goats 101

[@jennifertaylor2893]

Thanks! You are an excellent educator. I plan to "adopt" four Norwegian Dwarfs and your video is so helpful.

[@gatikoxo608]

Thank you very much. I have always loved goats and have recently been considering raising dairy goats as a carer choice. Your video was a good place to start, a lot of very good information to get me started. I will be looking out for more of your videos.

[@CuteCatFaith]

Uprated. Fun, educational, stayed interested for the whole thing. Brava!

[@Julieaism]

I can't remember or pronounce it but the ailment that has no cure and spreads.....I am going to Look for the book you mentioned. I just know I don't want to get a Goat until I know what I am doing....your videos are such a help to me!

[@dixsigns1717]

Well done Michigansnowpony. I have been raising goats for many years and I enjoyed your video and the explanation of cocci is most excellent.

[@sebastianbridgeman-gibbs4657]

Thank you for a very informative video. Much love from Devon, England.

[@Michigansnowpony]

How you set up your barn depends on a lot of things -- climate you live in, how many and what type of goats you are planning on, whether or not you want a designated milk room, etc. It's not recommended to keep your buck in with your does. Bucks smell terribly during breeding season and so will your does (and your milk too). Also, you'll never know when your does get bred that way. A good reference book for the 1st time goat owner is Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats.

[@daltonreneau70]

sorry i know this is a older video but i had to comment. This has to my favorite video of yours lots of great info, i watched it like five times before i got my nigerian dwarfs lol. love the videos keep 'em comin

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Dalton Stewart Thank you Dalton. : )

[@rockscorner5991]

I concur! As a fellow nurse I appreciated the inservice!

[@DixieGirl9876]

Great video Renee' Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.Can't wait to see the new goat feeder : )

[@cj18469prepper]

Love the video and it gives me a great deal to think about as we consider getting dairy goats. We are looking forward to increasing our homestead but are also preppers. Kinda half and half. So what would you do as far as a disaster scenario concerning vaccines, etc? Would love to hear more and I am watching all videos I can on raising, caring, milking and cheeses from dairy goats before I buy. So I will take all videos you can produce! Part of me is scared I will not do well by them.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Oh that's right -- to test for Mad Cow, they have to examine the brain post-mortem to make a diagnosis. I was thinking of Johnes -- that they can test for pre-death (although I've heard the test isn't very accurate). I've never heard of goats getting Johnes either, although being rumnants, I guess they could.

[@RealitySurvival]

Excellent overview!

[@sweesuri7760]

We live in Colorado and have alpines. True goat lovers here. Great video

[@freakygeaktwo]

wow being a homesteader gives ya mind reading abilities ??? :D great info wow lots of interesting facts about what could go wrong why and how to help with them. thanks for sharing.

[@crookedcoophomestead238]

Thanks for the video!!!

[@maverickblackmon4715]

Can you please do a barn tour I love your barn!

[@Michigansnowpony]

maverick blackmon My barn is under construction with an addition right now, but when it's done, I will definitely do a "tour". : )

[@staceyw.6608]

Thank you much! Invaluable wealth of information!

[@MrsSoapPeddlersHomestead]

Excellent video! I am really liking the happy goat mix. Can you tell me the ingredients so I can mix some up for my girls? Thanks!

[@Vivealdia]

awesome video... very helpful my ladies and kids thank you

[@Michigansnowpony]

Blanca Robinson You're very welcome and thank you for the nice comment. : )

[@breezewood4062]

thank you, thank you, i am saving this video to my homestead folder. thanks :)

[@Michigansnowpony]

I would manage as best I could with what I had available. DE is something that doesn't have an expiration date and a little bit goes a long way. I would (do) have a lot of Colloidal Silver on hand as I use it in the barn as well as in the house. It can help to cure a lot of ills. If a grid down situation or something similar happens, humans and animals are not going to be "kept" as well as they are used to.

[@callmebee2560]

This is the cutest video

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

Great info! It's amazing how they automatically get up on the stand without prodding. Who knew?

[@Michigansnowpony]

If you know or discover they've gorged themselves on something they shouldn't have, yes, I would definitely give them the oil and baking soda drench and then watch them like a hawk.

[@goatgirl61]

Oh Girl I am SO happy that I found you ! I have ( was given ) two of the cutest goats mother daughter team ... neither had been handled at all so we are still working on getting to know human handling , I got a collar on them at the getgo ... Mamma Rue is much calmer with me ( food thing ) but the daughter is so scared to be touched is there any hope that she will come around ? and how should I work with her ? I'm a first timer at goats so .... thanks for the info on them ... You Rock !

[@lensskins]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!! I am buy a goat today (well 5 ) i have watched this at least 30 times.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Candice Cunningham Wow -- Five goats at once! You're jumping in with both feet! I hope you will love the world of Caprine keeping! : ) I just love my mine. Good luck to you!

