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 knew when I first went “goat shopping” is that I wanted one small, and cute, and easy to milk.
So, which is best? Well, that depends on what your end goal is. Let’s get started!
The difference between a Nigerian and a Pygmy goat.
Size and Color
To a newbie, Nigerian Dwarfs and Pygmy goats can look very similar. They can, many times, be the same height and weight, but pygmy goats tend to be stockier, and have shorter legs. Pygmy goat’s genetics are designed for meat production, so they tend to have a much thicker build in general. Nigerian Dwarf goats have a more slender neck, and thinner, longer legs.
Pygmy’s tend to have a limited amount of colors and markings and only have brown eyes. Nigerians have lots of different color combinations and can have bright blue eyes.
Behavior
My goat friends and I always say the same thing about miniature goats; they can be naughty. The same goes for Nigerian and Pygmy goats. They are hilarious as babies as they jump and run around with surprising agility, but they also are sneaky, can climb fences, and jump long distances. They tend to be the best escape artists of all goats, so my best advice on goat fencing is to place the posts on the OUTSIDE of the pen, so they don’t have anything to use as a point to get higher.
Nigerian and Pygmy goats are as friendly as their mother is, so if you’d like a more friendly goat, I’d recommend bottle feeding instead of letting the mother raise. If your mother goat is very friendly with humans, then the baby should be just as friendly, assuming you’re petting and touching the babies from Day 1.
Milking production
Here’s where you’ll see a stark difference between Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats. Pygmy goats have smaller teats and smaller udders. Their energy production goes into their thick muscles and not into their milk. Some people do try to milk them, but honestly, the small teat size and short legs makes it much more difficult. Nigerian dwarf goats, on the other hand, are milking stars! They can produce as much as 2-3 quarts a day, though most produce about 1-1.5 quarts per day on average. Also, another little fun thing about Nigerian goats is the TASTE of their milk. It is known as the best tasting goat’s milk around. It’s sweet and creamy and nothing like any other goat’s milk you’ve ever tasted. If you don’t like the taste of goat’s milk, get a Nigerian. I’ve fooled many people into thinking my Nigerian’s milk is cow’s milk. It’s THAT good.
Meat production
Pygmy goats are primarily meat goats. Most people who are looking for a goat as a pet hate to hear that their adorable miniature goats are often used for meat, but it’s true. Pygmy goats have thick muscles, and that produces great meat production. So, you’ll see two types of people purchase pygmy goats; those that want to raise them for meat and those that want to raise them as pets:) The two don’t often get along either.
Nigerian vs. Pygmy Goats: Which is best?
So, which is best? For our farm, the Nigerian Dwarf wins out! We primarily raise our goats for milk and we make glorious cheese, yogurt and soap from it.
I have tried goat meat, but we primarily raise chickens and lambs for meat, so we don’t have a need for meat goats.
- If you’re looking for a great milking goat that is smaller in size but is great for production, go with a Nigerian Dwarf goat!
- If you’re looking for a meat goat that is smaller, then go with a Pygmy goat!
- If you’re looking for a pet, you can choose either a Pygmy or a Nigerian, because they both have great (albeit naughty) behaviors. When choosing your first goat, be sure to check out my guide here.
What about Nigerian/Pygmy mixes?
Nigerian/Pygmy crosses are really common, and if you’re trying to decide if you’d like to have a mixed breed there are a few things you need to know…
- If you get a mixed breed, you’ll need to understand that you won’t be able to have it registered, which means you won’t be able to show the goat or do 4-H.
- If you’re wanting to raise for milk, MAKE SURE the mother’s teat and udder size is decent and you might even want to ask if you can milk or see her be milked to make sure.
- If you’re wanting to raise for meat, MAKE SURE the genetics are more stocky in nature.
Which is my favorite breed? Well, you can probably guess from my youtube channel🙂
Hi!
I have to say I love the little goats lol…
I have a pygmy buck and 3 does that seem to be a Nig/Pyg cross. I have been reading on the Kinder goat and everything I come up with shows it has to be a Nubian/Pygmy cross??
Help understanding this one…..
Have a blessed day!!
Hello-
Yes, that is what a kinder is. It is a Nubian and Pygmy cross. A ND and Nubian cross is a mini-Nubian.
