I was just speaking with a lady that has nigerians. She said that her nigies give 1 quart each a day. Is this average? I thought it was 2 quarts a day? We are a family of five and can only afford two goats. We are wanting to make sour cream, cream cheese, kefir, motzarella, chevre', brie, and have milk for cereal. Maybe I need a mini breed?
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So, Dasha, this was over two years ago - how is it going? Your two are likely many more now and your heart is lost forever.
Dasha Davis said:
I agree with everyone on the importance of goats having company. It is very hard on them. My first ND - was alone but we have sheep and I spent most of my day with her. Finally found her another friend after about a month. She did okay but I don't recommend it. I also will not sell a single animal to someone with no critters at home.
There are always a few exceptions. For several years I had a nubian doe that lived with my german sheppard dog, only because her sister had been killed by a neighbor dog. She seemed to like the situation but my daughters were young and spend hours with her daily, as did I. She was treated like a dog I guess. She rode in the jeep, went hiking with us -was a wonderful girl. But an exception. I had someone want a goat for a friend for their dog and I wouldn't sell it to them.
I was thinking the EXACT same thing! Buy a weather (some are free) and butcher when you no longer need him.
I'm reading page after page of milking. There is to much info on here to skip any pages. I know these are old posts, but they go in chronological order...
On a side note:
I have a ff who is "show quality" as she was bred to be a show goat. The prior owner does not breed for milk production which is sad, because their milk is SO good! I have a family of 5, and with my one ff I have to buy a gallon a week, and she gives me almost a cup and a half twice a day.
I've found that I can increase her production slightly by increasing milking. Her production dropped a little, so I milked 3x a day, and it came right back up.
I'm hoping to build up milking when my own ff kid in February.
Dasha,
Do you have any follow up? Did you get ND shipped to you in Alaska? How is it working out for you and your family?
I have to agree totally with Rachel on this! And if you can locate a pregnant doe, I would go that route! Your situation does require some creativity and IMO, you really need to be absolutely sure that you will be able to locate a suitable buck that you can use for breeding. I would want to get the pregnant doe and an unrelated (to her and her kids) buck of high quality if it were me. And I would pray for doe kids to be born. I realize the whole question of companions is at stake here, but the fact is, we are talking about Alaska here! I would not bother to try this without a pair! And he would not have to be an adult if she is already bred! Fact: You can not produce kids or milk without a pair! You really need at least 2 SUITABLE on standby for breeding or your own! And a lot of people have trouble getting them bred as it is when using other peoples bucks!
Rachel Whetzel said:
Oh, I forgot to mention that I am getting them locally from a great breeder!
Thank you, all of you for your answers. They helped me more than you know! I am going to get two nigerians here in the next few weeks.
If you can afford to bring in new blood, that would make it easier to sell kids. I learned that with my American Guinea Hogs! Everyone around here has pigs that are related, which makes it impossible to sell breeding stock to anyone other than someone brand new.
Yes, I know the nigerian breeders around here :) I would just need to have them shipped in if I found really good bloodlines outside (Rule of thumb in Alaska, always bring in new bloodlines where possible for any species/breed as they are mostly recycled genetics that have been passed all over the state) or i decided to get a mini breed. However, you girls have cleared up alot of the concern that I've had :)
I agree with Rachel that this could be a great solution in your situation and if you get a single pregnant doe and have a good deal of time to spend with her it could have the advantage of being a wonderful bonding time. I do believe a good breeder could best advise you based on the does personality etc.
I would think that a doe who enjoys human companionship and is perhaps low ranking in the herd and maybe being picked on would be a perfect candidate for you. Because she would probably really enjoy the break from that stress and being lavished with your attention. Then when her kids came she would have goat company but still not have to be worried about being an underdog!
Oooooh! If you can get goats in Alaska, that would be AWESOME SAUCE!! Another thing I just thought of, is if you could work with a breeder, you might be able to but a deposit on a preggo doe, and wait until she kids/weans to buy her and a kid of hers, or another goat from that herd. Then you'd have a doe in milk, and a companion at the same time.
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