[@lensskins]

Michigansnowpony thank you so much =)

[@Isolasion]

I just got a goat and this is one of the more helpful videos I've found thank you

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Jose Rodrigurz Oh that's so nice to hear! Thank you for taking the time to leave a positive comment. : )

[@jamorales77]

awesome video , i just got mi first goat , with my 20 chickens !

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well. . . except all mammals are succeptible to worms. I haven't had a heifer since I was in highschool, (4-H), but I remember there was quite a few vaccinations and such needed (Brucelliosis comes to mind as one?). If you have good pasture with some legumes and such, you'll probably get good milk from a cow. If we can get our fencing to the point of containing the goats, I will be able to pasture them as well and cut down on my hay. There's pros and cons to every animal.

[@cobaltmoonrose]

8 minutes in I paused and then I subbed. Very informative, Just what I was looking for, ty.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Thank you. I thought you were going to write that 8 minutes in you fell asleep. ; )

[@cobaltmoonrose]

Not a chance, enjoyed, also caught a few more of your videos. Enjoyed them as well.

[@guilhallfarm]

lol thx 4 the movie jokes so gd learnt alot about goats

[@Michigansnowpony]

You'll be able to tell. The toes get long and the sides of the hoof will grow down over the bottom. It's not hard to tell when they're due for a trim.

[@Woodsygirl62]

I'm saving this to my laptop..and any other goats 102? :) but I saw the rabbits hoppin around..is any the of medical conditions/the incurables contagious to rabbits? cuz you said the one was very contagious, even to humans. also..you're gonna do a milking, pasturizing video..yes? :) peeezzz. I love your videos. But especially the animal videos, but the hands on stuff. thanks for teachin this old woman. lol

[@jethrob34]

I love my goats!!!

[@Michigansnowpony]

I promised my husband I wouldn't give out our exact location on youtube, so sorry, I don't think I better mention the name of our feedmill. If it's any consolation -- they don't ship feed. Milk fat for Alpines (depends a bit on feed) is around 3.5%. Nubians are 4% and Nigerian Dwarves hit 4.5%.

[@Ladyshystar]

GREAT VID. Dio EARTH. EXCELLENT! Great for PEOPLE TOO.

[@timothyohliger5888]

Wow, this was a terrific video. Thanks so much. I find the disease/treatment discussion to be very informative. I can only imagine what a simple Vet bill may cost. Do you recommend any books or a book which fully discusses goats, meat or diary? Soon I hope to begin raising goats. Thanks again.!

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Timothy Ohliger Hi Timothy. Here are my two favorite goat books, available from Amazon.com: The Backyard Goat: An Introductory Guide to Keeping and Enjoying Pet Goats, from Feeding and Housing to Making Your Own Cheese Paperback - April 16, 2011 by Sue Weaver and How to Raise Goats: Everything You Need to Know, Updated & Revised (FFA) Flexibound - January 21, 2013 by Carol Amundson I think both do a pretty good job with explaining everything for the novice goat keeper. Good luck!

[@hoale-to5fi]

j buy goat nubjan

[@maryanthony5661]

You re wonderful!! Thank you for this video. Question you mentioned what you feed when they are producing milk but not when they are dry. I feel as though I am overfeeding oats to my 6 month Nubians because they hardly touch the pasture. They get about 3 cups each. What do you advise? Thanks again!!

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well, I don't know about the wonderful part (smile), but I am so tickled when someone tells me they've found one of my videos helpful. Feeding dry does: If I'm feeding a youngster (under a year of age) I will still give them grain as you're doing. Nubians are "meatier" than Alpines being a dual purpose breed (meat and milk), so I think you're probably on target as far as how much you're feeding. Just let your eyes be your guide (do your goats look ribby, fat, or just right) and adjust accordingly. With does I'm drying off, I'll usually cut them off completely when I'm done gradually tapering off the milking and their milk stops. From that point on, I just monitor their condition. With mature dry does who aren't pregnant, I may still give them some grain everyday IF I don't think my hay is the best that year. If I've got some good hay, then I generally don't grain them unless they seem to need it (again, let your eyes be your guide). Sometimes an older doe whose teeth may not be the best may need extra calories, for example.

[@silentfades]

great video thank you

[@braedinn]

very informative, ty

[@TanieMaree]

We use ivermectin on our sheep and Angora goats on our school farm in Aus and its pretty much useless now they have built such a resistance. That’s why now with our new drenches we always do our own FWECs (faecal worm egg counts) to determine weather or not they actually need drenching. And its so much more affective!! Less waste of drench and less resistance plus its so easy to do!

[@Sully99999]

wow very factual thanks a lot michigansnowpony !!!!!!!!!!!!! p .s i miss your chickens you havnet done a video for months lol.

