Hello from southeast Texas!

[Baymule]

Goats are really easy if you don't over think things too much.

This tends to be my problem! What town are you in? I'm in Jasper. I have a couple NDs and a pygmy and they did fine this summer. I'm more worried about them this winter cuz I hear its going to be a cold one.

Hi neighbor!

Im in Buna! Where did you purchase your goats?

kelsiNS, welcome to BYH! My DH and I went to Buna not long ago and stopped at Chuck's Place for lunch. I had the Redneck Nachos. OMG!! They were the best ever!

 

[babsbag]

I live in No. Ca. with no pasture and no rain all summer so my goats are on a dry lot and they depend on me for feed, in the spring they have some trees to nipple.

I have 11 Alpine does and 5 of their kids on about 1/2 acre and they are fine, other than I am broke feeding them. Most of the day they just lay in the shade, it gets up to 115 here in the summer, but much lower humidity than Texas. They have plenty of room to do what they want to do.

In an adjoining pen I have 6 more goats so 20 or so total and I just went through 5 tons of hay in a little less than 3 months. I figure one bale a day to feed my herd and a bale weighs in at about 100 -110 lbs. That is a lot of hay, but I am sure you will not have near as many goats as I do.

Gotta watch those chickens, they lead us to places unknown. Although I had goats before chickens I started with 9 chickens and probably have about 50 now. They free range with my goats so I don't really keep track.

 

[Moonshine]

My advice for someone around these parts is get a book. Stormy's guide to raising dairy goats is at TSC. Also at the top of the forum is Goat Notes, and the author is a member of the forum, gives great advice and is very knowledgeable. Even though I haven't read her book yet I would expect valuable information to be found in that book. Research the different breeds. We don't have dairy farms around here we can visit so its going to be a little more difficult for you to get first hand experience on the temperament of these goats. You're more than welcome to come visit me and see my girls. I only have 1 true ND and you can see what she's like if you want. Networking is a little more difficult around here as well. If you hear of a show, go to it. Shows are a great way to meet other dairy folks. Don't buy from an auction or flea market. Although, my last girl I got from Canton I do think was a good buy, I was more knowledgeable at the time and had a little more education as to what to look for. The reason being, auctions are where people go to get rid of their problem and with both, flea markets and auctions, you have no idea what you're taking home. It might very well be that specific type of goat but you have no idea of its history. Research research research! Google and this forum are your best friend! There's a couple of groups on FB that I joined that are dairy goat groups in Texas and that might be a good way to find more dairy goats and breeders in Texas.

 

[KelsiNS]

You won't believe this and its prolly the worst place to get goats but I got 2 of mine from Canton and the pygmy out of the Lufkin peddler (close to San Augustine). That's so awesome we live so close we can be goat buddies ea!! There's a girl from Tyler here and I pick her brain a lot since the land is about the same. I'm so glad you're thinking about getting into dairy goats because it is really scarce around here!!

I have family in san augustine and lufkin im looking ata breeder in Maud....hmmm.

 

[Moonshine]

Maud? Where's that? Does she have a website? I'd love to see what you find. I've had a hard time finding dairy goats around here.

 

[animalmom]

Here's a big howdy and welcome to BYH, to you from North Central Texas. You do have to watch out for those chickens... we started with chickens then added rabbits then added the little goats then added geese. Finally had to put the old foot down and say "no more species."

We'll see how long that lasts.

If you ever get up to the DFW area let me know... only a couple hours more and you'd be here! (Long drive, but everything is a long drive in Texas, HA)

 

[Tesaba]

Hi neighbor!

Im in Buna! Where did you purchase your goats?

Im down here in Lumberton, and am just now starting my education and search!!!! And yes CHICKENS are the gateway drug to BACKYARD anything

 

[Tesaba]

Here's a big howdy and welcome to BYH, to you from North Central Texas. You do have to watch out for those chickens... we started with chickens then added rabbits then added the little goats then added geese. Finally had to put the old foot down and say "no more species."

We'll see how long that lasts.

If you ever get up to the DFW area let me know... only a couple hours more and you'd be here! (Long drive, but everything is a long drive in Texas, HA)

My mom lives in Hurst so we make trips every other month or so............MY Chicken Lady lives in Burleson.....she is my "drug" (chicken) dealer

 

[goatboy1973]

Welcome to BYH!!! With small acreage try the Kinder goat. They have most the attributes of the Nubian but the smaller size of the ND. Nubians have wonderfully high levels of butterfat which is good for making cheese and soap.

 

[Tesaba]

Lumberton here!!! Have had my two doelings Mini Nubians for two weeks also The were dam raised till three months old.....so I am in the "new mommy" stage and want the best for them, but am always afraid im missing something!

Im trying to get my feed switched to organic feeds, which I just found out yesterday that there is a dropsite in Beaumont for Azure Standards every four weeks....so I hope to be transitioning to the new feed from Noble goat feed, Im currenty using ManaPro goat minerals free choice, but am going to try adding it to my twice a day feeding instead (since they don't seem to be eating it on their own) also just purchased a bag of beet pulp to add a little fiber. We also have them in our backyard so their foraging is somewhat less pasture and more my landscaping PS THEY LOVE Mexican Palms and those little red berry bushes that grow wild around here! Just want them to be healthy and happy! Always love to hear the advice of others! Peace Love and Goats