Goaty Girl Homepage

Hi Y'all, I would like to tell you a little about how I take care of my goats. This is only my opinion, everyone does something different with their goats than the next person! Feel free to use any of my tactics, or maybe just shelve them for some other time!

Housing and Protection
My goats are in four different pens: buck pen, spring kids pen, my milkers/preggers, and a jr. pen (bred doelings born in '04. jrs.). They all get along fine, after they show one another who is the boss. All pens have a big, flat house for shelter and shade. They also have spools, shaders, and other toys to play on and with.
I use livestock fence with graduated squares and chicken wire for my juniors, and regular livestock fencing for the rest of my pens. I now have two Livestock Guardian Dogs who live with my goats. One is a four year old Anatolian Shepherd female, and the other is an eleven month old Anatolian/Great Pyraneese cross male. They run the whole property, and regularly check on the goats. Both are great guards, letting us know if something is amiss in the area.

Feeding
I feed my senior does (milkers and the pregnant girls) good quality alfalfa, four-way hay, and grass hay (as long as I can find it!). The babies get 4-Way and a little bit of alfalfa. The bucks get no alfalfa at all. Everyone gets beet pulp, Calf-Manna, and BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds to help with dry skin) at night, for extra sugar, protein, fat, and fiber. I feed Dynamite Plus, a wonderful vitamin compound, to all of the goats. They also get free-choice Nutrena GoatBlend Minerals and bloat blocks.
The goats get fresh, clean water daily. The goats have plenty of water in each pen, so that they don't run out, and I fill waters at least twice a day. The goats drink warm water in the winter, cool water in the summer.
The lactating does get Nutrena Top Goat 16 when they are being milked. I feed a little bit of Top Goat to all of the goats, and the pregnant does get even more in the last few weeks of gestation.

Breeding
I try to breed my jr. does between 12 and 16 months of age. Some are bred earlier, some later, as I prefer that a first fresheners kid before they turn two. That of course is dependant on their size and maturity. They get Dynamite Breeder Pac before they are bred, to set up the reproductive system and get it ready for pregnancy. I make sure that the buck they are bred to compliments them, and I try to use goats of the same size. My bucks are on the the same "program" as the does, and I don't use them too often too soon. My baby bucks are either wethered or separated from the doe kids at 8 to 10 weeks of age, to prevent accidental breedings.

General Care
I trim hooves every six-eight weeks, though I do some goats more often, as their hooves grow VERY fast! I body clip everyone during the summer, whether the goat is in my show string or not, just to help them keep cool. My goats are all disbudded (or polled!), and most boys are wethered.
I try to be with my girls during kidding, so I can help in the event of a problem. I let the does raise their kids, but I do bottle feed or supplement if needed. My kids are "imprinted" right from the start, so they grow up to be friendly goats. I dip all navels in 7% iodine, and make sure kids get the first colostrum. I also make sure everyone passes merconium, and that everything is working "right".
I started raising my doe kids differently this year. I leave them on Mama until it is time for her (mama) to be bred again, and then wean. I still milk my does, by pulling kids at night, starting when they are about four or five weeks old, and then milking mom in the morning. I am always willing to try new methods of management on my herd! I like how my doelings grew and matured this year, they were bigger, stronger, and ready for winter.
I do not give the "normal" shots, but can for anyone who wants them for their kids or does. I will administer Penecillian G or other antibiotics if the are needed. I do copper bolus all my goats.
I worm everyone every four-six months with an herbal wormer (also from Dynamite!) called Herbal Tonic. I worm after kidding and before breeding.
My goats get microchipped, I feel it is much easier (o.k., so I'm lazy!) than tattooing (though I do tattoo as well).
I am a Voluntary Scrapie Member, and I tested my herd (all those over six months) for CAE. I am pleased to say that all were found to be negative! I will begin DHI (milk) Herd Test (305 days) this coming spring. Both Nigerians and Minis will be tested, I will possibly test my Nubians as well.

If anyone has any questions, please contact me. I will add to this page as I think of more things!