Goat People....

iluvdogs111 · August 2009

For a while now I've been think about getting 2 or 3 pygmy goats. I've done quite a bit of research, and still have more to do, and heard that they make pretty good pets. I'd like some tips and opinions from people that have owned goats or pygmy goats on their personalitys and such. I also have a couple of questions that I couldn't find a good answer to online. 1.What is the lowest temperature they can be kept at? I've heard many different things. 2. How much land to you generally have to have to keep them? I know different places have different rules about owning livestock. I have 1.5 acres. It's got a barn, and a fenced area right outside of it. The barn had a dog kennel in it from the previous owners, and with a few touch-ups it could easily be made into a goat habitat. 3. Are they generally expensive to care for? 4. Are they really noisy? 5. I've heard that pet pygmys could cost as little as $25 a piece-is that true? Also.... If I do get pygmy goats, and like having them, and my parents say it's alright, I might consider breeding them. Please don't tell me it's irresponsible to think about breeding before I know a lot about it. :roll: I don't think I'm interested in showing, I just think it would be a good expirience to breed. But even if they weren't fancy show goats, they wouldn't be poorley breed. If anyone has any expirience breedin goats, please tell me it's something to consider or if I should stay away from it. If you read this you get a chocolate chip cookie. If you read and replied, you get two.

Berton · August 2009

<img src="1.What is the lowest temperature they can be kept at? I've heard many different things. 2. How much land to you generally have to have to keep them? I know different places have different rules about owning livestock. I have 1.5 acres. It's got a barn, and a fenced area right outside of it. The barn had a dog kennel in it from the previous owners, and with a few touch-ups it could easily be made into a goat habitat. 3. Are they generally expensive to care for? 4. Are they really noisy? 5. I've heard that pet pygmys could cost as little as $25 a piece-is that true? " alt="1.What is the lowest temperature they can be kept at? I've heard many different things. 2. How much land to you generally have to have to keep them? I know different places have different rules about owning livestock. I have 1.5 acres. It's got a barn, and a fenced area right outside of it. The barn had a dog kennel in it from the previous owners, and with a few touch-ups it could easily be made into a goat habitat. 3. Are they generally expensive to care for? 4. Are they really noisy? 5. I've heard that pet pygmys could cost as little as $25 a piece-is that true? " class="bb-image" /> 1) My goats are in the barn and our winters get to be like -30ish the barn is maybe 30ish in the winter make sure the water they are giving is warm and that they appear warm. I know with little goats some of the breeders around here i have dog sweaters the goats wear. 2)My goats are kept in the barn for the most part in the winter they get fat and lazy cause we dont have a place to exercise them. Where in the summer they are out every day romping and play. 3)My goats feed is maybe $20ish per bag I'm feeding 5 goats and they go through a bag a week. But when I only had two it was two weeks before they needed a new back 4)My goats are noisy when the want something food water attention anything. 5) I got mine, Mine are Nubians for $200 total. $150 for Lightining and $50 for Rosemary. As for breeding I had mine a year before they were bred but I had my lovely mentor who was the breeder of Light and Rose. and A kid in my school. I feel kidding is extremely nerve wrecking. When Gurkin and Rain were born I got 4 hours of sleep. For starting with goats I recemend getting a Whether and an doe kid. The kid from my school started with his whether and a doe kid, They are 5 now. Also with kidding make sure the goats babies are warm. The same kid lost 3 kids cause mommy goat wasnt kept warm, and they babies were cold. THE FIRST THREE DAYS ARE IMPORTANT. I got lucky when Rosey kidded because the day after the babies were born it was in the 60s. I feel its easier once who made it through once. Im infact looking forward to this years babies. We plan on breeding with Lightining and Rosemary.

Hibachi · August 2009

I have never owned goats but I have been raised around them, pigmy goats are so cute and the ones I have been around where the sweetest. And I also know a lot about breeding -more about dog breeding- and I don't mean to be the barrier of bad news, but just breeding for experience isn't the best. You should look for local breeders to work with before you even consider breeding. And if you end up buying poorly breed goats and then you force them to reproduce you'll just cause even more poorly produced goats. And I know in dogs that they have to be the age of at least 3 before you breed, I don't take breeding lightly and I know there are a few others who don't either, but you must have experience. What if your goat where to die in the process? What if the baby was born with an illness/deformity could you afford the vet care? And so on. Not trying to sound like a know it all or trying to offened you, just trying to help.