[@mikemorrison281]

great info as usual!

[@kylesargent8643]

How did you train your goats to hop on the stand? Just by repitition and rutine?

[@lillymaypatterson6375]

Hi, I finally subscribed to a youtube. Your my new best friend. How old do goat get? Do you only feed your milkers feed mix while on the stand? Do babies get feed mix? When not milking do you feed them feed mix or just hay? Thanks for explaining bloat.

[@Michigansnowpony]

+LillyMay Patterson Hi and thank you for subscribing to my channel! In answer to your questions: Goats can live into their early teens, but their milk production / breeding years are usually done by the time a doe is 9-10ish. People have and do breed them longer, but it can hard on an older doe to go through a pregnancy and delivery. Yes, my milkers only get grain when on the milk stand. Kids get some grain / calf manna (a supplement) at weaning, otherwise they don't get grain. Dry does (does not milking and/or pregnant and bucks I usually only feed hay. BUT -- it really depends on the animal: Always let the animals' condition be your guide. Some years, if the hay is not so great in our area, I may have to supplement with alfalfa pellets or something else to make up for it. Other years, the goats get fat on the hay alone. So, always let your goat's condition be your guide first and foremost.

[@growinggreenthings]

Just got my first goats today, so I'm back refreshing myself on bloat, because they came from a dirt yard to a yard full of lush grass. Hope they don't get it, but better safe than sorry

[@kaitspaghetti]

R&R Homestead that shouldnt cause it. Bloat happenes from fees most of the time

[@candianguy3]

Thanks for all the great info. Now I know that I will not be getting goats. Maybe a milk cow though. I don't want to have to worm with nasty medicines or feed something beside pasture.

[@CuteCatFaith]

I have some raw milk vending machine clips up on YT and Dailymotion you might like. They are popular in France, Italy and Russia and are from local co-ops where the animals are checked. WHEN YOU KNOW THE GOAT its milk is almost always "good" and Renée brings up some caveats. When you do NOT know the animal(s) or the producer, co-op, whatever, ANY product, such as vegetables, can be a risk. People who eat raw veg willy nilly and overdo it are taking risks they probably have not thought about.

[@bobioegam7484]

Thank you so much, such a wonderful video👍, i've just built my barn and planning to get some goats, what do you think about nubian goats

[@simplelps3458]

This video helped me so much! I saw goats at the state fair, and just fell in love with the animal. I am getting two here probably within the next few weeks. How do you keep your goats warm in the winter if you don't want to build a full on barn? Any suggestions??

[@Michigansnowpony]

+simple lps. Sorry -- missed your comment before now! You didn't tell me what part of the country you are from, but I'm going to assume it gets a real winter (i.e. snow) where you are. One solution to get by without a barn is to use calf hutches. Also, keep your goats in groupings that get along well so they can use each other for collective warmth. I also have been known to use dog blankets for my goats which are styled like the blankets horses wear in the winters. I've ordered them for about $30 each from horse supply catalogs like Dover Saddlery. I've tried foal blankets as well, but the dog blankets are cut in a way that fits goats MUCH better. If you do buy the blankets, make sure they are waterproof, or at the least water resistant. If they are made of a fabric that gets wet, you'll have a chilled goat on your hands. Also, if you stuff some straw under the coats before buckling them up, that adds some insulation and helps create an air pocket of warmth. Or, you can double them up with a layer of straw between them. I've found cold tolerance really varies goat by goat. I've never had a problem with my bucks or "little goats" (Nigerians, mini Oberhalsi) goats getting cold, but my big Alpine does have been shivering before. I don't know if it's because they have this big, "exposed" udder full of liquid much of the time or what, but my does in milk seem to be most bothered by the cold. Hope this helps!

[@simplelps3458]

This helped me soooooooo much! Thank you for that!

[@The123Joannie]

Great video. You have a great speaking voice and your videos are always very informative as well as interesting. Hope that you keep making more!

[@Michigansnowpony]

Thank you -- I think I sound like I'm 12 most of the time. I don't know how many more videos I have in me -- I've been on youtube for almost 9 years now, but as long as I feel inspired and can find the time, I'll make a few more. ; )

[@TheMountainman211]

very good video great job. but when feed the alfalfa squares do you soak them?

[@GrowingaJoyfulLife]

Do you have them tested for any diseases prior to milking. Like TB or Johne's disease for example?

[@muscovyduckchickenbreeder2656]

I have a question. about the alfalfa hay cubes i was told you have to soak them in water and i was wondering if this is true. or could you feed your goats just plain cubes and not soak it. I am very curious as i love to try and feed my goats hay when it is winter time but i am afraid of the stupid rat getting in to my hay and pooping in it and i would have to throw the expensive hay away. We allow are goats to eat out in the 4 1/2 acres of land where they have tons of food to eat but when it is raining we have to keep them in there pen that day as it is getting below 40 degree's here and i don't want to get them sick. i have never dealt with cubes and would love some help on this one.

