Nigerian dwarfs don’t actually require the acreage that’s needed for larger varieties of livestock. I don’t think you read Amber’s entire article. If you’ve already been keeping goats for a few years the book may be more of a review. Those goats may or may not be great milk producers. We’ve had some other breeds and came back to the Nigerians because they are easier keepers and aren’t as noisy in general compared to other breeds we or our neighbor has had. SO, WHY NIGERIAN DWARF GOATS FOR MILK? We have 4 does and 3 bucks. He also shares a barn with them but has a separate sleeping stall. If you want to raise goats to promote a more sustainable lifestyle, but you have limited space or don’t want to be drowning in goat milk, the miniature dairy breeds might be good choices for you. My aim in the future is to buy a farm with at least an acre of land and become as self sufficient as possible and I am doing my homework first. There’s a little bit of confusion about the differences between Nigerian dwarf goats vs pygmy goats. Since two or three goats provide the perfect amount of milk for most families, there is no need to buy an extra refrigerator for storing gallons of milk. You do NOT want a buck unless you are a serious goat-farmer. Amber, Excellent article. You will want to ensure the goats are healthy and disease-free. If you do not have proper fencing, you can say goodbye to your goats. Having a livestock guardian animal such as a dog, llama, alpaca, and female donkey will help protect your goats. If you are just starting out with goats and livestock animals, you may not want to start with a buck (intact male goat). You may want to re-read the article. Remember, these goats are herd animals by design. I wont be doing for a while but am the type of person who likes to do my research thoroughly beforehand which includes the good and the bad. Don’t bash if you didn’t read her entire article which you apparently did not! I can’t believe the flak you’ve gotten in the comments! Is it not common practice to spay females? If you are just getting started, it’s a good idea to buy the highest quality, tested goats you can afford. They have fresh hay at all times and of course fresh water, their favorite snacks are pretzel chips and banana chips. Further, that, if the … Very sad to realize years later. Tag: Do You Have To Milk Nigerian Dwarf Goats . Hobart did everything he could to keep the mothers from tending to their babies. You and anyone who keeps bucks please give your views. I saw these cuties and totally fell in love, but in all the research I did I couldn’t find anything that gave me as much useful information! I, stupidly, got a goat many years ago, while my youngest was using formula I made with goat’s milk (she’s 19 and in college now), knowing nothing NOTHING NOTHING about goats. I average about 1/2 – 1 cup pf grains per day per goat. Wow, I feel ridiculous for taking the time to comment but I just had to thank you for your honest, in depth look into these guys! If you do move forward in your decision to get goats, I highly suggest looking for a farmer/goat owner to see if they offer any training or workshops. Not once did I feel you were being negative, just showing the reality of ownership. So much of feeding bottle babies is intuition and individual decisions. However, you must ensure that your property is free of plants that are toxic to goats. That is great that you offer them fresh hay at all times. They are great!! From homemade remedies to livestock care. Chris Moran: I think it’s a great article! The high butterfat lends to it’s a rich, creamy and sweet taste that people love. And it’s because I LOVE goats that I share this information with those that are thinking about owning these adorable creatures. I realize I have much to learn, but I am an animal lover with currently 7 cats, a dog, and a turtle. Well, they can be. Reading this has made me realise we do not have the space or adequate fencing to realistically keep a goat safe and secure. It can turn what should have been a great experience into a nightmare! In addition, Nigerian dwarfs consume much less food than standard-sized goats. But, they are a huge responsibility and one that deserves a great deal of consideration before jumping right in. This causes many people to simply assume that they are looking at juvenile goats when they see a Nigerian dwarf goat. thank you! Read her article. Did tons of research b4 deciding on NDGs… so far so good…. Most of the time you wouldn’t even know you have goats, but when they want something (generally your attention) or they are in heat? I dealt with this for years until I finally realized it is NOT contagious but inherited. We have plenty of space for NDG’s, and according to all of the ooey-gooey FB posts and random articles I have read, I thought that adding NDG’s to our homestead would be fun and easy. Milking and/or nursing kids will