Beginner's Guide To Raising Goats | How To Choose & Care For Your First Goats
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ธ.ค. 2021
- Everything you need to know to raise your first goats! Find out why I think goats are a great option for a small farm or homestead. Learn what you need to have ready before you get goats, how to choose the right goats for you, and how to care for them once you bring them home. Meet our small herd of goats, including our brand new baby goats!
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I went from one bred doe Nigerian dwarf to a total of 26 Nigerian dwarf and 9 boers in 6 months! Goats are the greatest and have the best personalities ever. Love your vlogs, thank you for sharing.
Oh wow, that escalated quickly, lol! I agree, goats are the best!
So, goat math is like chicken math! They add up quickly...😅
After years of raising fowl & rabbits, we dove into goats. We just had two does born this week with a very easy birth. My sons loved the experience & we already planning to expand. Awesome channel, thank you
That's awesome, thanks for sharing!
From someone with chickens, turkeys, and rabbits, what was your biggest difficulty with goats?
@@oliviag6407 letting them free range amongst our trees and 2 acres while keeping them out of our plants. We are still tweaking our efforts!
❤❤Oh that's awesome 👌
@@rockyplacepygmies I definitely see how that would be tough. It’s a hassle enough to shoo poultry from digging up our mulch and eating our fruits and vegetables 😂
I just got 2 baby Nigerian dwarfs. They are the most loving and awesome creatures. I have ever met. I've only had them 3 weeks and all I have to is call them and they come running!
I’m getting two soon! Do you have them on a farm or in your backyard?
@dejLoaf22 I actually have them in my yard. I'm working on building them a shelter. Make sure they have their cdt shots. They are alot of fun. Sweetest animals I have ever seen!
That's awesome!
Best goat beginner video that I have seen. Thanks so much.
Thank you, I'm so glad you liked it!
How friendly they all look ❤
They are!
Thinking about taking the goat plunge. This was sooooo helpful. Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Same here. It sounds like they do require a decent amount of attention. So it may not be the right time for us just yet.
Very educational. And I love how they interact and insert themselves into the video!
Wonderful!
Thank you! Yes, goats are nosy and adorable 🥰
There was so much great advice and information given in this video that I had to watch it a few times to absorb everything. Thank you so much.
Glad it was helpful, and thanks for watching!
This video is super helpful! It's the first video I watched when starting my research about how to care for goats and I learned so much!
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Great video thanks for the information we had goats but definitely didn’t feel ready hoping to add them again one day
Thanks! Goats can be a great addition, but like everything else on the farm, they come with their own unique challenges. I hope you do try them again!
Looking into choosing milk goats. Excellent, informative sweet video! Thank you!
That's great, I love my milk goats! I'm so glad you found the video helpful!
My goodness what a bunch of beautiful goats I love goats in my school we take care of some to and I love spending time with them. They are such a lovely animal to hang around with. They’re my favorite animal. I love them.
I love them too!
Such useful information. Thank you so much!
Glad it was helpful!
This was a great video. I learned a lot and very consistent with what I’ve read in the books.
Great to hear!
This is a great video! I learned a lot by watching it. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching, I'm so glad it was helpful!
You clearly give them a dream life before harvest, its so sweet! I wish i was one those goats 💖✨️
Aww that's so nice of you to say. We certainly love them as much as we can.
@@YouCanFarm if only tigers could be so gentle! Namaste, friend 🥰
Great show! Thanks for the tips 👍🏻 just picked up two Nubian girls, 3 weeks. Very helpful information!
Awesome, have fun with your new girls!
I really enjoyed this video. We just purchased our first home on over 8 acres. I plan on watching more of your videos. Appreciate the insight.
Congratulations, and thanks for watching!
Young lady I’m so glad I found you. Wonderful information.
Thank you for watching!!
Great job 🎉 I absolutely love your video. Wow that’s a ton of goats. Thanks. Pammie from Chicago Illinois
Thanks for watching!