[@elbertspivey2253]

get them pellets

[@CuteCatFaith]

Certain breeds are also not very "nice." They might be terrific for what you want but there tend to be breed "personality" characteristics, same as with cats, dogs, horses, etc. Just because they are a handful, however, doesn't mean you can't deal with them and get to know them. I've never owned a goat but know lots of people in different countries who have, and do, for various reasons.

[@PachucaSunrise]

very informative, thank you!

[@twylasilva3297]

Hello Girl ! I love the videos :) I just got some doelings this year and am considering getting a buck .. I'd love for you to do a video on your fencing to keep them separated .. Also the different shelters you use winter/summer..

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Twyla Silva Already done those kinds of videos. Just go to my channel and use the search function (the little magnifying glass icon) to find more goat videos.

[@flamedrag18]

with bloat, can you do preventative therapy with the oil and baking soda without hurting them? like if you know they're getting into the good grass or feed bin, does it hurt to do a preventative treatment just to be safe or not?

[@Michigansnowpony]

I buy the dairy goat ration my local feed mill makes and add some calf manna, rolled oats, and rabbit pellets to it. Sorry -- I don't have the "recipe" for what the feed mill sells.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Yes, and this time of year he is getting "ripe".

[@Michigansnowpony]

Hi, Coccidia overload is a common ailment of goats, rabbits, chickens -- just about every critter, but each species has it's own version, so no worries about cross-contamination if one kind of critter gets it (for example). The one that is contagious to humans I mentioned is CL or Caseous Lymphadenitis. I'm not sure if it's contagious to rabbits as well. Oh, and I have already done both a milking and a home pasteurizing video. Find them on my channel homepage.

[@Scamhater007]

hi thank you for very informative video... i have 1 question.. on all videos i watch people keep saying if you start milking your goats you'll want to milk them regularly to avoid mastitis but what do i do when i want to stop milking do i gradually stop it?

[@Michigansnowpony]

***** Yes, you taper off on your milking and decrease the goat's grain to help them do that. By the time I am ready to dry a goat off, I am milking once a day and the goat's production is about half of what it is at peak lactation. I milk "through" -- that is, I breed every other year and just keep on milking. Most goats will decrease their milk output over time. It varies from goat to goat, breed to breed. I've known people who bred their goat 1x and milked it continuously for 7 years (extreme example -- don't recommend doing that) and other folks who struggled to keep their goat giving them half a gallon 4 months post-kidding. Every goat should be dried off at least 2 months prior to giving birth.

[@Scamhater007]

Thank you very much have a nice day

[@Ellochicken5]

OK, thanks! I don't have horses or goats, so don't panic that I'm not trimming their hooves! Just wondering for future notice when I DO get them. Thanks! -Ellochicken

[@CEChelsea13]

I am looking into getting two Nigerian Dwarfs in the spring. How large of a night shelter do you think two goats would need? Also, do you ever have issues with coyotes where you are? What would you recommend for this issue? Thank you for this excellent video!

[@Michigansnowpony]

If you mean Scrapies, that's more a concern with sheep than goats, although I know goats can get it. But, I don't know of anyone with goats that has had a problem with it nor do I know of anyone testing for it (with goats). You'll see folks with sheep that have a Scrapies free program. Do dairy herds routinely test for Mad cow disease now?

[@BornRandy62]

is Scarpies an old age disease with goats the same as BSE typically effects Dairy cows?

[@Snowkitty1424]

Hi I just wanted to let you know I really liked your video! I was wondering if you drink your goats milk? And if so how's the taste? I'm looking into a goat breed that has good tasteing milk 😊

[@Michigansnowpony]

The milk is why I originally got the goats and now my oldest daughter shows them in 4H as well. We really like the goat's milk and I stovetop pasteurize it to make it keep over a week. None of my family likes raw goats' milk past the second day and by pasteurizing it, I don't have to save milk for us every day -- I can give it to the pigs so as to have milk-fed pork. Milk taste varies goat by goat rather than by breed. So, you'll want to taste the milk of any goat you are considering. That said, milkfat DOES tend to vary by breed and that's usually what is associated with milk quality (and sweetness). The two breeds who give the highest milkfat tend to be the Nigerian Dwarf and the Nubian. However, they also tend to give the least quantity of milk, so there's the trade off (and given the Nigerian's diminutive size, it's no surprise they don't give copious amounts of milk!). I have quite a few other videos on my channel dealing specifically with home dairying and as soon as I find the time, am going to be doing one on judging a good udder (versus a poor one) on a prospective homestead dairy goat.

