Goat People

[journey11]

Over the past few months I've been looking into getting a milk goat for my family. I've been reading a lot and trying to learn more about it and deciding whether or not to commit the time and money. Other than the discipline required to milk twice a day on time, it seems like a no-brainer to me! Having just taken on the bees this year, I thought maybe I should pace myself on these big projects though. But I REALLY want some goats! I just love them, they are so darn cute. I would really feel like a "farm" with some goats around here to add to the chickens. They are space efficient enough for my acre.

I was just scanning through my Facebook feed and saw a local newspaper article posted by a friend of mine on the folks who sell goat milk ice cream, cheese, etc at our local farmer's market. And turns out it's the family of a lady who recently joined our church. I talk to her all the time, but it was never something to come up in small talk. Now I must go down to the farmer's market and chat with them! Maybe they can point me in the right direction on buying a good milk goat! Maybe they would even sell me a couple kids?

I have never shopped our farmer's market before. 1) Because I grow my own stuff. 2) Because I live a half-hour from town and just haven't made the effort to go. I will definitely have to come check it out now.

My friend who posted the article sells homemade baked goods at the farmer's market. She told me that they currently don't have anyone selling honey down there. (The market only allows one vendor per category, so the vendors can get enough business to make it worth their while to be there. We are very small-town.)

I am so dreaming and scheming today... My poor husband, how does he live with me sometimes, I don't know!

This is really exciting for me. I also got a load of free rough-cut wood yesterday, enough to build a little GOAT BARN. I think this is meant to be!

 

[hoodat]

Over the past few months I've been looking into getting a milk goat for my family. I've been reading a lot and trying to learn more about it and deciding whether or not to commit the time and money. Other than the discipline required to milk twice a day on time, it seems like a no-brainer to me! Having just taken on the bees this year, I thought maybe I should pace myself on these big projects though. But I REALLY want some goats! I just love them, they are so darn cute. I would really feel like a "farm" with some goats around here to add to the chickens. They are space efficient enough for my acre.

I was just scanning through my Facebook feed and saw a local newspaper article posted by a friend of mine on the folks who sell goat milk ice cream, cheese, etc at our local farmer's market. And turns out it's the family of a lady who recently joined our church. I talk to her all the time, but it was never something to come up in small talk. Now I must go down to the farmer's market and chat with them! Maybe they can point me in the right direction on buying a good milk goat! Maybe they would even sell me a couple kids?

I have never shopped our farmer's market before. 1) Because I grow my own stuff. 2) Because I live a half-hour from town and just haven't made the effort to go. I will definitely have to come check it out now.

My friend who posted the article sells homemade baked goods at the farmer's market. She told me that they currently don't have anyone selling honey down there. (The market only allows one vendor per category, so the vendors can get enough business to make it worth their while to be there. We are very small-town.)

I am so dreaming and scheming today... My poor husband, how does he live with me sometimes, I don't know!

This is really exciting for me. I also got a load of free rough-cut wood yesterday, enough to build a little GOAT BARN. I think this is meant to be!

Remember one thing about goats. They are smart enough to get into a lot of trouble they aren't smart enough to get back out of.

 

[Dunegan Mountain Arin]

This is my first post to this forum. I have a black thumb and need to learn more about gardening, but I'm great with animals.

We recently acquired goats....9 months ago approximately. We adore having them and they are so funny and entertaining! You will not regret it. Ours are not of an age yet to give milk but we already adore having them as members of our little barnyard.

 

[Holachicka]

Welcome dunegan!

I am in the same boat Journey! I badly want goats for milking, The hubby just wants them for brush control... I'd love it if you share any insite you might gain from your expert friend and I am hoping some on here will share some more info too. There is a lady not far fro here selling alpine/lamancha's for $50 each... We're probably going to go take a look some time this week.

I've heard the same thing hoodat! I've been told you have to look at the humorous side of goats or you'll go nuts!

 

[Ariel301]

Remember one thing about goats. They are smart enough to get into a lot of trouble they aren't smart enough to get back out of.

Very, very true. Speaking of which, I have to go pull my buck kid out of the feeder AGAIN. He climbs in and then can't figure out the way out so he just gorges himself on hay and then takes a nap.

We raise LaManchas and we love them to death. I really enjoy milking them and making cheeses, and the milk is just so wonderful and sweet. I've started referring to storebought milk as "poison water" because it just tastes so horrible to me now compared to the real stuff. We have four milkers, and they're fairly low maintenance other than milking and feeding. We also train them to cart and pack; we're going on a hike with some this afternoon.

I'd definitely recommend the LaManchas for a backyard milker. They are very much like dogs, sweet and eager to please you, just wonderful personalities compared to other breeds we have owned.

 

[journey11]

Dunegan! Just saw your post, don't know how I missed it.

Remember one thing about goats. They are smart enough to get into a lot of trouble they aren't smart enough to get back out of.

Very, very true. Speaking of which, I have to go pull my buck kid out of the feeder AGAIN. He climbs in and then can't figure out the way out so he just gorges himself on hay and then takes a nap.

We raise LaManchas and we love them to death. I really enjoy milking them and making cheeses, and the milk is just so wonderful and sweet. I've started referring to storebought milk as "poison water" because it just tastes so horrible to me now compared to the real stuff. We have four milkers, and they're fairly low maintenance other than milking and feeding. We also train them to cart and pack; we're going on a hike with some this afternoon.

I'd definitely recommend the LaManchas for a backyard milker. They are very much like dogs, sweet and eager to please you, just wonderful personalities compared to other breeds we have owned.

I'd heard you could train them to pull a cart. That's really cool you are taking them hiking!

Rebbetzin has just about sold me on Nubians. She's always posting such neat pics of her friend's goats. But I am at the research stage right now, so I could easily be talked into just about anything. A friend of mine had Alpines and they were very nice animals. She offered them to me when she decided she couldn't keep them, but I didn't have the money at the time or I would have taken them in a heartbeat! :happy_flower

Goats have such sweet faces and big personalities. I am afraid I will have trouble deciding what to do (pragmatically) with the extra kids. I have heard that people generally don't keep them, especially the bucklings. I don't know how much of a market we'd have around here for pet goats and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of butchering something so cute.

 

[chris09]

We have 5 milkers and we use there milk for about everything drinking, soap, cheese, ice cream etc. The one thing I will say is that they are very very picky eaters.
If you are going to try your hand with a cart goat you will want a big weather goat they work the best. Here are too links to cart goats.

http://www.workinggoats.com/?id=80
http://www2.localaccess.com/rockyrun/car1.htm

Chris

 

[chris09]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of butchering something so cute.

You have to keep saying to yourself that it will make a few good meals.
We "name" all animals that we are going to butcher "Food Names" (steak, sir loin, mushroom). Most all the buck that are born at are farm will be butchered.

Our does milk well and show well. The one Toggenburg we have will milk a 1/2 gallon twice a day (not pushing her) and if I push her (by changing her feed around a little) when I am getting her ready for a show she will put out 3/4 gallon a milking or better.

Chris