You can cross a pygmy and a ND if you want. Just make sure the buck isn’t much larger than the doe as the birthing can be difficult then.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Cate-
The goat will be fine with the sheep, but will get very lonely when they are gone. She will need company. Also, be careful keeping goats and sheep together because goats must have copper in their minerals, but it is toxic to sheep.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thank you that is helpful
Hi we are planning on getting one nigerian dwarf goat 2 week doling and 3 ewe sheep. I was wondering if she will be upset with being with sheep that get eaten. I will breed the goat after 1 year of having her.
Thanks, Cate
DaNelle I have a question for you. We have Pygmy’s and my 11/2 year old kidded in Feb but it was stillborn. Momma bounced right back and is doing great. She is showing signs of heat flagging and rubbing up against the buck’s fence. When is it safe to put her back in with the buck?
Hi Stacey-
Typically if a doe recovers from that and is healthy then it is ok to breed her back. Since she had a stillbirth, and may be prone to miscarry or abort, just make sure there are no underlying diseases or nutritional deficiencies that may be causing any issues. This article may help with some of that information: https://fiascofarm.com/goats/miscarriage.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have just purchased a 14 month old Nigerian dwarf doe (had 2 kids in September – she is dry) and a 10 month old buck (I believe he is a pygmy – was told he is Nigerian??) He is very small and stocky. They live together. I want them to breed for milking…is this possible, and if so, will they? My Doe does not seem to be interested. They have been together for 2 months now. She is very fond of him, but escapes him at night to sleep up higher where he cannot get to.
Hi Brenda-
You can breed NDs and Pygmy goats.
Your doe should cycle and when she is in heat the buck will be interested.
Make sure they are both fed properly and are in good health and the breeding process will be much easier.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
This was SO helpful!!i just bought 3 acres and I am planning to get several goats. Thank you for all of this great information.
I was wondering if you had any information on what to do with the milk specifically? I’m embarrassed to admit I’m not really sure how to process it or what I can make from it. Still learning!!!
Also, do you have any concerns about coyotes etc??? Does the fence you suggest tend to be enough protection?
Serina
Hi Serina-
Congrats on your new acreage!
DaNelle simply strains her milk and then stores it in the refrigerator. Her Resources page has a link to the strainer and filters she uses: https://www.weedemandreap.com/resources/
She uses the milk to drink and uses it in cooking to make cheese, yogurt, pudding, baked goods, or whatever calls for milk in a recipe. You can check out her recipe page: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/food/recipes/
She also occasionally makes soap with it too: https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-to-make-homemade-soap/
As for coyotes, they don’t typically bother goats, but if you have a concern about them, yes this fencing can help deter them. A guard dog does an even better job against predators.
I hope that helps! Best of luck with your goats!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Or a donkey will chase off coyotes.
Hi Danelle,
A well enjoyed article, Thank you
Some quick questions
What are the average adult weights of the two breeds for bucks and Does?
Up to how many kids can the two give birth to/Average reproduction rate?
Best regards
Nathan
Hi Nathan-
Pygmy bucks can weigh around 60-85# and does weigh in at 50-75#.
ND bucks can weigh around 40-80# and does weigh in at 35-65#.
They both can have 1-4 kids for every year they are bred and they are usually good to breed for about 10 years.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thank you Bobbi!
Nathan
I am interested in buying 4 goats: 3 females and 1 male.
I am in Bogota, Colombia.
I would like to receive more information about the animals available.
what is the price?
Hi Sebastian-
You can check out this link anytime to see what goats DaNelle has for sale: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goats-for-sale/
However, just know that she doesn’t sell outside the state of Arizona.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
would it be okay to have two bucks together in one pen?
what does 4-H mean
do nigerian dwarf goats do well in the mountains?
Hi Lucy-
Keeping bucks in the same pen depends on the bucks demeanor, age, size, if they are in rut, and if they are polled or not.
This article here can give you some good info on buck housing management: https://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/buckhousing06.html
4-H is positive youth development organization. You can read more about it here: https://4-h.org/
The 4 H’s stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.
Goats can do well in almost any terrain as long as they have adequate shelter, food, and water.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Where would one find a list of plants poisonous to goats?
