Hi all,
We're planning to get two Nigerian dwarf does in the spring for milking and for companionship for our son, and we want to ensure that we have adequate space for them. We also want them to eat as much pasture as possible. What is the ideal amount of space for two Nigerian dwarf goats to graze well? I realize that they prefer browse...will they even eat much grass? If there is too much space, will they ignore parts of the pasture?
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My 2 cents about the electric fence: I have a 6 wire electric fence around about an acre (mostly wooded and brambles) with 5-6" spacing for the lowest 3 wires. My two doelings tested it the first day they were here but after being bitten by it, they have never done it again. They graze right along it but even if they are tempted by something yummy on the other side, they always think better of it and respect the fence. They have been here one month and it's been great. Predators don't even think about trying to get through it. A bear came by last week but after taking a piece of well-placed bacon off the wire-- he will not be back!! This was the least expensive fencing I could find that would protect my girls. I have a whole house generator for backup but if you don't you can use the solar powered chargers.
Yes -- what Rachel said -- if the shelter is too big to move by hand, you can hook it up to a tractor to move it. You would most likely use portable ElectroNet as the fencing if you had a shelter that big.
Deb was talking about the shelter IN the pen, I believe. Not the pen itself. :) It would be used/moved similarly to a chicken tractor that is moved by tractor.
Izzy Kosice said:
how would you use a tractor to move the moveable pen? we have 4 kids - 3 are 3.5 months and 1 is 7.5 months; we anticipate that we will start kidding them next year sometime, so will have move mouths to feed then, and will also need to separate them out. we do not plan to get a buck- just does and wethers...
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
We've done it with kids. Keep in mind that the shelter will have to be big enough to house the goats but light enough to move easily -- unless you have a tractor to move it, which we don't.
Momma Jo said:
I know this is an old discussion but I'm new here and reading through things. I am interested in getting possibly 3 ND next Spring and am trying to plan for what will be needed. I have read different discussions about the moveable pens using cattle panels. I love this idea as it would work well in helping clear the brush in our wooded property - I imagine and looks pretty inexpensive.
My question is does anyone use the moveable pen not just during the day but to house the goats at night too - obviously providing some shelter within the pen?
how would you use a tractor to move the moveable pen? we have 4 kids - 3 are 3.5 months and 1 is 7.5 months; we anticipate that we will start kidding them next year sometime, so will have move mouths to feed then, and will also need to separate them out. we do not plan to get a buck- just does and wethers...
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
We've done it with kids. Keep in mind that the shelter will have to be big enough to house the goats but light enough to move easily -- unless you have a tractor to move it, which we don't.
Momma Jo said:
I know this is an old discussion but I'm new here and reading through things. I am interested in getting possibly 3 ND next Spring and am trying to plan for what will be needed. I have read different discussions about the moveable pens using cattle panels. I love this idea as it would work well in helping clear the brush in our wooded property - I imagine and looks pretty inexpensive.
My question is does anyone use the moveable pen not just during the day but to house the goats at night too - obviously providing some shelter within the pen?
I LOVE IT! Why did we not come up with this idea earlier? Post pics!
I have to second what Rachel said about having a second doe instead of a wether! It would cost a little more to buy a doe than a wether yes, but that means you will have twice the milk, twice the kids (which means twice the fun), for not much difference in money at all because other than intial purchase cost and a little more grain etc. you get twice as much production. A wether is only a companion and will produce NOTHING even though he still cost you money and takes up your time to care for while he gives nothing back!
And I love cattle panels personally, and would never want anything else!
Rachel Whetzel said:
I just realized that I could use the metal brackets for making your own sawhorses to make a portable A framed shelter that could fold up for goats... now I want to try that.
Does in milk do eat more, but most people use grain to supplement them while they are taking in more. I use a Barley, Oat and Black Oil Sunflower mix and feed my does that while they are on the milking stand. Otherwise, they eat the same as the rest of the herd. :)
There is a gal here that cut her cattle panels in 1/2, and used them that way. (still the 16X16 size, minus the bit she cut out) because they can be tough to wrangle. If I were going back to a portable system, I would cut my panels for sure. They are tough to maneuver in full length. I use plastic fencing on the bottom of my cattle panels to keep the littles in. :)
I'm planning to milk, the only reason to get a wether instead of two does was not knowing if I had pasture to support two does in milk (I assume they eat more than a wether) and their kids, or enough barn space--potentially 10 animals for part of the year! Also the difference in initial cost, but as you say, I'm sure a doe would pay for herself over her life compared to a wether.
