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06/09/11, 04:56 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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If you could teach newbies one thing......
If I had a magic potion to teach newbie goat owners ONE thing, it would be that goats have SHORT labors. If your doe is in labor for an hour, and you haven't seen nose and toes of the first kid coming out, it's time to "go in" and find out what's wrong.
What would you teach newbies?
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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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06/09/11, 05:22 PM
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Hate Oz. Took the shoes.
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SE Kansas
Posts: 2,080
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How to trim hooves - but I would rather be the student than the teacher! I still struggle with this! Ugh!
PS - wish I could "like" your post, Alice - that is a good one.
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06/09/11, 05:47 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
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Not all goats need grain.
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Teach only Love...for that is what You are 
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06/09/11, 05:52 PM
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The cream separator guy
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern MO
Posts: 3,919
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One thing... Doing their own research is invaluable, rather than listening to so many peoples opinions.
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I'm an environmentalist, left wing, Ron Paul loving Prius driver with a farm. If you have a problem with that, kindly go take a leap.
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06/09/11, 05:58 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 1,713
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Will watch this thread since I am a newbie to goats. There are a thousand things I would like to learn. Like how to winter goats? What kind of temps can goats take? Or how to tell when a goat is in heat? How to trim hooves? How much to feed? I swear it seems my kids never eat enough.
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~Candice~
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06/09/11, 05:59 PM
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Show us your teats!!
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Northeast Tennessee
Posts: 721
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Test for CAE and don't accept someone's "word" that they free from the disease.
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06/09/11, 06:01 PM
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trail ahead-goats behind
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: oregon
Posts: 306
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Don't buy all the good deals that suddenly pop up. Goats multiply fast and it's way too easy to overwelm yourself with too many.
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06/09/11, 06:09 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,638
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Heritagefarm
One thing... Doing their own research is invaluable, rather than listening to so many peoples opinions.
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Exactly.
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06/09/11, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: Anderson,California
Posts: 454
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Everything you do won't be prefect the first, second or even third time, but learning from your mistake will make you a better owner.
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06/09/11, 07:39 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,377
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Find a good knowlegable mentor!! Ot two!
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Bob and Nancy Dickey
Laughing Stock Boer Goats
"Seriously Great Bloodlines"
and the meat goes on....
Near Seattle
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06/09/11, 07:52 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,739
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What works for one herd does not necessarily work for another.
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06/09/11, 07:59 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 1,754
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Trimming feet, that was the hardest thing for me.
Edit: You can do all the research on raising goats and hang out here (thank goodness for all of you). But to actually trim feet is a differnt subject.
Last edited by airotciv; 06/09/11 at 08:08 PM.
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06/09/11, 08:02 PM
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Animal Addict
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 12,211
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When a goat finally shows signs of illness, you are very nearly out of time and have to act FAST.
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Becky
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06/09/11, 08:46 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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The importance of either learning to fecal or have one done by your vet or use a mail in service.
What works for parasites in one area DOES NOT work for another.....Just helped my aunt bury 3 of her pygmy does because she was POSITIVE her herbal wormers were good enough.... I begged her to fecal, to find out what works, not to just guess, but sadly her goats paid the price 
Parasite management is a crucial part of successful goat keeping IMO.
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06/09/11, 08:59 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Oregon
Posts: 4,783
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That goats are prey animals (meaning other animals eat them) because they are prey animals they rarely show sickness until death is knocking (it's just their nature). If a goat seems "off" don't "wait it out", they are "off" and find someone to call to go over symptoms and what has changed recently and history (vaccines/fecals/ect.).
My other piece of advice would be to find a good mentor you can call and ALSO find a good vet that you can call, get a relationship going so you can call to order prescriptions and call when there are emergencies.
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Idleness is leisure gone to seed
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06/09/11, 09:11 PM
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: West Tennessee
Posts: 957
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Know what you want, and don't settle for less! For example, don't buy from a show home on the presumption that pretty show udders will necessarily mean good milking udders.
I am personally regretting that at the moment. I've got a herd of good animals conformation wise, free of CL and CAE, most of which are friendly and I'm attached to, and that I put A LOT of money into....but can they milk well? I won't know until next Spring.
Also, don't get too many too fast. It is really easy to get overwhelmed. Grow slooowly.
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06/09/11, 09:42 PM
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Farming with a Heart
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Huntington WV
Posts: 1,864
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Don't try to do it the cheap way
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Saanens, Nubian & Nigerian Goats, Silver Fox Rabbits, Mini Jerseys, BLR SL Wyandottes, hatching eggs and more!
Find us on facebook here
or our website here
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06/09/11, 10:34 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Eureka, California area
Posts: 2,642
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That goats can't live on grass alone...or crappy brush for that matter. Toooooo many newbies think goats can live in a pasture with nothing else. So many horror stories of goats starving to death for lack of knowledge.
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Joan Crandell
Wild Iris Farm
"Fair"- the other 4 letter F word." This epiphany came after almost 10 days straight at our county fair.
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06/09/11, 10:39 PM
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Melody
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Central Indiana
Posts: 885
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jcran
That goats can't live on grass alone...or crappy brush for that matter. Toooooo many newbies think goats can live in a pasture with nothing else. So many horror stories of goats starving to death for lack of knowledge.
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oops, My wether gets just browse, hay, baking soda and minerals....I thought they weren't supposed to get grain
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Solstice Sun Farm- Nubian goats, heritage poultry, soaps, and upcycled crafts
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06/09/11, 10:42 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Browse and hay is JUST RIGHT for wethers. It's pasture grass alone for dairy goats that's the problem.
You're doing fine.
__________________
Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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