Thinking about getting a goat

[MissMillie]

I always thought it would be cool to have goats... mostly for the milk and cheese.

Last summer our lawn mower busted. Now I'm thinking a goat could take care of the lawn AND we'd get the milk and cheese.

Of course, we'd need to make sure it had some shelter, and we'd need to check w/ the town about what kind of permit(s) we may need to have one.

[DetlefK]

1. If you want to process the milk, you might need even more permits.

AFAIK You would have to prove that you have a special hygienic workplace where you process the milk.

[Flaleftist]

2. I think that is only an issue if the owner intends to sell it to the public

Last edited Fri Mar 22, 2019, 11:38 PM - Edit history (2)

, like at a farmers market, and not just have it for personal use.

[getagrip_already]

3. I knew a guy who tried that.....

He borrowed a few goats with the intention of having them solve a poison ivy problem he was having in his yard,

He ended up sending them back very quickly when he discovered what a pita they can be from 4:00 am on. They blat almost constantly before sunup to well after. The noise drove him, and his neighbors, nuts.

Be warned, they are a lot like roosters.

[MuseRider]

4. I have two little goats.

A pygmy and a dwarf Nigerian. They really do not eat lawn grass much (they will nibble on your house and other things) but then I have a farm with brome hay and they do love that. Still all in all I would not count on them to eat your lawn.

For milk you will need to deal with breeding and babies. You will not be able to keep a billy because they will stink up a good part of the neighborhood. They all require a nice shelter, special goat care (they do not eat anything and everything) and love. Hoof care, worming, shots are all part of it because there are not a lot of people who will do that for you.

Just saying. I love my two goats as much as any animal I have ever had and to be honest, probably more. They are awesome and I would hope goats for everyone, that is how much I love them but I have watched a lot of people jump in and end up with dead goats or sick goats because they did not know what to do. Some people were just plain miserable because they loved them but were not ready for them. I just recently had to drive by a place every day that was built for someone moving out of the city and the first thing they did was buy chickens and about 30 goats. They ended up with endless loss to coyotes as they really did not know what they were doing and ended up selling the last goats for meat. It killed me.

So, go for it if you can but really read up on them. Mine were a surprise gift back (5 weeks old and still on a bottle) before they were popular and I had a heck of a time getting info. They are wonderful little creatures. Some people do not like them, I think they were a gift from heaven.

[procon]

5. Buying a new lawnmower would probably cost less than

buying and taking care of a milk goat. Goats are herd animals so you need at least twoor the one will be crying and anxious without a buddy, and an unhappy goat doesn't produce much milk. I raised dairy goats for 30+ years, it's a lot of work. Plan to be home for milking those goats twice a day, every day for about nine months until they are bred again. Keep in mind that goats are browsers, not grazers, so they will eat shrubs, bushes, flowers and trees, but grass... meh, not so much. Make sure you have good fencing. Like any other domestic animal they will still need hay and grain for a healthy diet, especially if you want them to produce milk .Once the forage withers and dies as summer arrives, they will need more store bought food as well.

Better to look for grazing animals like sheep, cattle, horses or ponies. They are all herd animals as well, but at least the sheep can be raised for meat or sold when they run out of pasturage. Get a couple of young feeder calves if you have a couple of acres and you might get a good market price for them in the fall and recoup your costs.

[Sanity Claws]

6. To get the milk, you must continually breed the Nanny

What are you going to do with the babies? Female goats may be marketable or you may keep them to enlarge your dairy herd. However, the boys don't really have value. How would you feel if you had to sell them for meat? Or assuming that you can't do it, could you slaughter it yourself for meat?

Tough questions.

[Fla Dem]

7. Not sure the expense of having a goat. Feed, unless you have a huge lawn, vet bills etc.

Sometimes thing that are "cool" are not practicable.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/116142209

[Kali]

8. sheep are better for lawns

goats are browsers, sheep are grazers

another idea would be a portable chicken pen that you move around. they will eat grass and make eggs without needing to be bred and dealing with kids. goats can be obnoxious with their climbing.