How many goats?

lauraw97 · #1 09/09/09, 12:59 PM

How many goats should I get ?

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #2 09/09/09, 01:09 PM

Well....

Have you ever had goats before? Its better to start out with less than more. 2 or 3 is a good number for a novice. And they should ideally be does, cause its easier to get used to keeping does than bucks. And if you decide you dont want goats, its easier to sell just a few. If you really like them, you can always get more later, right? Anyway, its usually better to start small and add more, even if you are experienced.

How much space do you have for them? Obviously, more goats fit in a bigger space. Do you have a big field and large barn for them? Or a goat shelter and a feedlot? Something in between?

What do you want to use them for? If you're getting dairy does, you might just get a very small number so that you dont have to worry about excess milk. If you're getting fiber goats, how much fiber do you want/are able to use or sell? The same goes for meat goats: are you getting young ones and raising them to eat? Are you raising the young ones for future breedings? Or are you getting older ones and using them as breeding stock?

Like any animal, you have to get at least two. Or they'll get lonely.

lauraw97 · #3 09/09/09, 01:22 PM

I am getting Nubians. I have plenty of space. I am getting the goats for a few reasons.
1.I love goat milk and cheese.
2.I have a lot of spare time and I need something to do.
3.I want a pet.
4.I live on a farm.
(A farm has got to have goats,right).

deafgoatlady · #4 09/09/09, 01:24 PM

Well I would get two girls and two bucks. So the buck wont be lonely in different pasture. So you can get two girls to milk.

lauraw97 · #5 09/09/09, 01:33 PM

Would the bucks fight if I kept them together?

deafgoatlady · #6 09/09/09, 01:35 PM

mine never did.. I have two bucks together before.. I havent see them fight.. I saw picture of Ozark's bucks.. They are together...

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #7 09/09/09, 01:36 PM

I'd get 2 or 3 girls. I'd either get 2 young girls, or 2 older girls. If you get young ones, you have the fun of raising them and knowing them practically their whole life, but you'll have to train them to be milked when the time comes. If you get older ones, you'll miss out on their childhood and it may be a longer time before they "take" to you, but they'll most likely already have good manners in the milking room and be proven mothers.

UNLESS you dont have access to a buck. As in you cant drive your does to visit them when they are in heat. Then you could go for what deafgoatlady said, 2 girls and 2 bucks, or 2 girls and a wether and a buck. You shouldnt run a buck with the does outside of the breeding season, otherwise the milk will taste funny. And the buck needs a friend, too.

Alternatively, you could get a doe and her young kids. Its often hard to find families for sale, though, but if you can find one....

lauraw97 · #8 09/09/09, 01:38 PM

So what you are saying I should do is keep two does together and two bucks together?

lauraw97 · #9 09/09/09, 01:39 PM

Don't the kids have a hard time staying alive?

deafgoatlady · #10 09/09/09, 01:40 PM

I am saying. Dont put the bucks with girls to run together all the time and the milk will taste horrible.. I always have three different pens or pasture that One pasture is for my girls. One small pasture for the babies. one pasture for the bucks. Whenever it is time for breeding. I bring one buck closer to my girls barn that already have three pens inside.. SO it easier for me..

The kids are easy to raise if you done just right.. Like do the coccidia prevention every 21 days and watch for the worm count and feed them and they will be fine..

RiverPines · #11 09/09/09, 01:42 PM

Keep bucks and does separate or you wont ever know when one is due to kid and that increases the risk of not catching problems in time.
Also the weather! Here we have winter and January kids are no fun!
We breed for April lambs and May kids.

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #12 09/09/09, 01:43 PM

Well, if you are for sure getting bucks, then yes. Except during the times when you want your does bred (they can usually be bred in the fall/winter, but sometimes Nubians can be bred at other times too.).

A wether, in case you werent sure, is a castrated male. He could be your bucks buddy for the times of the year when the buck couldnt live with the does. They dont need as good a quality feed as bucks, so if you are willing to feed them separately it might save you a bit of money. That depends on how you look at it, though. You could see him as a waste of money because he cant breed does or produce milk.

lauraw97 · #13 09/09/09, 01:43 PM

OK thanks. Would now be a good time to get goats? FYI I live in GA so its pretty warm down here.

deafgoatlady · #14 09/09/09, 01:45 PM

ANYTIME!! Get them ANYTIME. As long you have the fence up and the place for them to stay under the roof and money too..

deafgoatlady · #15 09/09/09, 01:46 PM

Oh forgot to say this.. Be sure you have plenty of hay and feed and med on the hand just in case..

lauraw97 · #16 09/09/09, 01:46 PM

How old should I get them?

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #17 09/09/09, 01:46 PM

Kids usually stay alive ok if they had colostrum soon after birth and if they have warm shelter and good food. They're tough.

I leave my babies with their mothers, but lots of people like to pen them separately. You get more milk that way.

lauraw97 · #18 09/09/09, 01:48 PM

By the way, what should I feed them? I am new to this.

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #19 09/09/09, 01:48 PM

As old as you want! Older does will be proven mothers and know how to behave on a milkstand. Younger does will get used to you and your home faster.

Older bucks will be proven sires, but are usually a lot more expensive than the little guys.

deafgoatlady · #20 09/09/09, 01:48 PM

I would get them as long they are weaned like 3 to 5 months old and up to couple years old.. That is me..

Feed: I just get mine custom made as COB. Mean Corn, Oats, Black sunflower seed. That is all I feed mine with.. It works great and it is cheaper for me..