I definitely want to do the rotational grazing thing. I'm in New Hampshire where the grass and weeds grow pretty well! Even during a dry year the grass is still green, especially in our yard which is pretty shady. Sounds like if I used 16x16 areas I could leave the goats there for at least 3 days, which would give me three months or more between them being on the same patch.
I suppose I could start with cattle panels and switch to electric netting if the gaps turn out to be too much of a problem. I'm not TOO worried about predators (although I know we have coyotes around here) since I don't plan to leave them out at night--more about the goats getting out. I'm the type of person who likes to have everything exactly planned out before I venture on something new like this, but I know there are always things you'll have to change and adapt to. I'm trying to find a balance of being prepared but not so hesitant that I never do anything! Thanks for your help!
I'll give you my two cents. :) Of course there isn't any ONE right way, so you can take what I have to say and use what will work for you. :)
1) What you purchase should depend on what you want your goats FOR. If you want them for milk, I would not purchase a wether if you can buy two does. A wether is basically a "useless" mouth to feed. (It's the reason I own two bucks over a buck and a wether.) I look at it this way. If you are feeding two goats, why not be feeding two mouths that have the potential to give back?
2) It sounds like you have ample space for two goats! I wouldn't personally do anything less than 16X16 for two goats. You might consider fencing in a way that gives you rotational grazing. The smaller your spaces, the less time you can keep them on a "square" without killing off everything in that square. If you used 32X32 sized lots, you could potentially have 6 lots. (if I'm doing my math right) Ideally, the key is to try to work your rotation so that each field "rests" for at least 3 months.
3) If you choose electric fencing, you will have to place the strands EVERY closely in order to keep goats in. If you go the electric route, I would suggest using electric netting, and using a solar powered version of it, to avoid goats on the loose should you lose power.
Welcome, Rachel! It depends on where you are located ... how fast does the grass grow, how thick is the grass? And that of course can vary with the amount of rain you get. I hope WG4 chimes in, but I think she moves her goats every 2-4 days, and she keeps four in a 16 X 16 space. If your land is not flat, I'd go with the livestock panels rather than electric netting. You might need to put something in a dip to block it (log, big rock, cinder block, etc), if it's really big. If it isn't a big enough dip for the goats to get out, then it's probably not a big deal unless you're worried about coyotes or a neighbor's dog.
Hi everybody, new member here. First of all, thank you all for lending your time and expertise to help others get started with goats. I hope my question isn't too redundant but I'm trying to figure this out for sure.
I don't have goats yet; I'm trying to figure out if it's feasible for me where we live. I'm thinking of either a doe and a wether, or maybe two does, and I would like to be able to support them on pasture as much as possible during the green months of the year (I would be keeping them for milk).
I went around my yard with a 16-foot rope and counted out roughly 26 squares of 16x16, mostly grassy areas, but some brushy stuff too including blackberry brambles which I hear are a goat favorite. Would that be enough? How long would they stay on one square? For two adults would it be better to do a smaller square, maybe 8x8? I live in a rural area and there is plenty of pasture space around if I can make an agreement with neighbors, but I don't want to count on that.
The other thing is that some parts of the yard are not very flat. Would I be better off using electric fencing, and how effective is that with NDs?
Replies
My 2 cents about the electric fence: I have a 6 wire electric fence around about an acre (mostly wooded and brambles) with 5-6" spacing for the lowest 3 wires. My two doelings tested it the first day they were here but after being bitten by it, they have never done it again. They graze right along it but even if they are tempted by something yummy on the other side, they always think better of it and respect the fence. They have been here one month and it's been great. Predators don't even think about trying to get through it. A bear came by last week but after taking a piece of well-placed bacon off the wire-- he will not be back!! This was the least expensive fencing I could find that would protect my girls. I have a whole house generator for backup but if you don't you can use the solar powered chargers.
Yes -- what Rachel said -- if the shelter is too big to move by hand, you can hook it up to a tractor to move it. You would most likely use portable ElectroNet as the fencing if you had a shelter that big.
Deb was talking about the shelter IN the pen, I believe. Not the pen itself. :) It would be used/moved similarly to a chicken tractor that is moved by tractor.
Izzy Kosice said:
how would you use a tractor to move the moveable pen? we have 4 kids - 3 are 3.5 months and 1 is 7.5 months; we anticipate that we will start kidding them next year sometime, so will have move mouths to feed then, and will also need to separate them out. we do not plan to get a buck- just does and wethers...
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I LOVE IT! Why did we not come up with this idea earlier? Post pics!
