The breeder I am currently talking to about getting my first set of Nigerian doelings plans on keeping them until they are about 7 months old. They will be born in March and I can buy them in September. He is doing this because it works best for his milking schedule to only have to milk a once a day through the Summer.
Fortunately the goats are only about an hour from us and near my in-laws house, so we plan on being able to visit them several times over the Spring and Summer.
Are there any disadvantages to buying goats like this that are a bit older? How will bonding with us go if they are this old?
Views: 73
You need to be a member of Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats to add comments!
Thank you as usual for the great answers. I was disappointed when he told me he wanted to keep them so long, since it meant we would have to wait longer to be "goat people", but I also figure it does mean someone else pays to feed them for that time while they grow. Also as you pointed out being on their mother's milk longer is not a bad thing. I like this breeder for his management style, it very much matches how I would like to manage my own goats eventually, so I am willing to wait
Deborah, as a side note wanted to let you know I finished reading your Raising Goats Naturally book and really enjoyed it. There is so much information packed into it and it is written in a very readable way. Thank you for putting it together and I can't wait to actually put the information into use next Sept. when I finally get goats.
Assuming the breeder spends time with the kids, it's not a big deal. If they get bonded to people when they're young, they usually transition to bonding with new owners quickly. It's just a matter of them knowing that people won't eat them (because they're prey animals). Here is more on that:
You shouldn't have too much problem bonding with them once you start caring for them. They will learn to trust you. I don't totally understand why the current owner wants to wait so long, but that's his call I suppose. At least you know they will have gotten plenty of their mother's milk, which is so good for them.
Replies
Thank you, Aaron! I'm so glad to hear that you've found the book helpful! That's my goal!
Thank you as usual for the great answers. I was disappointed when he told me he wanted to keep them so long, since it meant we would have to wait longer to be "goat people", but I also figure it does mean someone else pays to feed them for that time while they grow. Also as you pointed out being on their mother's milk longer is not a bad thing. I like this breeder for his management style, it very much matches how I would like to manage my own goats eventually, so I am willing to wait
Deborah, as a side note wanted to let you know I finished reading your Raising Goats Naturally book and really enjoyed it. There is so much information packed into it and it is written in a very readable way. Thank you for putting it together and I can't wait to actually put the information into use next Sept. when I finally get goats.
Assuming the breeder spends time with the kids, it's not a big deal. If they get bonded to people when they're young, they usually transition to bonding with new owners quickly. It's just a matter of them knowing that people won't eat them (because they're prey animals). Here is more on that:
http://thriftyhomesteader.com/farm-animal-psychology/
You shouldn't have too much problem bonding with them once you start caring for them. They will learn to trust you. I don't totally understand why the current owner wants to wait so long, but that's his call I suppose. At least you know they will have gotten plenty of their mother's milk, which is so good for them.