[@Snowkitty1424]

Ok great! Thank you for the info I really am grateful that you got back to me. I wanted to ask because I recently found out that I'm Lactose intolerant so I switched to goats milk. Which I love! I find it tastes way better then cows even, but sadly more expensive. I drink the brand Hewitts. I don't know if you have that there. I drink the 2% and contacted them only to ask what breed they use lol. One day when I have my own farm I would like to get some goats because I'm an animal lover and I can drink their milk. I just don't know what breed to look at. I did read somewhere that it depends on the goat itself for the taste of milk. But if I can concentrate on a certain breed then its a good place to start! Thank you again for your help and info I look forward to seeing new videos :)

[@kokonutbaby1]

wow, I did not know all this about goats. If there are things so contagious even to humans, how is the milk safe to drink? Is this why pasteurization is important? Am thinking about how safe it is to drink anything raw these days.??

[@semocodger2630]

Great video I always enjoy watching them. I am getting Nigerians and curious what your thoughts are?

[@Michigansnowpony]

M & A Farms I love Nigerians. In fact, our new little buck is a Nigerian. I also had a Nigerian doe at one time. IMHO, they have the best temperament of the dairy breeds and are absolutely excellent to have around, especially if you have small children. My only "fault" is, if you are used to full-size dairy goat milk-production, it's going to seem like you're not getting much with a Nigerian. My N. doe had earned her milking star before I got her, but if she gave me 2 pints a day, that was a good day. (By contrast, my previous Alpine doe gave me 2 GALLONS a day, which was actually too much milk!) Eventually, after we got our second daughter, I figured if I was going to be chained to a 2x a day milking schedule, it had to be worth my while, so I went back to big goats. Now, I have decided to try for the best of both worlds by breeding mini Alpines (crossing full-size Alpines with the Nigerian buck). These animals will be easier to deal with size-wise, but give a reasonable amount of milk and a Nigerian buck is infinitely more manageable than my 200+ lb. Alpine buck was. I think Nigerians are a great little dairy goat for specific applications, like for young children to handle or show in 4-H, for senior citizens or physically-impaired people who can't deal with a full-size goat, for those on small acreages or with zoning that would prohibit full-size goats, and so forth. However, for a large family, or for someone who wants to offer milk shares, or if someone plans on making a lot of cheese and/or soap, I would recommend full-size dairy goats.

[@semocodger2630]

Michigansnowpony thank you for the response, we are just getting started with dairy goats so I'm not sure how well my wife and kids will like the milk. I do plan on trying my hand in making cheese, butter and soap. Thanks again and I really do enjoy your videos by the way did you ever pick up pigs from Mark? I raise Berkshire and red wattle I'm curious how the mangalitza's are.

[@hamilton3475]

What do you use for udder wash and teat dip?

[@Michigansnowpony]

Andrew Hamilton I'm sorry -- I just found this comment when answering another, more recent one: You asked about udder wash and teat dip for goat milking: I used to use commercial udder wash and teat dip. Now, I use baby wipes (sensitive skin type) to wash udders and haven't used teat dip for eons. I know you're supposed to dip teats after milking to keep diseases at bay, but I've not had any problems for several years now. The dip seemed to irritate my does' udders causing their teats to be red and rather sore-looking, which is why I stopped using it.

[@Ellochicken5]

What does the PH stand for? Power of Hydrogen? Or something like that? I'm sorry if it seems like a dumb question, but I'm just getting the facts. -Ellochicken5

[@Michigansnowpony]

Yes, he's still there, big, obnoxious, and stinky. Do I really need to film that? LOL

[@pujagogri137]

What horse wormer do you use? How much do you give them?

[@Michigansnowpony]

I use a combination of wormers -- Ivermectin, Srongid, Safeguard, and Panacur are usually the ones I use. A good starting point is to take a fecal sample up to your vet and see what class of wormers they suggest you use according to what shows up in the sample. Some wormers are better than others against the various types of worms that infect goats. Then, you can either use the same type of wormer until it becomes uneffective, or rotate wormers. There's a lot of discussion as to which way is best. Some folks say you shouldn't worm with anything unless doing a fecal count first so you know if your goat requires it in the first place, and which type of worms you are dealing with secondly. Larger farms will often invest in their own microscropes and do their own fecal counts. (That's counting worm eggs in the droppings -- how you tell what kind of worms you have I don't know). As for dose: The syringe is divided by weight for a horse. So, it's usually in 50 lb or 100 lb. increments. Being goats are ruminants (which horses are not), they require more wormer to be effective than horses do (by weight) by about 3 times. So, if I have a goat that weighs 125 lbs, I'm going to worm them at a 350 - 400 lb. dose on the horse wormer syringe.

