Along with kidding season comes long nights checking the does in the wee hours in the morning, mad dashes to the barn when something changes on the barn cam, long waits, and fast paced action. In the wonderful chaos that ensues, it is incredibly helpful to have a pre-assembled “grab bag” that is ready for […]
5 Tips for Pasture-Based Goats
The best diet for goats is one that consists primarily of fresh green browse when it’s available and good quality hay when browse is limited. There’s more to it than just sticking a couple of goats out in a field, though. I’m sharing a few tips to help you succeed in raising pasture-based goats.
Linebreeding, Inbreeding, and Outcrossing: The Basics
Genetics are complex and fascinating, and sometimes they can be a little bit hard to understand. When it comes to inbreeding, linebreeding, and outcrossing, technical jargon about coefficients and percentages can be even more confusing. On the other hand, old sayings like “if it works it’s linebreeding and if not it’s inbreeding” aren’t very helpful […]
Learn to Draw Blood on Goats
There are many reasons to draw blood from your goats, including testing for major diseases and checking to see if a doe is pregnant. It seems like a daunting task, but it’s quick and easy when you get the hang of it! In addition to a video tutorial, I’m also sharing a few tips, advice […]
Thinking About Getting Nigerian Dwarf Goats – Registered or Unregistered?
If you’re thinking about adding Nigerian Dwarf goats to your farmstead, then you need to decide whether to buy registered or unregistered goats. Here are some things to consider.
How to Detect Pregnancy in Goats
Goats are tricky creatures, and thanks to their unique anatomy they are can appear pregnant when they aren’t or hide a pregnancy until they deliver the kids! Thankfully there are several good options for determining with almost perfect accuracy whether or not your goats are pregnant. Knowing in advance allows you to prepare for kidding […]