take a lot out of a doe and she needs more to compensate. To you??? No one sees this side if it, they just see the cute baby goats being fed bottles. Each production cycle lasts for roughly 10 months. I don’t know the people, but I do know that those goats CAN be loud. I once had a neighbor across the street call and ask if one of our daughters were injured. Any time you want outside he came running wanting scratched. May get Nubians in the future, but it looks like we will need to start with NDG’s to build up our experience. I think its all the drugs in the water these days maybe they just need a good filter;) Great job on your article by the way a lot of people need to read it and get a clue, I’ve talked to to many if not most who don’t seem to have one. However, during mating season, bucks smell. This is one of the best information sites available for good and bad. No offense taken, one doesn’t need a lot of land to live a sustainable life. It can be a sheep, pony, horse, Llama, alpaca or even many breeds of dogs. It doesn’t. You can buy organic feed or non-organic but I don’t recommend medicated feed. I have been considering for a while getting 2 and you gave me some things to think about; didnt discourage me, but rather armed me with the proper knowledge to own them successfully where THEY are happy too and not just me!! Just a little education before you buy your goats will prevent most all unfavorable issues. And sometimes they are so subtle about it that we are not sure just when to breed them, as “standing heat” does not last long. Do You Have to Milk Nigerian Dwarf Goats? Goats with blue eyes usually cost more. Toys and apparatuses that allow your goat to jump and romp around are best. Thank you so much for this. The minimum square footage recommended for goats is 250 sq ft per goat, this is the minimum recommendation. In addition, homesteaders who open their properties to the public for agricultural tourism also have a special affinity for Nigerian dwarfs. By keeping it off the ground, you will keep it free from parasites. Everyone is anxious for that fabulous goat milk! Adapting to a new home can be stressful on the goats and the family members. The Nigerian Dwarf is a Miniature Dairy Goat. They are so personable and adorable. Know that while they’ll also be fun to have on your farm, if you choose Nigerian dwarf females, you will have to milk them. I have had to explain to people why you can’t just get one goat and tie it out in the yard to ea…See More, Lisa J Verge: It is an excellent article. My husband and I raised labs and I figured the goat would be much like a lab. In addition to fresh hay, I offer mind BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds), kelp, baking soda, and grains daily. You are so lucky to have good neighbors. It might take a little while to get used to the foreign taste but many people like goat milk, especially when you know where the source is. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. However, because they are the homesteading ‘it’ livestock, many urbanites are buying them because of their small stature and their adorable goatness. I read her site and didn’t come away with negative feelings. I will admit they get a little noisy at feeding time. In addition to being friendly, adorable companions, Nigerian dwarf milk goats actually serve a big purpose on your land. I hadn’t had them long just long enough to have my buck breed my two does twice. You mentioned the “weathered” (neutered) goat. We want you to join our Homesteading Community and be a part of Your journey. 5 years ago I brought home my first pair of ND does. The Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association states does should ideally be 17–19 inches (43–48 cm) in height, with a maximum allowed height of 21 inches (53 cm), and bucks should ideally be 19–21 inches (48–53 cm), with a maximum allowed height of 23 inches (58 cm). Karch Hate mail?? As for being noisy and escape artists, it is important to note that they CAN be these things, it all depends on YOU. I've heard so many people say that it's hard to milk a Nigerian dwarf goat, so I decided to make a video showing you how to do it. Their small size means that you can keep them on smaller plots of land. They mature in one year. How much property do you have? They are easy kidders, often with triplets and it’s fun to see what color is going to be delivered next!!!! Hey, Y’all! Bucks can become aggressive and they are very stinky (very). A typical adult Nigerian dwarf will eat between 3 – 5 pounds of roughage per day while foraging. Milk straight from the udder is sterile and we do our best to keep it very clean. I do not agree with this. I am currently not a goat owner but would like to become one in the future. However, many Nigerian Dwarf owners do not raise their goats for milk but for the pleasure and … Did you have close neighbors? Weathers can be kept