[@urbanacres7189]

Michigansnowpony I worm them when based on their eye color and body fat/looks... I am going to try horse wormer! Horse wormer are more Tasty than goat wormer are so it would be easy to mix into their feed. Thanks!

[@andrewmcdonald1988]

my mother in law is getting us a goat for xmas this year. He has all his shots and he is very healthy. If he gets bloat can I give him the baking soda vegetable mix regardless?

[@Michigansnowpony]

I'm sorry -- I'm not understanding your question: Regardless of what? If your goat gets bloat, you should always treat him/her ASAP. It doesn't resolve on it's own.

[@Julieaism]

I am buying a barn...12x32 and want to know how to set up for a goat? Do I need to have stalls/pens built or can they (male and female) be in the same area together? If the female has babies do they need to be separated from the male or can they all stay in one area?

[@sueleigh1018]

Are you able to get non GMO grains etc. from the mill or farm store? I love all the information you give. because I have a lot to learn!

[@Michigansnowpony]

I have a "feed guy" who makes trips to Amish farms in the state and picks up the grain, then delivers it. It's absolutely wonderful. No more over-burdened mini-van 2x a week -- I come home to my order neatly stacked on a pallet in the barn every week. He sells "regular" grain and organic as well.

[@sueleigh1018]

Michigansnowpony I'm so HAPPY for you!! I hope our family will be blessed that way as well and I'm going to have faith we will! You've gained so much knowledge and share it so generously, I want you to know how much it means to me!! Blessings!!♡ Sue

[@scheivert532]

How does the flavor of goat milk compare to cow milk? My husband can tell the difference between 1% and 2% cow milk. Does it taste the same?

[@hunterhomested2244]

My Weather kind of has a goofy walk he seems stiff on his back end. When we got him his hoofs were a little bad. He was in a home were he was the only Goat there. He is about 5 months now should I be concerned?

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well, was he walking this way at his former home or is this change in gait new? Did it happen after a hoof trim? Do his hooves look good and his overall manner and appearance good otherwise? Is he acting any differently? It could be he pulled something or injured himself jumping around and playing as young goats will do. If this stiffness is new, I'd watch him for a few days and see if it improves. If it's something he's done from the git-go and you're worried about it, you could call the vet, but it's rare to find a vet well-versed in goat care, anatomy, and so forth. And if he's been like this from day one and is growing and acting normal, it probably isn't something you can fix or that needs fixing. It's hard to say long distance without seeing the goat, so go with your gut instinct.

[@Julieaism]

so if there is no cure/treatment, do you put the animal down?

[@Michigansnowpony]

I don't have the recipe. It's the dairy goat ration my local feed mill sells. I just know they put some interesting ingredients in it. I add calf manna, rabbit pellets, and rolled oats to it in the feed tray.

[@traceydrost9396]

I am just starting to research getting 2dairy goats . What I am worried about is that I do not have and grassy land for pasture , I have acres of brush and forest . Should I be looking at clearing the land first ?

[@kathryngagne5813]

Hi Tracey, I'm just about to get started myself. Here is a link to the website she recommended to some subs above. I also got the book "Raising Goats Naturally" by Deborah Niemann. I am so happy to have it. Cheers! Kathryn in Quebec, www.fiascofarm.com/goats/feeding.htm

[@kaitspaghetti]

After i got my goats, all their land just became dirt. Just make sure to throw lots of grass hay in their pen and have unlimited grass hay in their pen. They will like "foraging" for the scattered hay

[@Michigansnowpony]

I don't, but I suppose one could if it was of concern.

[@arowolf09]

If you can not tell the difference from dry or wet bloat is it safe to just do the oil and baking soda drench? We FOUND an older male pygmy that has now been adopted it our family cause we cant find his owner. We plan of dairy goats next year but I just want to make sure I know what Im doing first. He lives in the back yard and just eats weeds and grass, should I give him alphalpha and grain too? Is it safe to pasture goats, we are doing meat and dairy ones next year. Please help?

[@shirleyhill2590]

one of my young does has a bad case of runs. I feed alfalfa hay along with grain and pasture. she has been raised on this feed. how do i stop the runs. what can i give her.

[@Michigansnowpony]

I'm not a vet and diagnosing long distance, sight unseen is not something I probably should even attempt to do. That said, if a young goat develops diarrhea, the first thing I think of and treat for is Coccidia. (A vet can run a simple fecal sample and tell you if this is the problem for sure). You'll treat her with a sulfa drug like Corrid (available at TSC) which I give as a 5-day drench.. However, it could be something else -- diarrhea in goats can be something as simple as a change in feed or too much grain, worm overload, and a few other things -- so this is just a best, long-distance,-haven't-seen-the-goat guess and should be taken as such.

[@goatgirl61]

ps ... they have their horns too .