Hi Alexis-
This article has a link in it to a list of poisonous plants for goats: https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
Not every single species of plant will be listed, especially local varieties. You can find local species of plants from you local county extension office. I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I recently got 2 new pygmy goats. 1 buck and one doe. I took the doe who is 4 years of age and put her with my Nigerian pygmy buck. He is 1.5 years of age. He chased her for about 10 to mount her, but she never would let him. Can I keep them together, or do I take him out? I dont want him to run her to death.
Hi Wayne-
You can leave them together to ensure your doe gets bred. Just keep an eye on her to make sure she isn’t showing any signs of fatigue, injury, or being overstressed. Bucks tend to be a little overzealous, but usually do not hurt the doe. I hope that helps. Best of luck.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thanks for the break down. I have been commercially raising full sized meat goats for almost 10 years (with a few dairy girls mixed in at all times). I often get questions from new homesteaders who want a smaller sized goat for milk and until now I didn’t really know the difference between the two to give them good advice on which breed to pick. I will say that I have raised 6 different full sized goat breeds over the years, and kiko’s and toggenburg/nubian cross were the two naughtiest ones I have raised. Not only can they jump ANYTHING, they then held down the weak point to let ALLLL of their friends out.
Goats are the best Zen instructors out there. They teach us to let go of our desire to control our fate. They WILL get out no matter what you do. So learn to bend with the wind, rather than be rigid against it. It is a lesson that makes or breaks you if you want goats.
About fencing: Always put the posts on the opposite side of the fence from what you are trying to hold (out/in). So if you are fencing something OUT (garden, or predators against sheep or chickens) then the post goes on the inside. If you are fencing something IN (goats, pigs, horses, cows) then put the posts on the outside. That way the pressure against the wire is against the whole post, not just your fence clips or nails.
Hi Katie-
How dare you say goats are naughty!?
Absolutely kidding! Pretty sure nothing tops them on the naughtiness scale. And while I haven’t had toggenburgs, I can vouch for Nubians being some of the worst instigators of mischief.
The information you provided was very helpful! Thank you so much for reading and posting! And I loved the Zen comment! So true! Thanks and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi. I am experienced with horses, cattle, and poultry, but have never kept goats before. We live at 7000 feet elevation, in northern Arizona, and have an acre available for shelter, pen, and forage. Do you think two Nubian dwarf goats would be too much on an acre? Can they thrive in the high country?
Hi Lee-
The altitude won’t be a problem for the goats. And the acre is enough to support 2 NDs. Here is an article DaNelle wrote about space needed for goat: https://www.weedemandreap.com/how-much-space-need-raise-goats/
I hope this helps! Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Question. Thinking of getting the tinniest pygmy goat I can POSSIBLY get for a pet (hoping for bonus lawn maintenance lol). I live in the city but have a large fully fenced yard with an American Bulldog that’s convinced he’s Dr Doolittle lol. He’s a big dog but is so great with any animal he comes across I know he’ll do well. I don’t have the space for 2 pygmy goats. Will it be okay to get just 1 goat since my dog will be keeping her company and staying in the fenced yard with her?? Also, can you take them on walks? I’m sorry if my questions are dumb, TOTALLY new to goating 😀
Hi Nikki-
First off, no question involving a goat (or a dog) is ever dumb, but hey I may be biased. Seriously though, those are great questions!
As for keeping a goat in your yard, you will most likely need to supplement their food with quality hay and forage, because your lawn may not provide enough quantity or nutrition, plus they may go for any plants/flowers you have. Here is great article DaNelle wrote about what goats eat: https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
Also check out all her other goaty articles that include things like needing supplements: https://www.weedemandreap.com/supplements-for-goats/
and minerals: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goats-minerals-what-you-need-to-know/
and all the other things like diseases, worming, vaccines, etc.: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/animals/goats/
Goats do love having company, but if your dog will be with the goat pretty much consistently and he befriends it, then they should be good to go on companionship. I even had a Boer doe that slept with my old black lab and a barn cat, hey who am I to judge someone’s pick in friends?
You can definitely take your goat on walks. In fact the exercise will be good for it, especially if your yard isn’t huge. Do know that starting them very young will make your goat a better lead goat, but waiting too long may make them a lost cause (ask any 4-Her who failed to break their goat to lead as a kid and then took it to a show…things don’t pan out well). Plus remember goats are not dogs and can’t travel the distances like a dog does or go for runs.
