The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Rosiecrad on January 27, 2015, 02:34:41 pm
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Hello :wave:,
I'm about to become a new goat keeper. I'm quite experienced with most animals but not goats!
I'm Going to keep the goat and kid in our barn until we all get used to each other but then I'm going to put them out in a paddock during the day.
I do have several questions :)
What hard feed should I feed her on?
I alwSys think of goats being quite destructive, is this true?
I would eventually like to start milking her, what equipment do I need?
If anyone could recommend a good book, that would be useful too.
Thank you in advance
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Looks like you haven't done all that much preparation.... an adult goat on her own will be miserable and will (most likely) shout for you at every opportunity.
Every goat book will tell you to keep at least two goats, and no a kid doesn't really count.
Please go and get books on goats from your local library and/or google on abebooks.co.uk for cheap 2nd hand ones. Recommended Mackenzie, Goat husbandry 3rd edition. All the info you need is in there.
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I'm currently reading up on goats as hoping to get in a couple of months as well. Good to know that kids don't count as adult goat company as that hasn't been clear in what I have read so far which just states they need company.
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When they are out in the paddock they will need shelter as they will be miserable if they get wet.
I second what Anke says about adult company for the goat.
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How about a bit of positivity and encouragement?
Anke, I realise you are very experienced, from reading through other posts, but no need to be blunt :-\
I posted a similar post on a fb page and a very experienced lady has helped me out tremendously and happens to live near me and has offered to come and show me how to milk and give me some pointers.
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Hi :wave:
A single goat and a kid should be okay - ideally would keep 2 adults but at least neither is on their own.
Hard feed - there is so much choice - goat coarse mix is too expensive for me as I have 30 but if only 2 then maybe a good start. It will be balanced. Not sure how much you should feed - depends on condition of goat and kid and if she is milking.
Need good quality forage all time - hay, can use barley straw - but hay best - especially for a milker I would say
My goats not destructive to buildings too badly but some have chewed wood. They will eat bark off trees so these will need to be protected depending on the species
Milking - well you are on same journey as me. I have a metal bucket, a sieve for sieving the milk and you will need somewhere clean to do it away from the bedding and ideally a raised area ie stand for her - better on the back
Books - loads around - Alan Mowlem one OK. Best one for vet things is Matthews book but is expensive but well worth it
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Another thing to remember is a mineral supplement as goats have high needs for minerals. We have used Caprivite and also the Goat balancer from Dennis Brinicombe. For milking kit you can get stuff from Goat Nutrition. For feed I currently use the Caprotein mix from Goat Nutrition which is mixed with oats and barley in different ratios to give different protein percentages so I can tailor it to the milkers' or the kids' requirements. You will also need foot shears as they need their feet doing very regularly. If the person coming to see you can show you how to foot trim properly that will be a big help. Think about where you can restrain them for things like trimming or milking if you will be doing it alone. Good luck and enjoy them :thumbsup:
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How about a bit of positivity and encouragement?
I got my goats after more than two years reading up on whatever goat-related I got my hands on (mainly library and 2nd hand), googling and speaking to other goatkeepers - went to visits and to shows. But only after I had acquired the basic knowledge without taking up other people's time.
Your questions would all have been answered by reading ONE goatkeeping book.... and then I would be happy to answer more detailed questions...
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I do have a goat keeping book, but I like to find out people's OWN experiences as I have found that generally it's much better to ask ( ideally talk face to face) than just to get info from a book.
As I said I have experience with most farm animals and have common sense and we kept goats a long time ago.
Forums like this is for asking questions, or have I missed the point of this forum completely?
Thank you to the other posters for answering and helping.
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There is a proverb warning one not to get into other peoples' arguments but please bear in mind, those of you with greater experience that I for one am looking for answers when I don't know - and sometimes my ignorance would dismay the reader.
I would hate to feel I couldn't ask without being at risk of a harsh response.
Group hug????
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Goats will need access to shelter if out during the day as not waterproof coat like sheep
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Thanks cuckoo, I will bear that in mind for when I put her out :)
That's how I felt after posting tbh, Ghdp. Better to ask than not, surely? We don't want to put people off and then they have slip ups.
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I agree, better to ask 8)
Different people research in different ways, and we shouldn't judge each other on that. Rosiecrad, how old is the kid?
Beth
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She's 2 weeks old
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Thinking about feeding, you are best asking the person you are getting them from what food is being used and buy some in readiness. Goats don't take too kindly to an abrupt change in diet and are likely to refuse to eat if they don't like it. Yes, they really are that fussy. I've had it happen.
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The book Anke recommended is only a few quid on amazon :) Just bought a copy!
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Good luck with your goats when you get them, if I may add, if you have a local goat club it would be well worth joining. When I got my first goats I had read lots, asked lots and seen lots. Everyone has their own ideas and it is interesting to see other peoples set ups for their goats. I ended up with as many as 100 on premises at any one time, I kept milkers, followers meat kids and males. Wonderful animals and you will never stop learning.