[@rebeccajordan1479]

I hope you see this comment. ..taking care of my mom's goats and one had twins early morning today. she won't feed them until we were forcing her to stay still. one baby just won't stay latched and won't latch on the bottle either. any ideas would be helpful.

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Rebecca Jordan Hi, I am at work, but saw your post. Okay, If your goat is a first-time mom, it's not unusual for her to be a bit confused about what just happened and reject one or both of her kids. One old trick is to take a rag, wait for Momma to urinate, then stick the rag in the stream. You then wipe the rag over the kids in the hope Mom will recognize them as "hers" with her scent on them. Sometimes, a doe will not necessarily reject her kids, but won't let them nurse. Her udder gets so engorged that the doe is reluctant to let the kids nurse because she's uncomfortable. In time, she should come to realize her babies are her own and let them nurse. In the meantime, you'll likely have to supervise. You could bottle feed until she settles down, although it can be difficult to get the kids to go back to Mom once they view you as the milk lady. Now, about the weak kid that isn't nursing well. You may have to tube feed him. There are videos on youtube who show / explain how to do this. I have never had to do this (yet) myself, but it involves passing a plastic hose or tube into the kid's stomach and feeding him the milk directly. I don't know what your goat experience is, but if this is more than you feel comfortable doing / trying, you might need to call the vet and bring him in for it. If that isn't an option, try getting a few syringes of milk/colostrum down him every hour or two. If you can get four ounces every few hours down, that should help the little guy out. A few tube feedings or syringe feedings if that's all you can do will help get the kid strong enough to start sucking down the bottles on his own. Oh, and bring him into the house to help him stay warm and to make sure he doesn't get stepped on by Mom or sibling - that will make feeding him / her easier too! Sorry I can't be more help! These things ALWAYS happen when you're looking after someone else's critters, you know?!?

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Rebecca Jordan Forgot to mention: If you don't have a larger syringe on hand, try a turkey baster.

[@rebeccajordan1479]

That is a huge help. Watching all your videos was huge for us too. They have a good barn they are in, it's pretty cold today. Managed to get him to latch once I tied mom to a post and straddled her to keep her still while she and baby ate. Thanks for the tips. Your videos were the best ones with the most useful info for us greenhorns!!

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Rebecca Jordan How are things going? I'm betting baby is doing much better and Momma is maybe starting to like him/her better? Crossing fingers.

[@rebeccajordan1479]

+Michigansnowpony she is allowing more but on her time. she butt one pretty hard causing him to limp the rest of the day. we have been hand feeding since she only allows once or twice for 2 minutes.

[@lexiflounders2263]

Is it normal for goats to go on their knees sometimes?

[@Michigansnowpony]

Yes -- sometimes. If it is happening a lot, however, I'd be concerned my goat had sore feet. Goats, like horses, can develop laminitis, or simply have sore feet from other causes.

[@Julieaism]

Okay, Thank you so much!

[@sicilyvelasco4301]

can you feed them alfalfa cubes instead? thanks!

[@Michigansnowpony]

I haven't myself, but I know some folks do.

[@elbertspivey2253]

Alfalfa cubes are too big for goat, get pealt

[@elbertspivey2253]

pellets

[@sicilyvelasco4301]

elbert spivey ok thanks

[@joaquinthomason780]

where can I get your feed mix

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well, this video is 4 years old and at that time, I'm pretty sure I was feeding Purina Goat Chow, which is available at any Tractor Supply Store (TSC) or many feed mills carry it. Now, I have a feed guy that delivers my goat feed.

[@joaquinthomason780]

Thank you

[@gkundo]

thank you so much

[@BornRandy62]

In beef it is a disease that takes a very long time to develp and present as a problem. which is why most of the downer cows you see in videos are geriatric dairy cows with full udders. I dont know if there is a test for BSE with a live cow. The DNR asks for voluntary testing samples on harvested wild deer for Cronic Wasting Disease which is the generic term for scrapies. just getting a general jist on if it is a major concern

[@muscovyduckchickenbreeder2656]

I think my doe has sore feet due to not having her feet trimmed for 6 months i trimmed them yesterday. I recently just got them and the women hasnt touched there feet sense they were born so there feet were over grown really bad luckily they dont have a disease in there feet.

[@judylynn2744]

+muscovy duck&chicken breeder Im so glad YOU have them now!

[@Michigansnowpony]

To what ailment is this comment in reference to?

[@gjop-xm2xe]

Is the de human grade too

[@Michigansnowpony]

Food grade DE is safe for humans too.

[@judibowling3225]

how long do does bleed after giving birth?

[@Michigansnowpony]

Judi Bowling Bleed? Do you mean have a bit of a discharge or how long before the afterbirth is passed? The afterbirth usually passes within 4-6 hours after the last kid is born, if not sooner. The doe might have a bit of a bloody discharge for several days afterwards. The biggest indicator that all is fine or all is not right is your doe's behavior.

