BadMedicine
Would *I* Lie???
We had a short experiment with Goats about 10 year ago at my brothers mini-farm. Angry full size momma alpine kept blindsiding and eventually killed two of our mid-size wethers. Ended up selling her kids and the last wether..
So I was looking for a couple wethers to mow my lawn and keep things lively around here. GF loves goats, and I put on add on the local goat page, $50ea for a couple wethers. This lady contacts me, she's got two proven Nigerian does that don't get along well with her dog and kids. $100. Deal! Does usually go for $200ea here! I had to pay $40 to have them driven from Nikiski, which is about a 4 hour drive from here, but they has arrived!
Now, reading all about them and watching youtubes, they have higher milk fat at 6-10%, a better conversion ration, and require less than half as much space/ & feed as a full size. Score!
It's mid June here (not sure what month it is where you're reading ) and it will be getting cold out in September and pretty dang cold by October/November usually. I mean, not crazy, but probably not a great time to have kids. But, what if Armageddon? I mean, wouldn't it be a good idea to have at least one goat in milk this fall, 'just in case" teotwawki? It's a 5 month gestation. They say most breed them in November/ december for spring babies. Both of these girls have had triplets on their last birthing. Nigerians rarely give one and often 3-4 kids.
Another cool thing about Nigerians is they go in to heat every 28 days, year round. Instead of just once a year like other goats.
Who has Nigerians? Who has had babies in the winter to stay in milk?
Pros and cons I haven't mentioned? Anything else I should know?
Looking forward to this new adventure. TIA!
So I was looking for a couple wethers to mow my lawn and keep things lively around here. GF loves goats, and I put on add on the local goat page, $50ea for a couple wethers. This lady contacts me, she's got two proven Nigerian does that don't get along well with her dog and kids. $100. Deal! Does usually go for $200ea here! I had to pay $40 to have them driven from Nikiski, which is about a 4 hour drive from here, but they has arrived!
Now, reading all about them and watching youtubes, they have higher milk fat at 6-10%, a better conversion ration, and require less than half as much space/ & feed as a full size. Score!
It's mid June here (not sure what month it is where you're reading ) and it will be getting cold out in September and pretty dang cold by October/November usually. I mean, not crazy, but probably not a great time to have kids. But, what if Armageddon? I mean, wouldn't it be a good idea to have at least one goat in milk this fall, 'just in case" teotwawki? It's a 5 month gestation. They say most breed them in November/ december for spring babies. Both of these girls have had triplets on their last birthing. Nigerians rarely give one and often 3-4 kids.
Another cool thing about Nigerians is they go in to heat every 28 days, year round. Instead of just once a year like other goats.
Who has Nigerians? Who has had babies in the winter to stay in milk?
Pros and cons I haven't mentioned? Anything else I should know?
Looking forward to this new adventure. TIA!