I'm very determined to get into dairy goat showing next year for 4-h/FFA, and after a bit of research, it was an easy decision to go with Nigerians! I will be moving to the Portland, Oregon area at the end of May, so I have no connections there to see who the good breeders are. Now, there are a lot of breeders to choose from in the Washington/Oregon area, and I need a bit of help choosing. I'm looking for great doelings that will do great in the ring, with good conformation and strong udders.
- Calico Creek Farms( http://www.calicocreekfarm.net/KIDDING_SCHEDULE.html ) I really liked this breeder first off. I am currently in contact with them and have expressed my interest in Eve's, Fawn's, and Cinder's breedings. They have even suggested that they may have a few yearlings for sale after kidding. The buck they have bred to seems spectacular, and their does appear very correct in their udders and conformation. The only problem I see here is that I do not believe they register their animals in more than one association, limiting my showing options a bit.
- KW Farms( http://www.kwfarms.com/breedingschedule.htm ) I am in contact with this breeder as well through a couple sources. I haven't expressed any particular interest to them about which breedings I like, but I am interested in #11, #14, and #28. Similarly, they have also said that they will have some yearlings available. I like this breeder, but with reservations having already been placed on many of the good does, I have very limited options.
- Camanna's Petite Paradise( http://www.camanna.com/breeding-kidding-schedule/ ) I like this breeder as well, they have some spectacular does, but I have the same problem here as I do with KW, reservations have already been taken. I would really like to consider this one more as they have some fantastic does, but it is difficult to when all of them are spoken for already.
- I also have a 4th option that just recently came up today. She doesn't have a website but she sent me some pics of her does: truffle_av2009.jpg sherry1.jpg DSCF0776.JPG I think that they are pretty darn great. I hope my opinion is right though, otherwise all the stuff I've been learning about Dwarfs is useless lol! She has no pictures of the bucks atm, but might get some soon. Both have blue eyes from what I hear! Truffle had trips! Two does and a buck, wanna ask for pics ;) Here's the link to Truffle's and Sherry's breeders, they seem well accomplished: http://urbanacresfarm.com/nigies.htm
I think I'm very much leaning towards the 1st and 4th breeders, I really like their does and they seem to have great pedigrees. Anyhow, I need some experienced people's opinions so I do not make the wrong decision. If you know of any other good breeders in that area please let me know and I can check them out! Any advice will be very appreciated!
Replies
Thank you for the congrats! She really is pretty, i've liked the gold w/ blue eyes for
And I think it's to show you have control over your goat...like even if they know they can get out, they don't? I've tried clasping the chain around her neck in a way she can't get out, but then she just tried to chew on the loose piece of chain! And I wasn't able to watch the livestream unfortunately :/ I like the total count of Nigerians showed though! It's right up there with the other breeds, Nigerians are definitely getting more popular :)
I don't know if you can use a slip of leather for the collar in shows. One thing I noticed at the Nationals is goats were slipping out of their collars. I am not yet sure why they have to be so loose as to slip out.
Misty said:
Congratulations on your purchase. That is a beautiful color and cute top hat. I'm glad actually that no one ever purchased my babies after the results of the Nationals. Hope you watched the show via livestream and followed some winners on their facebook. It was pretty exciting.
We picked her up! Sorry it's a little late, we got her two weeks ago, I've been a bit busy lol! Meet Camanna UP Bambi Blue! It took a few days, but she took to the bottle well :) She's eating grain, hay, minerals well. I introduced her to the other goats, she's dominant to the pygmies, but is a little bullied by the Boers, not as seriously as I thought, but the little Boer likes to bite and butt her for no reason, something I'm working to stop. She is too small and can get out of their pen though, so she is in our backyard for now. She is very friendly and loving, loves to be picked up and put on laps, and is following me around all the time! I've started collar training, didn't go well for awhile until I introduced a pinch collar, now she is doing very well with walking. She doesn't do well with chains(she likes to chew them and it distracts her) or pinches(she fights it now) though, she likes flat soft collars...like leather. I'm not sure how I'm going to get her used to chains...would I be able to put a slip of leather over a chain and use that in the ring? Would it be against the rules? I also need a bit of help teaching her to stand still and set up(I got lucky with those few pics, she was about as tied up as you can get a goat though!). I know she's still little, but I want to get her semi-trained for the Oregon State Fair so she can look pretty and hopefully place well. I might not be able to do any junior shows(including showmanship sadly) this summer, and maybe this year, so I want to do as good as possible in the ones I can show in. I also have some more pics of her now! Let me know what you think of her :)
It was so generous of her, I honestly cannot thank her enough for that. And I don't think I would want a 'lone goat' lol, my first Boer doe, we had in a pen at the school Ag farm. She wasn't in with any other goats, but she could see them. As soon as she would see me though, *que scream* my goat practically became the laughing stock of FFA!
And both goats have been around goats of all sizes, however I'm still going to take the process slowly, because if they are going to be herd-mates for the rest of their lives, they might as well get along! My bigger, older doe seems to accept strangers better, however my tiny little Boer mix doe is a bit...territorial I guess? She has a bit of an attitude.
That was very generous of Lisa Carter to offer a whether to you. Have to remember that one. And I'm glad you are settled in on getting the Nigerian you wanted. With that said, I've had 'lone' goats in my past and they made exceptionally good pets who did not cry at all! I guess if they have no one to talk to but people, they don't care about other goats!
Karen
I didn't THINK so... but I had to be sure. :) Glad you understand. Good luck with your integration! My littles didn't do well when I tried to mix the large goat with the smalls, but I do know people that have been successful with full sized and dwarf mixed herds. :)
Mist Brickley said:
Lol I haven't heard from her in a while since I sent the deposit, I believe she is very busy with her goats though and will contact her again when we have a set date that we can pick the doeling up. I am pretty sure I am going to stick with that name, but I said that about Bluebell and Bazinga too lol! I change my mind too much when it comes to names...I really hope I stick to this one because I like it!!
I love that and I think you should let Anna know that because I think she would like it too! After you are sure, of course!
Awesome! I'm thinking Camanna UP Strike My Fancy.....I came up with it after awhile and I really like it, so I was hoping to be able to name :) I know some breeders name the kids themselves, I wasn't sure if Anna was one of them. Thanks Lisa!
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