps to sell at the farmers market. Maybe even make some cheese. But I am getting way ahead of myself. lol

I would really have to rely alot on my kids to help out. For some reason I get fatigued REALLY easily. In fact after I make my bed I have to lay back down and recover. lol So all these dreams of mine are pretty ambitious. The first order of business will be thoroughly teaching my family about how much work and responsibility is involved. That way when I can't get out of bed, the animals don't go hungry! There is no way I could keep up with a large herd even if I had more land ( 34?! Oh my goodness!!).

So for a while I guess I'll just have to live vicariously through y'all. So post lots of pictures!! I love them!!

[Ed0517]

Been checked for Lyme disease? The fatigue could be serious

[Kathleen in WI]

I have had several blood tests done. Not sure if they checked for Lyme disease specifically. They just keep telling me nothing is wrong. So I've stopped asking. Had it for at least a year now. Its frustrating, but what can you do if doctors won't help? Oh well, life goes on.