[Ginandtreats]

Hi everyone, we're so excited, we've just completed (14th July) our three generation move to Ceredigion and to our nine acre smallholding. There's so much to do but we've got stuck in and are working towards getting some pigs and goats as soon as we can, (previous experience zero).  It was great to find this site and we're so pleased we'll be able to ask all you experienced small holders so many of the questions we have.

[Rupert the bear]

Welcome !  Three generations and you want goats and pigs ! Ask any question you like here , there is a wealth of knowledge here. We all started with zero experience, no matter how long anyone has been smallholding everyday is a schoolday . Good Luck 

[Rosemary]

Hello and welcome from  Carnoustie!

[Backinwellies]

    so exciting to be starting out isnt it

What goats are you aiming for ..... pets or meat or milkers? 

[Ginandtreats]

Hi Backinwellies, they'll be milkers for cheese. We have no idea how to make goats cheese at the moment but we're keen to learn.

[Lesley Silvester]

Hi and welcome from  Shropshire. As a former goat keeper, it's good to hear of new goatie people. I knew very little about goats apart from how to milk them, I learned pretty quickly with advice from other goat keepers. I used to make cheese from my excess milk but was never successful with hard cheeses. My soft cheese was lovely though. My advice would be to read up on goat keeping before getting them and find out the regulations for selling  cheeses, unless you are just doing it for your own consumption.

[Rosemary]

I'd advise leaving the pigs until the spring, unless you're planning to house them over winter. I'm assuming you're buying weaners to fatten and not embarking on pig breeding this early and with zero experience.
That will give you time to get your pig pen well fenced and shelter in for them - and they make an awful mess on wet ground.
I know when you start, you want to get at it but permaculture advice is to wait a year, watch, listen, take notes and photos. It's hard to do but it is good advice and can help avoid costly and annoyng mistakes in siting things in what turns out to be the wrong place.