Great informative video. Thank you!
Thanks for watching, I’m glad you found it informative!
Thank you.Great video! GOD BLESS!
You are so welcome!
Thank you, very nice work. I follow you with interest every day. Thank you again from the south and desert of Algeria
Thank you very much!
Such a great explanatory video. Thank you so much!
Thanks for watching!
This video was so informative! I’ve read numerous books and watched countless videos and this video was exactly the kind of information I was looking for! I could listen to you talk about goats all day! I want to get into Nubians or Nigerian dwarfs for their milk but I was really confused on how we would keep them in milk without accumulating a ton of goats or buckling at that since we don’t really want a territorial buck around please post more videos like this!!
Aww, thank you for such kind comments! I'm so glad it was helpful. Soon I'll be making a video about renting a buck, as we get ready to try that with our girls soon.
Subscribed and looking forward to it!
@@mrswray Thank you!
Beautiful natural
Nicely explained everything beginner's could possibly want to hear I appreciate on everyone's behalf tnx be blessed stay safe..
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Lots of good info. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Just started with three little ones, love them, thanks for the great advice
Congratulations!
Fabulous info, thanks
Thank you! Glad it was helpful!
Beautiful and informative video. Thank you. I hope to get goats some day and I'm saving this video. :)
Thanks! I hope you get those goats someday!
Great video! Thanks for the information!
Glad it was helpful!
So nice video I love so much this job raising goats and sheep I have experience of 12years
That's wonderful, keep up the good work!
Very good info! Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, this is really interesting and I have subscribed to your channel. Eager to learn from you.
Thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
My wife advises to find someone close that already works and knows goats. A mentor basically. The next is a vet that knows goats. She and the daughters have been raising them for over ten years. She tells people that she stills learns something new every year.
They have Nigerians, Alpines, and Kikos.
I tell people the same thing all the time! A goat mentor can be invaluable. I'm always learning new stuff about goats too, there is so much they can teach us.
Thank you much. Very informative video... Awesome
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Very educational. I love it
Thank you!
Very informative. Thank you 😊
Thanks for watching!
Terrific video....very helpful. You addressed all of my questions and concerns (for now, lol)...thank you!
I'm so glad, thanks for watcing!
You have a great story, interesting video and very informative.
This was very helpful! I am at the very beginning stage of possibly getting goats and this gave me a direction to start researching!
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Very Nice
Thank you for such an informative video 👌
Thanks for watching!
Such an informative video
Thank you!
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
I love your posts tbh !
Thanks!
Thank you for the informative video! We just bought a 40 acre farm and the farmer is leaving their goats behind. This video reduces anxiety of care taking.
I'm so glad it was helpful! Good luck and have fun with your new farm and goats!
This was a GOOD video! 👍🏽
Thanks so much for watching!
Loved the video
Thanks, I'm so glad!
Wow wonderful
Thank you so much!
Thanks 👍 I learnt something
I'm glad!
Love to see your video, you are inspiration of many females around, love to see your animals and your intrested and knowledge is very good stay blessed 😊😊😊
Thank you for the encouragement!
Great job
Thank you!
Such a helpful video! My fiancé definitely doesn’t want a dairy cow, but is open to dairy goats, which I’ve never considered, so I’m doing research. Your Nubians are lovely, and those babies!!!! 💗💗
That's wonderful, I hope you find the right fit for both of you!
❤ good teacher. Very pleasant
Thanks!
Chock full of info! Thank you.
I'm so glad you found it informative!
great video
Thanks!
I love your poses with the animals in the thumbnails.
Thank you!
Fantastic
Thanks
So lovely video. The goats are so close to you. 🙂
Yes, thank you
I am also animals lover ..I like animals and gardening .
Just found you. Interested in possibly getting meat goats. We are new to the goat world.
Thanks for all the info :)
Hello and welcome! Glad it was helpful!
you're awesome!
