Portions and ratios change based on factors like maturity and lactation. I want them mainly for the milk. In addition to having friendly personalities and making good pets, Nigerian dwarf goats have other attributes as well. Mary, People don’t think about these things, and the animals are the ones who suffer. God bless ya. ). From homemade remedies to livestock care. As you will learn, it’s imperative to feed your goat a balanced diet. Dwarf goats are petite. However, I don’t want to sugarcoat the realities of animal husbandry for those who have no prior experience. Your Email I agree to receive this newsletter and know that I can easily unsubscribe at any time. My Nigerian dwarfs are perfect angels and have never attempted to escape! You have to milk the goats at least twice per day unless you keep a kid on them. It convinced me that I shouldn’t get goats, and that’s a good thing! Because we live in a development with relatively close neighbors, we needed to stay outside with them during every heat cycle from sun up to sun down to keep the noise at bay and the cops from visiting us. Seriously. Milk straight from the udder is sterile and we do our best to keep it very clean. I totally agree with you Alice, I have had the Nigerians and love them to death. If you want goats for producing milk for your personal consumption, I’d suggest that you stay away from the sale barn goats at $50 each because they could come with health problems that don’t have obvious symptoms to novices. If you’ve already been keeping goats for a few years the book may be more of a review. Thanks for this article. They will eat your: gardens, trees, bushes, flowers, siding on your house, shoes (we still can’t find the other flip-flop), and anything else they can get their mouths on. Bless you and thank you. I can provide more information if you are interested. The first benefit is Nigerian dwarf goats provide milk. My snowball was a bottle baby and the sweetest goat you could ask for even during rut. It can turn what should have been a great experience into a nightmare! It’s best to start with one that is naturally hornless or has been disbudded or dehorned at an early age. #8 shouldn’t this say you CAN’T get just one? Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment and encouraging words. I’m so thankful you are doing your due diligence first. I realize goats have needs, just like dogs and people. I have now learned that using a high quality of Lavender oil in 4 oz spray bottle will kills most fungus, mites, and, fleas. A goat’s pen should have proper ventilation. I think 1 in 4 NDs has a low raspy voice. I really need to evaluate whether I want additional animals on the farmette that will take up time and vet care. Thank’s for pointing that out, I will try to rework the article so it reads clearly. I agree with you completely. Either way I would never own anything other than a Nigerian dwarf. They are very smart and know when I have treats in my hand or when the vet is here. In addition to making compost, goats will help control weeds and grasses by grazing. This is faster than most standard-sized goat breeds. I almost laughed out loud at calling them George. Nigerian dwarf females are a reliable milk source helping with sustainable living. You may be concerned about noises if you’re planning to keep goats in a suburban setting. If you’re a hater so am I, love my ND ,s. I love my NDG’s it’s all I raise and because I love them so, I want ALL NGDs to have the best possible life- my reason for writing this article. The same with other livestock animals that produce milk, they need to be milked. I love my goats, but I only have 2 now because they are a lot of work. I adore baby goats. The correct answer largely depends on your neighbors, how much land you are fencing in and your budget. I didn’t realize this until my Nigerian Dwarf goats already had some bad habits (like rushing out the gate when I opened it). My daughter & Maizey the goat are best friends! I hired buck service and took my does in heat to a registered buck that was tested for disease. Congrats on your new livestock- how exciting. Bucks can become aggressive and they are very stinky (very). Unfortunately, a lone dwarf goat may be loud or “difficult” because it is lonely. However, some outside pasture space is required. I completely agree! My 4 does should be kidding this month! I dont think it is fair that you single out the Nigerian for your 9 reasons not to have them. But yes, they are very hard work! Tag: Do You Have To Milk Nigerian Dwarf Goats . Mature female Nigerian dwarf goats will produce milk. This article isn’t for those that have goats and already know how to practice good animal husbandry. Maybe if she read an article informing her goats are herd animals and must have another goat companion and need outdoor space that would have been avoided. Herbs to Boost Your Immune System In the Winter, DIY Winter Emergency Car Kit ~ FREE Printable PDF Checklist. That doesn’t mean you can place a goat with a horse or a dog and it will be okay, they need another goat companion. They will also need shelter, a milking station, birthing station, place to store the hay, and play area. I think its all the drugs in the water these days maybe they just need a good filter;) Great job on your article by the way a lot of people need to read it and get a clue, I’ve talked to to many if not most who don’t seem to have one. Amber, I had to give up my ND’s when I got disabled. Crazy. Hard to tell without pics. Many owners find that tree stumps and small boulders create nice little “playgrounds” for their goats. I use a sweet feed in the colder months and regular grains in the warmer months. That’s not fair at all, she’s not bashing them… she loves her goats but wanted to point out the challenges with raising them in an urban setting. I saw these cuties and totally fell in love, but in all the research I did I couldn’t find anything that gave me as much useful information! Great suggestion about visiting other goat owners, generally they will be honest about the good and not-so-good sides of raising animals. That is great that you offer them fresh hay at all times. Therefore, you will need to milk them to eliminate pain and reduce infection risk. Please feel free to contact me should you ever have any questions. You cracked me up. I also have him a healthy coat for goats from tractor supply and he looks great now. Always make sure your animal is parasite free, has free choice minerals, and I have saved other goats that were losing their hair, flaky, dry skin. But we think it’s well worth it. Thanks for the article, ignore the negative comments. Thanks, Amber. You may have already fallen in love with the lovable, adorable Nigerian dwarf goat after catching just once glance. We are currently bottle feeding three baby Nigerian Dwarf Goats and we love them to pieces. My only issue will be one set of neighbors who actually called humane society on me because my goats were shaggy in the spring… So are they really louder than the big one’s are? Nigerian dwarfs really are every bit as sweet as they look! In fact, more and more towns and municipalities are actually loosening restrictions on keeping livestock specifically to accommodate the growing desire to keep Nigerian dwarfs. They are small like a large dog so one acre is plenty of area to roam. I average about 1/2 – 1 cup pf grains per day per goat. This article did open my eyes to their needs. To love an animal is to know the pros and cons and how to deal with it before you ha ve that animal. Be inspired here. Hint: only bored goats will behave rebelliously, so get them more space with plenty of fresh forage and they will be happy , We are in ❤ with our Nigerians!! Consider what lives in your area and what wildlife can be considered a predator. Although I do agree with you that information should be shared about all goat breeds, I firmly believe in only writing about what I know. I was hoping later to find someone with a buck to kid. If you want a steady supply of delicious, high-quality goat milk, you only need a couple does, and to stagger their breeding. Even from someone who knows essentially nothing about the animals, I can call BS on the people who say “Oh, you never hear them.”. We started our new Nigerian Dwarf Herd at the beginning of the summer, unfortunately, they came here with a heavy parasitic load and the first week on our farm we had over a thousand dollars in vet bills. Occasionally a goat will give milk without having kids – this is referred to as a precocious udder. In fact, she loves them! I saw your article and totally got the point you were making and the fact that you LOVE goats and want people who are thinking about getting them to take it seriously! I for one love my goats more than anything in the world and you probably shouldn’t have goats if you don’t like them. You can sometimes find them at rescue shelters as well. Make sure you check with your Homeowners Association and County/City Laws before you bring home goats. Many people go into animal husbandry without a understanding of how hard it can really be. 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