Just wanted to introduce myself...
My name is Krystal and I am a (very) new NDG momma. My young (human) kids and I picked up two banded bucks on Tuesday and I am already so in love! My (goat) boys are 5 months old. (Not sure if that is a little too old for banding or not but the breeder seemed confident in banding them so I took her word for it.) My four (human) kids are enjoying the boys just as much as I am (and my husband didn't complain when he came home to see us loving on the newest additions to the farm so that is a plus). I did a lot of reading before deciding to pull the trigger and get the boys but now that they are here I have so many more questions and my curiosity for all things goat has sky rocketed.
Is there any reading material (other than this fabulous site) that you would suggest? As of now, I am going to let the boys teach me and would like to expand next year to a doe or two. I love goats milk soap and my goal would be to learn how to make it myself (I currently trade a long distance friend my raw honey for her soap she makes from her LaManchas.)
Here are some of my concerns, goals and objectives:
-My (human) kids show my goats for 4H. (And be strong competition.)
-Do I want a buck??? (Million dollar question that seems to have a million different answers from a million different people.)
-Be able to identify good show (and personality) quality does and bucks.
-Have my goats maintain the brush, weeds and saplings around our one acre pond. (How to keep them around the pond without putting up fence, do I need to worry about predators and what kinds, are there plants that can harm my goats?)
-Learn to make soap, would love to attend a class!
-Responsibly breed my own NDGs.
So if you know of any good reading material (or if you have your own advice) please share it with me! I am so excited for this new chapter in my life.
Replies
Welcome, Krystal, and ditto to all that's been said already. :)
Hi Krystal! Welcome, I'm a total newbie to the goat world as well and jumped right on in after spending the winter researching. What started out as a herd of three doelings has now become a herd of four doelings and a first freshener I'm milking! :) These lil' cuties certainly find a way into your heart. I'm going to third the vote for getting Deborah's book. It has been such a great resource to me. I read it before I had my babies and now refer back to it frequently.
To add to what Rachel said about soap and cheese, Deborah's book has detailed directions for both! I haven't done a class but have succeeded in making wonderful soap and fabulous cheese. (Newbie here... only one year into the wonderful world of goats!)
Welcome to the group!!
I second Julia's vote that Deborah's book will be a great help to you!
In the mean time, here is my two cents on your list:
-Do I want a buck??? If you have the room, having a buck will save you SO MUCH time and energy. I did not start out with bucks, and driveway breeding failed MANY times. As a new goat owner, I was not good at hitting the VERY small window of time for breeding, and the only time my does got pregnant off my farm, was the one time I was able to board one of them for a month at the buck's farm. This option is rarely available, so if you want to even consider it, you should know whether driveway breeding or boarding is even an option with anyone close enough to do it.
-Be able to identify good show (and personality) quality does and bucks. This is something that takes some time and experience, but there are some great sites out there that help a little bit. Here's one I like: http://www.debpnigerians.com/choosingyourgoat.htm
-Have my goats maintain the brush, weeds and saplings around our one acre pond. (How to keep them around the pond without putting up fence, do I need to worry about predators and what kinds, are there plants that can harm my goats?) I suggest electric netting fencing for this. We have yet to be able to purchase it, but when we do, I will be confident in the keeping in of the goats, and keeping OUT of the predators. :)
-Learn to make soap, would love to attend a class! Check your local extension office! I have attended a great cheese making class through one near me.
Again, WELCOME!
If you look to the right of this page you'll see Deborah Niemann's excellent book "Raising Goats Naturally". In it she answers just about all of your questions! I highly recommend it. This is her site as well.