Aww, thank you!
Have subbed to a number if farm channels lately and live the content. Not sure where you are, but that's good living.....
Glad you are enjoying it! We are in North Carolina
@@YouCanFarmWhere at are you located in North Carolina? I am located in North Carolina to, idk if y'all allow people to come by but if so I'd love to learn more about goats if y'all do. We are looking to have goats. I am more hands on an never even milked a goat.
School ag teachers can really be a life saver when no one else will help
Support FFA
Yes!
Iam doing the same here in Uganda. .I wish one day you can visit my farm too
That's wonderful!
Goats are the cutest animals ever! T_T Even more cute than japanese babies. Yes I said it!
They are pretty stinkin' cute!
Love nubie goats most
Yep, they are super cool.
Everything perfect
Thank you!
Masha Allah very beautiful goat's i got two very friendly
Thank you!!
Debudding is a horrible practice, good for you! Thanks for lots of good tips.
I agree!
I hope to get into homesteading in a few years, and the person I want to do it with prefers goats over a cow. It's all so interesting!
I definitely prefer goats as well! I wish you all the best in your homesteading endeavors.
@@YouCanFarm thank you!
Love goats
Me too!
Thank you so much for all the information ❤ also for small heard how many should you have ? Smallest group ? Loved love your video 🥰🥰🥰❣️🫶🫶🐐
You have to have at least 2 because they will not tolerate being alone, but I think 3-4 is better just in case you need to separate one or if you (hopefully not) loose one.
Such an awesome video. Getting my first goats in the spring. I heard you say not to get a buck right off the bat but I’m a little thick headed and am getting a buck and either 1 or 2 females can I keep the buck right next to the females with a 6 foot goat fence as a divider:
Congratulations! You certainly don't need to listen to my advise, lol. You do it your way and I bet things work out great!
You might consider getting a buddy wether (castrated male) to hang out with your buck and keep him happier. My friends had their buck alone, separated by an 8-foot fence, and he jumped it several times and killed 4 out of 8 of his own kids before they sold him. Not typical, but it happens.
Aww she loves u 3:36
And I love her!
We have 1 Boer wether, 2 Nubian does, and 1 Saanen doe. They are our "property managers". No babies for us but OMG, they are cute!!
Sounds like a great herd!
in Pakistan there are 20+ goat breed, some famous are Beetal, makhi chini, barbari, rajunpori, kamori, pateri, gulabi , tapri, ddp, pahari . type " goat " to every breed name while search on the youtube
That's cool, we don't see any of those breeds here.
@@YouCanFarm which goat breed of pakistan do you like ?
The comment about "contamination of water with animal feces" was a surprise. What do you think happens in nature? What about all the public water systems that use surface water for potable water sources? The water in many rivers contains recycled treated water from wastewater treatment plants and industrial complexes. I get your point, but you should really consider the larger picture.
Your video generated the following questions for me:
So, regarding goat maintenance, can you deworm goats on a periodic basis? Do these chemicals, like some antibiotics, carry over into the goat's milk?
And generally speaking, what is the recommended density of goats per acre?
What is the estimated annual cost for supplemental feed?
Does the 18-month finishing window apply to both males and females?
Does your goat enterprise generate a positive cash flow?
In nature animals interact with water sources in a transitory manner. When you fence livestock around a body of water they tend to congregate there all day and pile enormous amounts of feces and urine into that water, destroying that local ecosystem in a very short period of time. Preventing this is taught as a core tenant of good agricultural practices. I certainly don't approve of all the other pollution that goes on in the world, but I am going to be as environmentally conscious on my small farm as possible. This is a big reason we constantly move our animals, mimicking nature and helping to prevent any negatives on the land impact from their waste.
Deworming on a regular schedule will lead to chemical resistance in your parasite population, and is highly discouraged. You are also harming the microbiome of your animal's gut each time you administer it. Better to focus on raising animals with stronger immune systems.
