Author Topic: Total newbie to goats. What prep? (Read 2503 times)

alang · « **on:** January 27, 2019, 10:58:47 am »

After a long conversation with SWMBO (she who must be obeyed) we have decided to look at keeping a few goats to raise for meat and possibly in the future, dairy for personal consumption.

Some basic questions here that hopefully the more knowledgeable members can comment on.

1. What minimum size of paddock would i require for two Boer goats?

2. How high would you make the fencing around the paddock?

3. What other books would you recommend? I am looking at Goats for Beginners - Maggi franklin and Raising Meat Goats - Maggie Sayer

4. What minimum size of hut would you have?

alang · « **Reply #1 on:** January 27, 2019, 01:54:43 pm »

Quote from: Scarlet.Dragon on January 27, 2019, 12:39:32 pm

Out of curiosity why are you opting for Boer goats? A lot of the commercial producers are using dairy crosses for meat and milk and seem to be getting decent carcasses.

Many thanks for the invaluable information SD.

We are choosing Boer goats at first because we read they are good for meat and the countless youtube vids always recommend them. Down the line we are looking into dairy but not at the moment. I would rather get the meat side of things right first and then progress onto dairy from that.

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2019, 05:43:17 pm »

Hi [member=174648]alang[/member] . Whereabouts in Moray are you? There are lots of experienced goat keepers in the Grampian Goat Club and you would be welcome to come along to one of our meetings. I'm between Keith and Huntly with dairy goats and there are quite a few GGC members with Boer goats locally.

alang · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2019, 07:44:50 pm »

Quote from: clydesdaleclopper on January 27, 2019, 05:43:17 pm

Whereabouts in Moray are you?

Out by Aberlour area. I know there is a goat farm (Elchies?) out by Archiestown as my wife often visits with my children on their annual open day. We love buying their goat meat.

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2019, 08:08:54 pm »

The owners of Elchies are members of GGC. If you would like to come and visit my dairy goats you are more than welcome.

alang · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2019, 08:23:17 pm »

Thanks for the kind offer. I shall arrange something with you via pm

Lesley Silvester · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2019, 01:29:40 am »

Quote from: Scarlet.Dragon on January 27, 2019, 12:39:32 pm

However, some people successfully keep a couple of house goats in a back garden (it just means a lot more feed and maintenance).

I kept goats for upward of 15 years in my back garden and they all thrived. They did have ad lib hay, branches and weeds and old vegetables from out local greengrocers who saved them for us, together with all the cabbages and carrots we bought them (pony carrots are the cheapest way to do this and we could eat them as well). They also had concentrates during pregnancy and lactation. Fencing was post and rail and around 5 foot high. It kept them in.

They were all great characters and I so miss having them.