Goats!

We added goats to the homestead about a month ago. A few things about goats ~ they are cute and friendly, but they are also needy, loud, and sometimes quite obnoxious. They don’t require a lot of space as long as they have hay and in my opinion a little grain. It’s easier to feed them grain because they require vitamins and minerals And their feed has everything they need in it. We buy from a local that mixes it all up and sells it at a fair price. 

Now this is minimal feeding requirements...that being said it’s much easier if you have plenty of space for them to forage. You can put them on pasture or in the woods. Pretty much anywhere that’s not wet. They don’t like wet ground and their hooves don’t like to be on wet ground. Speaking of hooves they have to be trimmed often...like maybe once a month. A goat hoof will just keep growing eventually causing the goat to become lame so trimming is a must and the more frequently you trim the easier. 

Anyway ~

We have 2 does named Callie and Frannie and a buck  We decided not to name him because we have to swap him out for a different buck. He only has one testicle and since we’re wanting him for breeding he has to go.  The farm we bought him from has several bucks and said that it would be no problem. 

The girls are dairy being 3/4 Saanen 1/4 Nubian 

The buck we are getting is the opposite. Next week we’re supposed to be getting 2 more does that just came off the bottle  they are 3/4 Nubian 1/4 Saanen. Right now the ones we have are polled(no horns). I’m hoping the next two will be the same. 

I feel like we haven’t gotten to enjoy them fully because they’re in a pen right now, but their fencing of about two acres should be finished soon so I’m excited to be able to have more access to them easier. I’m excited to have a future plan for milk that is small scale and kid friendly. 

✌🏽Lanie