Dewormers do carry over into the meat and milk, and each has a withdrawal period associated with it.
The question of goats per acre is very hard to answer, because there are so many variables to consider. The more room the better, and/or move them as often as possible.
Also the question of supplemental feed is very difficult for me to answer, since that depends on prices in your area, availability of free forage, size, age and purpose of your goats. Typically a single adult goat that is not grazing needs at least one flake of good hay per day. If they are growing, reproducing or lactating they will need more, plus extra nutrition in the form of legumes or grains.
Yes, I find both males and females need about 18 months to hit full maturity in my mixed breed grazing system. In intensive heavy grain fed operations raising meat breeds they can be finished faster.
Yes, the goats generate a profit for our farm, utilizing them for meat, milk, tourism and education.
Oh yes, they are also very delicious!!😋
Yes they are!
Please let the baby twins be pets forever!
I wish I could keep them all as pets, but unfortunately I can't afford to. We love them all while they are here!
Love this video! Any tips on getting them to trust/like you? We got 2 12 week old Nigerian Dwarf wethers 2 days ago and they are awesome but definitely skittish because they didn’t get enough human interaction. We sit with them multiple times a day and have gotten them to eat hay and treats from our hands a few times but they don’t like when we try and pet or hold them. If we happen to be able to pick them up they seem find in our arms but they will not come to us willingly lol
Just keep doing what you are doing. Sit with them and feed treats, and slowly get them used to being touched while you are treating them. If you can do this at the same time each day that would be even better. Goats love routine and it builds trust, because it implies you will do what they expect. My goats particularly like neck scratches, and if you do get a chance to hold them, try to cuddle them until they fall asleep. Soon they will be your best friends!
@@YouCanFarm thank you so much for the advice!!
@@sierrarapp9099 you're welcome!
Great video!! Do you any electric fencing to fend off coyotes from the goat/sheep? How do you sell the meat? Does one need USDA approval?
The portable net fencing we used is electrified, so that helps protect the goats and sheep. We sell the meat by the retail cut at local farmers markets, and we do have to have it processed in a USDA or state inspected facility.
Hello 👋 I was nose to book then on to TH-cam, trying to learn everything I can about nubian goats. In just about 2 weeks I am getting 4 mini nubians coming to our farm. As I am most excited; I am clueless, as we have never had goats before. This video has been sooo very informative 👏!!! Thank you!!!🙂 Any advice on getting them acquainted to us, as we have not ever met them before?? Also, their fencing will be joined to my two, 6 year old Huskadors' dog-run. They are super friendly but also very protective of momma, so any suggestions on introduction?
Congratulations, mini Nubians are a great choice! To get them used to you, just spend some time sitting and quietly talking to them. Try to do this at the same times each day, and bring treats! Goats are very food motivated most of the time. Once they start coming up to you, give them some nice scratches. You can also try to pet them while they are eating, as they will be distracted and less fearful. As far as dog introductions, that's a tougher one. Goats are naturally fearful of predators, even if they mean no harm. Just try your best to keep everyone calm at first - again, food distractions may help. Hopefully they will do some sniffing through the fence and get to know one another over time. Best of luck!
@@YouCanFarm Oh my goodness...THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! I am so over the moon excited and soo cannot wait for this next chapter!🐐❤ Again, thank you!!! I have subscribed and will be following you for some great inspiration.🥰
Great video, thank you! I like letting my goats keep their horns as well. How do you go about training them not to head butt you, and only their mates?
Thanks! I don't keep any animal that gives me a hard time, so I haven't had to deal with any head butting me. I also don't touch them much up by their horns, so they won't think I want to interact in that way. If one does get frisky, I immediately flip them on their back to establish dominance.
hi! i was wondering if you rotationally graze to also help the health of your soil? do you know if this is a thing with grazing goats?
