Getting Started

[NewGoatRaiser]

Hi there,
I'm thinking I want to start raising goats on my land. I'm only at the very early stages, as I don't know anyone personally who raises goats and I'm just trying to get a sense of whether this is the right thing for me.

I've read some articles on the basic expectations (here's an example http://www.brighthub.com/environment...les/60510.aspx - I hope this is a good source) and I'm wondering if you have advice on what to expect, and how to decide if this is for me?

I'd appreciate any insight you more experienced goaters could give. Thanks so much!

-NewGoatRaiser

[susanne]

it all depends what you expect from raising goats. do you just want brush cleaners? meat? milk? want a steady income?
depending on the operation it will be more or less labor intensive.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I think the author of that particular article wants to cash in on the grass fed beef craze that is sweeping and getting lots of folks lots of money. Not many people grain feed goats that aren't dairy animals..so that whole grass fed thing just seems a bit off.
And I agree with the above poster who questions exactly what sort of goat operation you are interested in starting...there are a wide range of things to consider for each.
looking back at the article they list a picture of a " billy goat" .....
not a single bit of skepticism here....

[Briza]

Visit goat farms and see if it really is what you want to do.
It's a lifestyle and not something that you can do on the side.
Learn as much as you can from successful breeders before getting any animals.
B~

[Alice In TX/MO]

http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/index.htm

[Luvmygoats]

My husband and I had about 2 acres of trees cut down. We got the advise of neighbor (owns horses) that "a goat would chew that junk down in no time." So we put the word out and low and behold Tilly, a one year old Nubian arrived. We had a goat pen already up, with a small shed available. We put her in and off she went to the neighbors pen to romance thier billy. Downed two wooden posts and 16 feet of wire fencing. We thought she needed a friend. So, enlisted a doe (pregnant) from our neighbor in hopes that Tilly would stay put. No dice. She crawled under, jumped over and drove through all efforts we made to contain her. *Rule #1 Be prepared.Tilly found a new home a few weeks later to another family who desired a young doe. We kept the Pygmy (pregnant) and she was fine with her new station. Rule #2. There will be a queen bee. She had her kids and we were in love. Rule #3. Get a crate. She had twins. She rejected one. We bottle fed him for 6 months. Rule #4 Don't let your kids in the house. He follows us everywhere. He's a sweet little buck. We had him nuetered. Rule #5. Find a vet that knows about goats. We loved the goats so much, we thought we should buy a buck. We did. And along came Ray, Boer/Nigieran Dwarf mix. Along with Ray came the snow. I dont' know about all goats, but ours only drink room temperature water. Rule #6 Keep the walking distance to the water bucket near. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture. In summary, goats are great fun. They are chewing down the brush and all the bark and sapplings in sight. We did wind up fencing in the 2 acres with goat wire. Our wether hawls packs when we hike. I say, go for it.

[thaiblue12]

So you are looking to raise meat goats? I am wondering that based on the article you posted.
If so do you have any experience with butchering? Even if you have not done it yourself can you load them up in a trailer and haul them off for slaughter?
If you have not had that experience and are an animal lover I would not go the meat goat route, or you might end up stuck with alot of goats eating weeds.

Goats are personable if raised right and squirm their way into your heart. I had considered the meat goat thing when I started but my goats sucked up to me fast so I went dairy. I knew I could not raise a baby and send it to slaughter. I can easily sell I goat I do not like to a different farm That does not phase me a bit.

If you do go Boer make sure your goats are healthy. Since they are considered terminal animal, around here people do not care much about their health. They really should if it is breeding stock.

What area are you in? In Colorado dairy is not that popular and Boers are a dime a dozen. It is horse and cow country here.

Goats are fun, pesky, and not that hard to raise once you get the hang of it and have the right equipment.

Oh and they add up. It sneaks up on you slowly, oh I do not have that color, oh that is a good deal, oh I would love blue eyes in my herd and etc etc. I started with 3, somehow got up to 24, then 40!! Sold down to 26 then had a dozen surprise babies and am back up to 38!!