Goats on the Homestead

I love these freaking goats. they bring me str8 up JOY. I mean just look at them – hilarious and cute 🐐 🌿🕊🌲 ⠀

So – these three are triplets, which I thought was crazy, but it’s actually common for goats to have twins or triplets. ⠀

They are Mini Saanens, which is a pretty rare breed gotten from crossing a Saanen and Nigerian Dwarf. Saanens have the highest milk production of all goat breeds and Nigerian Dwarves have the highest butterfat content. So the cross is brilliant.⠀

These babes (Barney, Jenny, & Pixie) are only five months old. Barney is a wether (neutered) and the girls won’t be ready to breed until next fall when they’re over a year old, which will be healthier for them. I’ll either have to borrow a buck from someone or buy one when that time comes. And since Mini Saanens are hard to find, I may breed to a Nigerian Dwarf. We shall see! 🐐 ⠀

They’re gestation period is about five months and it’s not uncommon for them to have twins or triplets. They will produce at least a half a gallon of milk/day each which is more than enough for our personal use as we aren’t milk drinkers – but I do use it to cook and I mean if I have it fresh I’ll be making ice cream on the regular.⠀

We will kid share – so I won’t be tied to a strict milking schedule, when I need milk, I’ll just keep the momma and kid separate through the night or for a while during the day until she’s ready to milk, then put them back together.⠀

We feed our goats alfalfa and let them free range and that’s it. Super low maintenance, and yes they will end up paying for themselves over time.⠀

They spend most of their day checking in the windows from the porch to make sure I’m home and then roaming around the yard and outbuildings here close. They don’t wander far – but I’ve heard that’s uncommon. From day one I’ve been very involved with them, taking them for walks, petting them, treating them like spoiled dogs, letting them in the house when Big John isn’t home, no shame. So maybe that’s why they are so good?⠀

They haven’t destroyed anything or eaten our porch like people said they would (at least yet 🧐) and since they have so much free space to eat and play they don’t seem to get bored or look for trouble.⠀

They LOVE super hot water on really cold days. I have a heated bucket for them on their pens. But I also fill a bucket with it water from the sink every morning for them and they gulp it right down.⠀

These babes are debudded which was done before I bought them. I’m not sure if I’ll have that done on the future. Honestly I probably won’t just because I don’t like doing anything that isn’t 100% necessary because that cuts into my time.⠀

I wasn’t sure what we should do after the chickens because they were so easy – but I’m glad we went with goats!!