Definitely! Properly managed grazing with any ruminant species is beneficial to the health of the soil. Our goats are more focused on wooded areas, and where they clear heavy overgrowth we see more native grasses popping up later.
Hey Julie, how do your ewe crosses do with milk production? I plan to have Nubians for milking to produce butter and various cheeses. The wethers will be raised with our sheep until its time to process them (18 months or so).
The cross bred goats are really variable as far as milk production. My Nubians are great producers though!
What electrifier do you use? Do you have a link? I'm looking for a solar option.
We use an older model solar charger from Premier1 Supplies that they don't make anymore. I've heard their newer ones are not as good. I think Gallagher has a better reputation lately, but I haven't tried them myself. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
This was great. Do you have, or can you make a video that goes further in depth about the training methods you use? It would really help me out. I have two little boys and they are mostly good, but are becoming more rebellious about returning to their paddock after we walk around browsing other areas. Am trying to teach them their names, and to come to me. But they only do it for a treat, not for pets. Thank you so much.
Great suggestion, I will have to do a video on that soon!
@@YouCanFarm That would be AWESOME. My boys also don't like to go to bed. We have to lock them up for safety, and they have a very clean and lovely place to sleep............thank you so much!!!!!!
@@joep2796 You'll only need to bribe them until you establish the habit. Carry food at first, and have more waiting for them somewhere inside their pen. Once it's clear they know the pen food is waiting for them, you can stop carrying it. Six months after they start looking forward to coming home, you won't need the food anymore.
It's hard to know why your boys don't want to go into a structure at night. It might be worth putting a camera in there, see if you can sort out if something is making them uncomfortable. I had that problem too, and it turned out that my head goat was beating up on everybody. I made a couple more food troughs and built a small platform that she claimed. Now she stays busy protecting her food and her place, and anybody who doesn't want a fight just stays away from those things.
@@highfive9835 Thank you SO much!!!! Very helpful indeed.
@@joep2796 Good luck!
May I ask how do you cull the meat goats? Do you take them to a processing place or do you do it yourselves?
We take them to a USDA inspected processing facility to have them done.
Very informative video thank you, I wanna start goat farm, how can buy like 50 goats?
Thanks, I'm glad you found it helpful. To buy that many goats I would look for an auction near you.
Would love to get some dairy goats, but I'm a couple years out from that being realistic. So I'm just biding my time and reading up on them.
That's awesome that you are learning about them now. You'll be so prepared when the time comes!
I just can't believe how casually she switches back and forth between saying how affectionate and sociable they are, and referring to them as a source of meat. I was so impacted that, when I saw the man with her in the thumbnail I thought, "Is she going to do the same to him when the time comes?"
Many goats are raised for meat, it s one of the primary reasons they are kept around the world. We are running a business, and meat is one of the main products we provide for our customers. I believe all my animals are deserving of the same love and respect, whether they are intended to live out their days on the farm as breeding stock, or destined to be meat one day. I can't keep them all as pets, and only a fraction of the livestock produced should go on to be breeders. I was just being realistic and honest.
@@YouCanFarm Thanks for replying. It's just a different take on life and the world. I wasn't saying you should ignore them or mistreat them on top of slaughtering them (directly or indirectly). It just baffles me how someone can willingly cause the death of a person or animal they have been loving on, whose feelings and personality they recognize and interact with. If my neighbor admitted to being a serial killer or a cannibal, his honesty and realism about it when he talks to me wouldn't add or subtract anything from the fact. Same goes for the fact that a lot of people treat animals as a source of food in this era of plenty. It's a fact of our society, but it still says horrible things about humanity. Still, what you do is way, way better than factory farms. We all have to live with ourselves. I am the same as you, growing my flowers and vegetables with care, and then killing them and rationalizing it. Still, I have to live of something, and plucking a tomato is not killing a plant. Plants want nothing more than their fruits to be spread along with the seed. Also, you can't compare the intensity of feelings and emotions plants have compared to animals.
