Goat diseases? Ew, gross! I know. I shudder just thinking about it. We've been really fortunate to have very few goat ailments here on the farm. Goats are actually really hardy animals and if given the right diet and environment, can live a long, healthy life. What we don't want is a sickly goat. That's why today I'm going to give ya'll a … [Read more...]
Nigerian vs. Pygmy Goats: Which is best?
It's like car shopping... Except with goats. And, well, without sleazy salesmen. Most people are excited about the prospect about bringing a new goat to the homestead, but it can be confusing on which breed to choose. Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats seem VERY similar and to the novice goat owner, and it's easy to get them confused. All I … [Read more...]
Goat Fencing: How to keep your goats from breaking out.
The following is a guest post by Liz Greene. Liz hails from the beautiful city of trees, Boise, Idaho. She’s a lover of all things geek and is happiest when cuddling with her dogs and catching up on the latest Marvel movies. You can follow her on Twitter @LizVGreene or delve deeper into her internal musings at her … [Read more...]
To get a buck or not get a buck? That is the goat question.
I've got my eye on something... and it ain't pretty. Nor does it smell nice. But even though I may regret it (and maybe even am regretting it a bit already), I still want it. He's called a buck, my friends. And he's a male goat. A buck is a goat who hasn't been castrated. A dude who can breed. A man with a mission. A suave man with a sp--- … [Read more...]
Sustainable Farming: Caring for animals the way nature intended
Have you ever wondered how people "did it" back then? No, I'm not talking about hanky panky (git yer mind outta the gutter!). I'm talking about how they actually survived, without phones or stores or an app to tell you that your Amazon package was just placed on your doorstep? (Because who has time to walk to your door to check for … [Read more...]
I’m sorry, but… If you can’t tolerate farm butchering, you shouldn’t eat meat.
Let me preface this post by saying this is not directed towards vegans or vegetarians or anybody who chooses not to eat meat. If you have chosen to avoid meat, more power to ya.' It all started with undescended goat testicles (as most stories do)... Our little Nigerian Dwarf goat, Lacey, had just given birth to triplets. Because we don't … [Read more...]
Goat Milking Supplies
There is a surprising lack of information online about goat milking supplies! I can tell you're shocked. When we first dove into the world of goats, we had absolutely NO clue what we were doing. There were some hard lessons learned in those first years, but I think we can safely say that we've got this down! When it comes to milking goats, … [Read more...]
Choosing a Goat Breed
So, you want to own a goat... And you want to own one now. Nothing can stop you! It's goats you want and it's goats you must have! No worries, I got your back. I just happen to know a thing or two about goats. Oh, and that voice inside of you telling you to not get goats? You can push that way deep down. Because, obviously, it's wrong. What's … [Read more...]
Our Baby Goats are Born!
We have been having ENTIRELY too much fun with our new baby goats! Lacey, our Nigerian Dwarf goat had 3 little doelings (females) on Sunday, December 14th. Our days have been filled with snuggles and nibbles from freshly born little babies. Life is good. :) Watch the first video of our baby goats! It's incredible how at only 24 … [Read more...]
How to Trim Goat Hooves
You've been doing great taking care of your new goats, and now it's time to learn how to trim goat hooves! (yay!) Welcome to farm life. If you're new to goat world, then you've come to the right place! Caring for goats just happens to be one of my specialties. About 6 years ago, we made the switch to raw goat's milk and have never looked back. … [Read more...]
Preparing for Fall on the Farm
Well, summer's coming to a close and now it's time for fall preparation on the farm! Because it's so blasted hot here in the summer, we don't get to spend a lot of time outside. As a result, we have a lot of cleanup and preparations needed in order to get ready for all the fall adventures headed our way. As you can see, our garden is *just* … [Read more...]
4 Backyard Farm Designs for Self-Sufficiency
I love designing backyard farms. Even if they aren't mine. Actually, especially if they aren't mine. Let me tell you how to farm and then you go do the work, okay? Sound good? Okay, let's get started! There are a few important things you need to remember when creating or researching backyard farm designs. Among them are which animals … [Read more...]