I have never found then destructive but I have been lucky enough to have concrete buildings and a covered yard where the milkers were kept loose to get her. They hate rain so available cover is a must when outside
Happy goat keeping and don't be afraid to ask !!!! :excited:
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Hello :wave:
Its a steep learning curve and I ready oodles of books before getting mine but found coming here and asking questions as they arose the best way to learn personally.
I hope you find the TAS community supportive as did I :)
I'd say visit other goat owners, join a local goat/smallholders club, stand and watch the behaviour of your goats so you can gauge what is normal, I learnt how to milk via youtube so don't be surprised if you find your learning comes from unusual places. make sure your vet is familiar with goats as they really are not like sheep despite what they might think. Depending on where you are in the UK there might be a TAS member willing to invite you over? good luck :)
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Find someone local who will teach you to hand milk. It's like everything....easy when you know how ;D Your goat will object as she has had her kid on her but someone with knowledge will see you through it :fc:
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You can read all the books but there is nothing like hands on experience. I did loads of reading and visited the owner of the goats several times before committing. Probably drove her mad and there were several phone calls when goats home.
Unfortunately the goats can't read the books and have their own agenda! Good luck. I would recommend getting an experienced milker and one maybe with kid at foot so if you struggle initially with milking then kid can help clean up! It's hard enough getting the technique right without trying to cope with the goat learning the ropes also.
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Thank you!
Just to update, the goat and kid arrived a few weeks ago and are very happy:)
They go out when it's not raining and have a large stable for when it is.
The nanny seems very sweet and good natured, I'm not going to milk her at the moment as I can't commit to milking everyday with 3 young children, she is also quite a small breed rather than a Milker.
A very nice lady came to see her with me, who has 30 yrs experience with goats and has given me some pointers :)
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The longer you leave the milking bit the more difficult it will be. Go for it!
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Why not milk her just once a day? after the youngsters are in bed?
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Anyway, enjoy her :thumbsup: You'll learn as you go and as long as your goats are cared for they won't mind your odd bunglings.
I haven't had goats now for almost thirty years but if my set up was ideal(for my sake really) I'd have more like a shot. Like Plums, I got mine originally because one of my children had bad excema and asthma with cows milk and although used to hand-milking a bit with cows I got the ab-dabs for a few days before each milking. It soon becomes a cosy and peaceful routine though, a bit of relaxation really :)
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I have 2 small children and I milk once a day. I milk in an old stripped out caravan. One end has the milking bench in and the other end has the seats and a tv so that my boys watch a DVDS whilst I milk. It works pretty well.
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I have 2 small children and I milk once a day. I milk in an old stripped out caravan. One end has the milking bench in and the other end has the seats and a tv so that my boys watch a DVDS whilst I milk. It works pretty well.
Does the goat get to watch the tv as well?
?just a thought - put 'Shaun the sheep' on - I wonder what she'd do? I think they sound more like goats than sheep :goat:
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Does the goat get to watch the tv as well?
?just a thought - put 'Shaun the sheep' on - I wonder what she'd do? I think they sound more like goats than sheep :goat:
She does sometimes look over - I don't think she likes Tom & Jerry :D
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Far too violent for our gentle friends :innocent:
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I have 4 small children and the youngest learnt to milk aged 3 - go on, they'll love it!
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I gave up the evening milking to my eldest child, he loved it! The 5am time was mine though, the best time of the day, summer or winter :love:
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Definitely, something magical about watching the sunrise and the milk steaming into the buckets :love:
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Oh wow, you have inspired me to give it a go! Will try for once a day at the min, littlest person is still up several times a night and don't think I could do 5 am just yet
Love the idea of DVD in a caravan! I also reckon they would love to have a go!
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MUD - memory, understanding, doing. Some people learn and retain information from books, :wave:some by talikg/listening to others and some by practical application. Here endeth the lesson. Good luck rosiecrad
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Let us know how you get on :)
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Plumseverywhere, have just shown hubby your 'milking parlour' and he's going to make me one :)
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Excellent! get him to do yours inside somewhere, my husband has left me to the elements and he finds it funny ;)
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Just re-reading past posts and wondering Rosiecrad how you are getting on with your little twosome? Have you started milking yet and what breed is your nanny - you mentioned she was small? I'm rethinking the whole goat thing and really want to immerse myself in dairy stuff - love making butter.
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- love making butter.
am just about to make another batch...
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Ooh I hadn't thought about making butter, another thing to experiment with :excited:
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You will need a milk separator, goats milk won't separate like cows but the butter is delicious also cheese!
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Hah - just need some goats then ;)
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The thing about goats needing company is an easy one. Unless you are VERY strong minded you could never stick at one, more seem to come along in very quick succession!!
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That's because they are addictive.