That's fair, and I agree we probably have very different perspectives on life, food and the world. I was a vegetarian for over a decade because of my love for animals, but eventually shifted to advocating and devoting my life to raising them in a better way instead. I don't see a place in the world for many domesticated species without our care and management of them for food, and humans have evolved to thrive on the consumption of the meat they provide. Nature for all it's beauty is a ruthlessly brutal, and there's really no peaceful death in the wild. We raise these animals in safety and comfort, where they don't have to worry about predation, starvation, or exposure to the elements. Some of them are harvested as humanely as possible in order to nourish us in return for our stewardship, and we appreciate their sacrifice so that we can continue to provide a better life for the rest.
Hi there! great vid! (Though i had to watch it twice because i was too focused on the goats in the background rather than the video and facts lol). I am 13 years old from cape town south Africa and am looking to get goats soon! do you mind if you could answer the following questions, please :)?
1. For 2 goats how big should an enclosure be?
2. we have grass and greens+ browns all-round the year could they live just off that or would you have to still give them hay and such
3 (u don't have to answer this if you don't want to) how much do your goats cost a year?
4. how much milk do you get from a single goat
i have so many more questions i would love to ask but i won't make this comment to long lol
kind regards,
Geogia (+ the 3 dumbo rats)
Hi Georgia! That's wonderful that you are getting goats soon.
Your questions are bit difficult to answer without knowing more about your situation, but I will do my best.
The size of the enclosure depends on how big your goats are, and what it will be used for. If it is just to house them and feed hay then it doesn't need to be very large, but if it includes their area to browse and find their own food it will need to cover a lot more space.
Goats are good at finding their own food. For just 2 goats you should be able to feed them with just the forage you have available, but you may have to supplement them with hay if it is not enough or doesn't offer enough nutrition.
This year we had to feed more hay then I would have liked because we had too many goats for the amount of land available, so the goats cost a bit more than usual, but the cost will still only be about $50 per goat.
The amount of milk from each goat varies through the season and the individual goat, but typically I get about a quart from each one if I milk once a day. When I milk twice a day I get almost double that.
I hope this helped a little!
I want to subscribe but you have 7 7 7 subs! That’s a blessed number lol
Haha, well I got a few more now, but thank you!
Thank you! I'm interested in goat packing in Pa. What are your breed recommendations? I would like 2 goats that are small and friendly.
Thank you
If you are looking for small and friendly, Nigerian Dwarfs are very popular. But a smaller goat won't be able to carry as much on a pack as a full size goat. I believe Alpines are popular pack goats.
During the winter time do you still keep them out in the field? I don't know if you gets no I get a lot of snow where I'm at.
No, we move them to a permanent area with access to a barn during the winter. We don't get snow very often, but we do get freezing rain which can be dangerous for animals to be out in.
I really love goats! They are so adorable and beautiful, but was wondering if there is anything they naturally like that is rare or hard for them to get?
I discovered a place down the valley (nearby where I live) with goats and sheep grazing on fresh pasture, then I met their owners and very cute newborn goats! Would love to go again and treat them with something they enjoy or hard for them to get. I have read online some controversy about Pine needles, they are healthy in moderation and that they should not be given to goats, so I need advice from someone with good experience raising goats. Thank you for the informative video :)
That's great that you met some goat friends! My goat's favorite natural treat are dandelion leaves.
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Is it a bad idea to have goats in a fenced in lagoon area? Just for keeping vegetation down.
Yes, I wouldn't recommend it. Goats hate standing on wet ground, and it can cause hoof rot.
Ive got 5 acres, fenced in. 80% forest fairly thick to alot of dogweed. If i got 2 or 3 how fast would they eat it all?
It's hard to say without looking at exactly what plants are out there, but generally if they can reach it and it's edible, a few full sized goats could get through that in 3-6 months. A larger herd would be more efficient because they would compete for forage, whereas just a few with an abundance to eat might be very lazy about it.