-edit- and the ones I where around made a lot of noise, the bigger ones where butting heads while the little one was running in circles around them.

iluvdogs111 · August 2009

Wheaty: Thanks, that should help. Lava: Thanks, but don't worry, I wouldn't even consider goat breeding until I learn a lot more about them and have much more expirience with them. If anyone else has advice, keep it coming.

iluvdogs111 · August 2009

Oh, almost forgot, lava, wheaty, here are you two fresh backed chocolate chip cookies. *Hands you cookies* Enjoy!

Marseilles · August 2009

I have kept goats for around 6 years now, I have been breeding since I was 11/12

I breed Golden Guernseys now though I have bred Pygmy's for show and breeding. 1/2) In my experience a goat will adjust to where you live which includes temperature etc,.. you can keep them in a stable/barn or you can let them outside, it is your preference really. I personally keep mine outside during the day, then they go to bed at night which is either a calf hut/kennel or stable. Though a goat should have access to shelter if needed as most of them dispise the rain lol Though saying that if you are forecast good weather by all means let them sleep out! My boy is sleeping out at the moment and is absoloutely fine. 3) Nope

If you have your own land, and it is fenced in etc,.. all you need money aside for is feed and vets bills which depending where you live will differ though it shouldn't come to above £10. I feed mine on either Universal Coarse Mix or Badminton Sheep and Goat mix which composes of Flaked Maize,Bran, Rolled Oats and supplements. If you decide to keep a Billy he will need to feed them a fair bit depending on age as hey tend to lose condition come breeding season and can come down like a sack of spuds lol The girlies aren't fussy really. 4) If you have a group of goaties which can keep each other company they are generally not normally THAT noisy. Though saying that if they are unhappy or unwell they will let you know about it

5) Depending on who you get them from the price differ. I go by pounds where I live and for Pygmy's they go fora fair bit £100-£200. I would suggest buying through a breeder as if you get a Pygmy with 'off' breeding, you will most likely get god knows what wrong with it. If you do go via a breeder you may be asked to pay a little extra though it is worth it if you want a nice healthy companion. As for breeding, it isn't irresponsible in the slightest! Just be sure to breed your nannies/does once they are atleast 2 years old as they need to be fully developed. Make sure they are in good health and weight and have a good set or udders on 'em. With the boys make sure they are healthy with good quarters and bone structure. And make sure they don't have any lumps and bumps anywhere. Just the general really when it comes to breeding. I hope ths helps, if have any questions feel free to drop me a pm

Marseilles · August 2009

Marseilles wrote:

I have kept goats for around 6 years now, I have been breeding since I was 11/12 I breed Golden Guernseys now though I have bred Pygmy's for show and breeding. 1/2) In my experience a goat will adjust to where you live which includes temperature etc,.. you can keep them in a stable/barn or you can let them outside, it is your preference really. I personally keep mine outside during the day, then they go to bed at night which is either a calf hut/kennel or stable. Though a goat should have access to shelter if needed as most of them dispise the rain lol Though saying that if you are forecast good weather by all means let them sleep out! My boy is sleeping out at the moment and is absoloutely fine. 3) Nope If you have your own land, and it is fenced in etc,.. all you need money aside for is feed and vets bills which depending where you live will differ though it shouldn't come to above £10. I feed mine on either Universal Coarse Mix or Badminton Sheep and Goat mix which composes of Flaked Maize,Bran, Rolled Oats and supplements. If you decide to keep a Billy you will need to feed him a fair bit depending on age as hey tend to lose condition come breeding season and can come down like a sack of spuds lol The girlies aren't fussy really. 4) If you have a group of goaties which can keep each other company they are generally not normally THAT noisy. Though saying that if they are unhappy or unwell they will let you know about it 5) Depending on who you get them from the price differ. I go by pounds where I live and for Pygmy's they go fora fair bit £100-£200. I would suggest buying through a breeder as if you get a Pygmy with 'off' breeding, you will most likely get god knows what wrong with it. If you do go via a breeder you may be asked to pay a little extra though it is worth it if you want a nice healthy companion. As for breeding, it isn't irresponsible in the slightest! Just be sure to breed your nannies/does once they are atleast 2 years old as they need to be fully developed. Make sure they are in good health and weight and have a good set or udders on 'em. With the boys make sure they are healthy with good quarters and bone structure. And make sure they don't have any lumps and bumps anywhere. Just the general really when it comes to breeding. I hope ths helps, if have any questions feel free to drop me a pm

iluvdogs111 · August 2009

Thanks!

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