with a buck at any age, however, you will always want to introduce them progressively like with any new animal. Keep in mind that goats come into heat once every month. I’m sure a goat in heat, bleating, will sound much louder here to neighbors than if we lived in the country on the same amount of land. This is faster than most standard-sized goat breeds. Nigerian dwarfs look very much like larger dairy goats. According to the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA), many goat breeders use a 12% to 18% protein goat feed or dairy ration. She in in with two other does neither which have this condition. Please feel free to contact me should you ever have any questions. Then they try to sell them on craigslist, fb and other social platforms, without caring where they are re-homing them to. Know that while they’ll also be fun to have on your farm, if you choose Nigerian dwarf females, you will have to milk them. I honestly can’t say if they are louder, if you are used to raising goats, they probably won’t be any different. We are currently bottle feeding three baby Nigerian Dwarf Goats and we love them to pieces. If you are going to give folks information you should be fair and give them information on all goats……Some nigerians give a lot of milk , some nubians dont give a lot more milk…. I had large goats Sanaan and alpine each gave a gallon a day.. Way too much for the 2 of us.. Owning goats don’t define your independence- but they do add a nice touch. I love reading the warnings because I feel it helps us prepare better and ultimately be better and happier livestock keepers. You may be concerned about noises if you’re planning to keep goats in a suburban setting. Joy Perkins Donahue: GREAT article!! That is a minimum of four goats if you want both male and female, for a total of 1000 sq ft minimum. Goats in heat are loud (see “noise” below), can be aggressive, want attention, try to escape, personality changes, and they will try to mate anything and everything. My other goat breeds are louder than my nigerians, my nigerians come in to season in the fall only if not bred they will come in for a few more months and not all year round as you say. Nigerian dwarf goats are famed for their gentle, friendly disposition. Each goat can comfortably live in an area spanning about 10 square feet. I live my NGD’s. I do not agree with this lady at all, what she says all breeds of goats will do that…..each breeds has its own personality, but each goat has its own to. I have 30 goats, i have raised nigerian Dwarf for 25 years also Mini Nubian, Nubian, Oberhasli, and Mini La mancha. This enables you to create a farm setting with limited acreage. Do you think we would be ok getting the 2 doe? He was not real noisy like the ladies. Love your article! It is blatantly obvious…she even said she loves the Nigerians and will always own them. For pedigree-quality, they can range from $200+ depending on the breed traits, coloring, demand, etc. Because we live in a development with relatively close neighbors, we needed to stay outside with them during every heat cycle from sun up to sun down to keep the noise at bay and the cops from visiting us. You can not control breeding or know when to expect kids. I don’t live in a remote area, in fact I am on the last block in town. They provide hours of entertainment as well as being playmates for our youngest child. She lasted about one weekend at our house and managed to slice her hoof, cry like what sounded like a human baby to me (and to my neighbor who called the police) and I brought her back to the owners I bought her from and didn’t ask for my money back. What a mess. Best of luck with your new goats, please keep me posted. Too funny, yes- they are work but well worth it in my opinion. The Nigerian Dwarf goat milk benefit is that it is higher in butterfat (6-10 percent) and higher in protein than milk from most dairy goat breeds. I just have 4 wethers for pets but I knew upon doing my homework beforehand what they were like. Known as foragers, they will eat grasses and weeds as well. Also, I think it is overlooked that some people are just naturals with raising stock. She walked him every day up and down the street like others do with their dogs. However, they have very different proportions. A Nigerian dwarf goats lifespan varies but know that bringing a Nigerian dwarf goat to your property is a long-term commitment. So few people get that reference when I make it. Hopefully I can make this a reality one day. Many prefer to start with Nigerian dwarf goat kids (babies). They love the pool slide my husband found on the side of the road, we buried tires halfway up, built up cement blocks which actually helps file down their nails, a fort made of pallets, …They graze, eat grains, corn, molasses, and love peanut hay, or alfalfa hay, tifton hay. In fact, they tend to do exceptionally well with children. I agree with