I have to second what Rachel said about having a second doe instead of a wether! It would cost a little more to buy a doe than a wether yes, but that means you will have twice the milk, twice the kids (which means twice the fun), for not much difference in money at all because other than intial purchase cost and a little more grain etc. you get twice as much production. A wether is only a companion and will produce NOTHING even though he still cost you money and takes up your time to care for while he gives nothing back!
And I love cattle panels personally, and would never want anything else!
Rachel Whetzel said:
Does in milk do eat more, but most people use grain to supplement them while they are taking in more. I use a Barley, Oat and Black Oil Sunflower mix and feed my does that while they are on the milking stand. Otherwise, they eat the same as the rest of the herd. :)
There is a gal here that cut her cattle panels in 1/2, and used them that way. (still the 16X16 size, minus the bit she cut out) because they can be tough to wrangle. If I were going back to a portable system, I would cut my panels for sure. They are tough to maneuver in full length. I use plastic fencing on the bottom of my cattle panels to keep the littles in. :)
Wow, thanks for the quick replies!
I'm planning to milk, the only reason to get a wether instead of two does was not knowing if I had pasture to support two does in milk (I assume they eat more than a wether) and their kids, or enough barn space--potentially 10 animals for part of the year! Also the difference in initial cost, but as you say, I'm sure a doe would pay for herself over her life compared to a wether.
I definitely want to do the rotational grazing thing. I'm in New Hampshire where the grass and weeds grow pretty well! Even during a dry year the grass is still green, especially in our yard which is pretty shady. Sounds like if I used 16x16 areas I could leave the goats there for at least 3 days, which would give me three months or more between them being on the same patch.
I suppose I could start with cattle panels and switch to electric netting if the gaps turn out to be too much of a problem. I'm not TOO worried about predators (although I know we have coyotes around here) since I don't plan to leave them out at night--more about the goats getting out. I'm the type of person who likes to have everything exactly planned out before I venture on something new like this, but I know there are always things you'll have to change and adapt to. I'm trying to find a balance of being prepared but not so hesitant that I never do anything! Thanks for your help!
Hi, Rachelle!!
I'll give you my two cents. :) Of course there isn't any ONE right way, so you can take what I have to say and use what will work for you. :)
1) What you purchase should depend on what you want your goats FOR. If you want them for milk, I would not purchase a wether if you can buy two does. A wether is basically a "useless" mouth to feed. (It's the reason I own two bucks over a buck and a wether.) I look at it this way. If you are feeding two goats, why not be feeding two mouths that have the potential to give back?
2) It sounds like you have ample space for two goats! I wouldn't personally do anything less than 16X16 for two goats. You might consider fencing in a way that gives you rotational grazing. The smaller your spaces, the less time you can keep them on a "square" without killing off everything in that square. If you used 32X32 sized lots, you could potentially have 6 lots. (if I'm doing my math right) Ideally, the key is to try to work your rotation so that each field "rests" for at least 3 months.
3) If you choose electric fencing, you will have to place the strands EVERY closely in order to keep goats in. If you go the electric route, I would suggest using electric netting, and using a solar powered version of it, to avoid goats on the loose should you lose power.
Welcome, Rachel! It depends on where you are located ... how fast does the grass grow, how thick is the grass? And that of course can vary with the amount of rain you get. I hope WG4 chimes in, but I think she moves her goats every 2-4 days, and she keeps four in a 16 X 16 space. If your land is not flat, I'd go with the livestock panels rather than electric netting. You might need to put something in a dip to block it (log, big rock, cinder block, etc), if it's really big. If it isn't a big enough dip for the goats to get out, then it's probably not a big deal unless you're worried about coyotes or a neighbor's dog.
Hi everybody, new member here. First of all, thank you all for lending your time and expertise to help others get started with goats. I hope my question isn't too redundant but I'm trying to figure this out for sure.
I don't have goats yet; I'm trying to figure out if it's feasible for me where we live. I'm thinking of either a doe and a wether, or maybe two does, and I would like to be able to support them on pasture as much as possible during the green months of the year (I would be keeping them for milk).
I went around my yard with a 16-foot rope and counted out roughly 26 squares of 16x16, mostly grassy areas, but some brushy stuff too including blackberry brambles which I hear are a goat favorite. Would that be enough? How long would they stay on one square? For two adults would it be better to do a smaller square, maybe 8x8? I live in a rural area and there is plenty of pasture space around if I can make an agreement with neighbors, but I don't want to count on that.
The other thing is that some parts of the yard are not very flat. Would I be better off using electric fencing, and how effective is that with NDs?
Thanks!
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