[@judibowling3225]

I had two does that had their kids on 2/16 &2/17 and are still having a little blood discharge! Is this them having their periods ! Back on their monthly cycle?

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well, that's a bit long. . . But if they're eating, chewing their cuds, producing milk, looking in good condition, and acting fine, probably nothing to worry about. The Swiss dairy goat breeds are Fall breeders, so no Spring heat cycles. If you have Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf, Boer, or Nubian goats, they will breed again in the Spring. BUT, that said, generally speaking there is no discharge, especially a bloody one during their heat cycles.

[@judibowling3225]

they are doing fine now! how do you stop a first time milker from kicking during milking? she does ok with one of her teats but the the bigger teat is the killer! the minute you touch it she starts to kick! i was thinking to have a tie down with valco and some kind of string ! is that a good thing to do?

[@Michigansnowpony]

With the antsy ones -- which most first time milkers are -- I jam persistent and in time, they will get used to the routine and relax about the whole procedure. You just ride your way through it and always be ready to get your milk container out of the way. I've seen people do "tie up" measures to restrain them, so I guess that's an option, but to me, it's one more step and a bother. Plus, I wonder if the goat EVER learns to be still on the stand that way, which to me, is the goal. I guess if you've ever been kicked by a horse, a little goat kick doesn't seem like a big deal, however maddening it is!. ; )

[@MalcomMalediction]

r the grains causing them the bloating...r those GMO grains too...

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Conscious Anonymous No bloating. I've had 2 cases of bloat in more than 15 years of goat keeping. It happens sometimes despite a person's best efforts and husbandry. As for the grains being GMO -- highly likely in the case of anything with corn or soybeans in it as almost all of the those grains raised in the US are GMO. You can find non-GMO feed sometimes, but it's extremely expensive to feed if you have more than one or two animals.

[@MalcomMalediction]

aw sounds challenging to take care of the goats' microbiome.

[@Michigansnowpony]

+Conscious Anonymous No, not really. It's just like having and learning about taking care of any livestock. They've all got their "things" to be aware of.

[@MalcomMalediction]

Yea true. Have u heard of the microbiome? We r finally seeing more science looking into the trillions of microorganisms that inhabit our gut, the animals, etc. and how certain foods can alter them. This is seriously evident in factory farmed animals with destroyed immune systems. The microbiome plays a tremendous role in the immune system and the development of sickness/disease. Functional Medicine is researching into this in order to truly treat their patients and help them heal from the root cause. I just wanted to share this information with you and others who may stumble upon this comment bcuz unfortunately this information is seriously not getting publicized...and that is definitely due to a certain corporate agenda in place (aka Big Pharma, etc.)

[@hoale-to5fi]

hj

[@sheilageorge7415]

Why do goats scratch? I am new to this, and I have a 3 month old pymgy goat and he scratch all the time.

[@Michigansnowpony]

sheila george Well, in the Spring they are shedding their winter hair and that makes them itchier than usual, but goats are also very prone to lice and it might be that. . . Don't scream! Don't worry -- it's not lice that you can catch! : ) You can pick up a powder to dust them and their bedding with as well as clip them and problem solved. It's not a big deal -- it just sounds nasty. : )

[@sheilageorge7415]

my hub. got some dip to spray him with, is that good.

[@Michigansnowpony]

sheila george I don't know -- I've only used the dusting powder. And it could just be that he is trying to shed his winter hair too.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Michigansnowpony oops, just realized he is a baby, so probably not a shedding "thing". . . Make sure the dip your husband got is safe for such a young goat-- check with your vet.

[@sheilageorge7415]

I sprayed him with it already, he was good this morning before I came to work. That is what the man from the feed store sold us. and it is for goats.

[@TheCHRISGIBBS0470]

Can all what you explain ... Be done organically ???

[@Michigansnowpony]

Well, you could certainly feed organically and there are herbal concoctions out there for worming besides the DE that are organic (Molly's Herbals, Fiasco Farms, etc.) Some options for organic feed would be buying from a certified organic hay producer locally, Chaffehaye (fermented alfalfa sold in bags from Texas), a sprouted fodder set-up using barley, as well as organically grown grains (which will generally run you about double their non-organic counterparts), and of course, whatever you can produce yourself on your own property. But, there is no organic substitute for the CD-T vaccinations that I know of. Personally, I wouldn't want to have farm animalsthat weren't at least vaccinated for tetnus.

[@Michigansnowpony]

Christopher Gibbs Oh wait -- the Chaffehaye I mentioned in my last comment is non-GMO -- not sure if it is organic as well.

[@TheCHRISGIBBS0470]

Thank you so much for getting back to me and your time .... :-)

[@Michigansnowpony]

ph --as in acidity or akalinity.