My Introduction....

countryliving3988

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Hey everyone! I'm from western NY. I have 2 daughters (1 and 2 years old) I have 4 Buff Orpington Hens that are a year old and have 6, 3 week old chicks. 3 are red sexlinks and 3 are pullets but not sure what theyre going to be just yet. Im very interested in getting a couple Nigerian dwarf goats. We live on 1/2 an acre and am not sure if raising them in our backyard would workout, as far as space and grazing area. We live in a 'right to farm' town so we are legally allowed to raise them here. I'd love some input raising them in the backyard. I grew up on a dairy farm, milking Holsteins, and now that Ive moved away from home, I really have the itch to get back into raising animals. Im not looking to breed quite yet (possibly in the next few years) so for now they would just be for pets. Are they messy animals to keep in your backyard? Will they ruin all the grassy areas and how loud are they? Any input would be awesome!!
 

OneFineAcre

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Welcome. You could very easily do N.D's on a half acre lot. I can give you a lot of input on raising them in the back yard. Noisy, some more than others. Most will let you know when it's time to be fed. Mine are in a wooded area, and are dry lotted meaning they get all of their roughage from hay. Not sure how a couple would do on a half acre of grass.
 

SA Farm

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:welcome What OneFineAcre said :D I have a combined pasture (grassy and wooded) and they eat what they like of the grass and weeds and chew bark. They still get hay year round, so I don't have to worry about it.

If you're planning to get a couple of does as pets to start, you could always take them for walks too. My NDs love going for walks and it's not too difficult to car train them either! :p
 

countryliving3988

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Thanks for the info! :thumbsup How is it cost-wise to raise 2 goats? I know they need some vaccinations? and de-wormers? I attached a picture of our back yard. Do you think this would be ok for them? We would put a shelter towards back of yard next to our pole barn. Since we don't have a pasture for them, would we just have to supplement their diets with more hay and grain?
 

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countryliving3988

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Do they have to visit a vet or can you purchase all you need from a tractor supply store? I ordered a couple books on raising ndg's but they haven't come in yet! Im anxious to learn more but learning from people who have experience is always so much more beneficial!!!:D
 

OneFineAcre

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You can manage most of your goats health needs yourself with some experience, but goats do on occasion require veterinary care. We at minimum have an annual herd health check. But routine fecals, worming and vaccinations we try to do ourselves.

You would need to feed hay and some feed. Not sure what hay is like in NY, but grass hay (coastal bermuda) is most economical here. We get Alfalfa hay to supplement our lactating does.
We give the grass hay free choice.
In some parts of the country alfalfa may be more economical and it is a better product for goats.
Here are my jack leg hay feeders from Walmart. Back when we just had two goats we just used laundry baskets.
At feeder.jpg


There are legs attached to keep them from knocking them over.


At feeder 2.jpg


Of course they are handy for other things.

At feeder 3.jpg



At feeder 4.jpg
 
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