Steve. You want to minimize rehoming the goats so check the laws first. As pets, Nigerian dwarf goats can cost $50 – $125. But when she went to work, you could hear that poor, lonely goat crying for hours a day. Just keep a close eye on all of them, same as you would any other pet. Some examples of goat predators are coyotes, fox, bobcats, eagles, etc. The correct answer largely depends on your neighbors, how much land you are fencing in and your budget. ), there is no guarantee your goat will accept other species as part of its herd, so it’s important to have two goats. A single Nigerian Dwarf goat produces a surprising amount of milk and is basically a miniature dairy goat. The amount of room that’s needed to roam still makes keeping Nigerian dwarfs realistic in both rural and suburban areas. Maizey gives her love & hugs! When considering Nigerian dwarf goats for sale, keep in mind that registration doesn’t guarantee they will be disease-free but it provides a paper trail. Thank you. But you can use a goat’s horrid distaste of getting wet to do some training. Proper nutrition is really all about ratios when it comes to Nigerian dwarfs. Raising animals of any kind is not all rainbows, it is work and responsibility. I agree with you completely. I wish more homestead bloggers were honest about the down-sides to this lifestyle. If you want them as pets, it’s best to raise Nigerian dwarf goats from babies or buy them after they have been weaned or bottle-fed. Not to mention the emotional ups and downs wondering if they were going to live or not and giving them iv’s and meds. While Nigerian dwarf goats do need a lot of romping space, they don't need as much housing space as other goats due to their diminutive size. Unfortunately, I have been that person who got an animal without finding the negatives and I have had to get rid of them before. They don’t produce as much milk per day as Nubians, but we don’t need more than one to two pints of milk per day anyway. I don’t think you are trying to label NDG as bad just trying to educate people before they dive in expecting it all to be a breeze. Thank you for your kind words. There are several reasons why you DON’T want Nigerian Dwarf Goats, here are my Top 9 Reasons. Grains should only be about 10% of their food with hay and forage being 85% and the minerals the rest. If its mineral then my guess would be a zinc deficiency, could be copper deficiency (accompanied by a ‘fishtail’, the hair on their tail splits and looks like a fishtail). I live in a very small lot but we are zoned agricultural and there is no HOA. Ribbons hang deep on their bedroom walls. Hi Amber, Thank you for this article. I do thank you for your comment. What do Nigerian dwarf goats eat? We participate in Affiliate programmes, some of the links mentioned above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Subscribe to Get Post in E-mail. Most dairy goat breeds can only be bred seasonally in the fall; which leads to a glut of milk in the spring after kidding has occurred, but milk shortages in later seasons after the does dry up. It’s best to start searching for Nigerian dwarf goats to buy in the fall. We now have a single buck and he shares a fence line with the does so he’s not alone. Start small with a few high quality goats and grow your herd from there. Give them some space to play, and they will be happy playing with each other. I will see how it goes later after I have more experience with regard to purchasing a buck. I’ve been handed over many ” problem goats” over the years that fit in perfectly with us basically because the previous owners just weren’t prepared. Its expensive and their is alot of hard work involved. I may be able to connect you with a registered breeder. Thank you for your comments, I GREATLY appreciate them, especially from someone who knows. The breed is on the top of the milk breeds, producing 1 to 2 quarts of milk a day. My friends with them have not, either. Thus giving up and re-homing their livestock. Also, she mentioned they have the highest fat content which means really creamy, a good thing for me. Nigerian dwarf goats will eat hay but it should be in a trough and not touching the ground. We milk all our goats by machine, finishing off by hand, taking great care during the process to protect milk quality. Any recommendations on what the best type of feed is and how often to feed them it? Our love for our goats and our desire to see goats treated properly is the reason why I share this information. Yes, Nigerian dwarf goats are friendly, and you can keep them as pets. For Nigerian Dwarfs, you can find a young doeling for $150-$300 depending on their parents background, milking star awards, and colorings. But we think it’s well worth it. I really appreciate your article. But, BUT (add more buts if needed), there are many people adding NDG’s to their homesteads or backyards because they are the ‘it’ livestock, without giving it any thought or prior goat experience. ). In addition, many of these unwanted goats end up homeless and in rescue because the previous owners didn’t know what to expect going in. I have always dreamed of having goats. Here’s what to know about owning Nigerian dwarf goats. She said multiple times, she loves NPG and obviously wouldn’t trade them for anything! People do not think things through when the thought of including a cute lil critter into the family. Ignore the haters…they aren’t worth the time or negative energy. Amber. I hope you and other goat owners do too. If you desire gallon(s) of milk, you will want a larger goat breed, like Nubian’s. You’ll actually see these goats in a variety of different colors. Mine are 4H projects for kids. #5 Reason Why You DON’T Want Nigerian Dwarf Goats: Fencing. For pets, your best choice is probably 2 wethers. They are excellent animals and the one thing i agree with is dont get any animal if you cant adequately take care of it! The best part of their milk is that it has butterfat of 6 to 10%. Some does are vocal when they are in heat, but not loud enough for neighbors to hear. My snowball was a bottle baby and the sweetest goat you could ask for even during rut. While they are friendly by nature, in this way, you can also ensure they are socialized with your family. Udders are individually washed with a soft cotton washcloth. Homesteading is very rewarding but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. I was just discussing the post I want to make on my own page since it’s kidding season and we’re on #kidwatch2018. I think 1 in 4 NDs has a low raspy voice. They will, however, eat everything else in sight. It does take work, preparation, patience and a lot of trial and error sometimes with any breed of goat. Much appreciated. If it’s mites then that can be treated naturally with sulfur – there is a product called NuStock which is sulfur and oil which is supposed to be great. Just like shelters go through a vetting process for those wanting to adopt strays, they want to make sure the animals are going to loving homes. Another option is to start by buying a mother and a baby doe. We have been raising Quality Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats for over 25 years. I almost died when I heard about having to get their horns cut. If you want to keep Nigerian dwarf goats as pets and for milk, you should start with does (female goats). Well that’s just wrong!! If you want them for milk, consider starting with two high quality female kids. If you don’t have the adequate space, consider getting a smaller livestock like chickens or rabbits. I’m in the research phase of just about everything I’d like to do homestead-wise, and I firmly believe in learning the negatives first and going in with my eyes wide open. Therefore, it’s best to begin with two or more Nigerian dwarf goats so they can romp and play together. I live in the country on 32 acres and am interested in getting goats. You can sometimes find them at rescue shelters as well. A doe that is in milk needs more and the recommended percentage is 16-18%. – Jamie”, “Sorry to chime in late but it sounds like copper deficiency so get her a copper bollus and then give her another dose in about a week then keep loose minerals with copper. That means that they really want and appreciate companionship. I have 2 Nigerian Dwarf does. You won’t want electric fencing near your goats; however, you can use it outside of the main wall or fence on your property to detract predators. I realize goats have needs, just like dogs and people. That means the they have meatier, stockier bodies than dairy goats like Nigerian dwarfs. As I mentioned in the article, we live in a very close development with neighbors all around with 1/3 acre. They seem like less maintenance and less stinky. Many goat owners will argue but it’s worth looking into. All of the different varieties you see are very much members of the same breed. Which is totally feasible for one acre. Either way I would never own anything other than a Nigerian dwarf. I have been researching this breed. The bucks will continue to try to mate with pregnant does, thus injuring the does and risk losing the pregnancy. Looking to get into raising goats. You have to milk the goats at least twice per day unless you keep a kid on them. Many plants are toxic to goats, click here to see the full list to make sure you don’t have any of the listed items on your property before getting goats. I hope you find the perfect partner for your wether. If you aren’t sure if you should get goats, Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101 gives a balanced look at the benefits and considerations of raising these little cuties. Leslie if u dont like them they why even read about them shut up and go away!!! God Bless you too! 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