Also remember to check your City’s ordinances and or Homeowners Association rules (if you have one) to see if they allow goats, as many do not.
I hope this information helps! Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I think you’re being too nice here. 😉 I don’t suggest keeping just 1 goat. They’re herd animals and need a fellow caprine friend. Please don’t house your small goat with an up to 130lb bull dog. Even if your dog is the super sweetest dog on Earth, even in play it isn’t worth putting your innocent goat in harms way. Also, don’t expect the goat to provide any sort of lawn maintenance, as mentioned they’ll be happier going after your plants and such. They’re not grazers like sheep, cattle or horses…. they’re browsers like deer.
Hi Jamie-
Thanks for the comment! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Very nice article! Just one clarification I’d like to make as a pygmy goat breeder. Pygmies are capable of producing quite a bit (1 – 2 1/2 quarts per day) of wonderfully, sweet milk. True, their shorter stature necessitates modifying the standard milk stand; and their smaller teats require someone with small (or nimble) hands when milking – but the high quality milk they produce definitely outweighs these issues.
We bottle feed all babies their mother’s milk from birth to weaning and any surplus is use to make cheese, or is frozen for later use. While such a labor intensive endeavor is not for everyone, it works well for us. Blessings!
Hi Ms. PJ LaRUe Smith-
That’s great you have such wonderful successful with your pygmies! I really appreciate your comment. This helps our readers know that while they maybe a bit short in stature, pygmies are great goat to have and milk. Thanks and Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Goats do have to have another herd animal but they are graiser,so much that i lived in the calaveras mountains in Ca. In the high fire area. They recommend and rent goats to keep the grass and weeds down and its tax deductible. I used them in my yards they even have a breed of pigs that are graisers we had.i believe they were in Astrailian pigs.
I’m looking at getting my first goat. He is a young male Nigerian dawrf. I’m wondering if he will be ok on his own? Will he turn aggressive if he is unaltered? Are they cold hardy?
Hi Amy-
So excited you are getting a goat! I am not sure why you have selected a male, but any goat is a great choice. If you are not going to use him for breeding my suggestion is to have him castrated. If you don’t, he can smell ridiculously awful and exhibit behavior you don’t want to deal with. While I have never had a Nigerian Dwarf male, I have had plenty of Nubian bucks and none of them were my friends. I loved all my does and enjoyed hanging out with them, but I can’t tell you how many times (mostly as a kid) I got chased or pinned in bad spots because of an aggressive intact male. Sure, I should have stayed out his area, but I apparently I was too “smart” to actually listen to my mom and dad.
So get your male, but have him cut, and as a wether you and he will be friends. Here is one of DaNelle’s articles on bucks just so you have a bettor understanding: https://www.weedemandreap.com/buck-goat-question/
As for being cold hardy, they can definitely stand the winter months, IF, they have proper shelter, are fed well, and have fresh (unfrozen) water everyday. Here’s DaNelle’s article on supplies: https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-supplies-raising-milking-kidding/
On the subject of being alone, most goats do NOT like to live solitary lives. Bucks would be better at this than does, but even they would rather have some ladies they can see and interact with. If you only have one goat, know they will be noisy and even get a bit annoying because they are lonely. Although if you have an uncut male, do NOT put him in a pen with any other goats, unless for breeding purposes.
I hope this gives you some answers about your new Nigerian Dwarf male. Happy Goating! -Bobbi
Hello
I am going to get a nigerian wether this week I am also considering picking up a nigerian buck kid. I have 2 kiko does. I am curious if the nigerian buck would be able to breed my kikos for a dual purpose goat. Love the stories. My poor husband has to tolerate me as well. I keep changing my mind on what heritage chickens I want. So far im overloaded with cochins. I have orpingtons and only 1 RIR. I got red wattle pigs too. Hubby was totally against pigs but loves them now. He likes the goats too. He says he will definitely put his foot down over a cow. 🙂
Thanx for any info
Samantha
Hi Samantha-
That’s great you are getting some Nigerian dwarfs to add to your herd! As for breeding the Nigerian buck to the Kiko does, this isn’t something I have done before. However, with the male being smaller than the female there is no concern that the baby would be too large for her to carry. I would have to wonder if the buck is large enough to mount your Kiko. If she is very large and he is very small, the physics just aren’t going to work here. While I am not aware of any genetic reason why they can’t breed (as long as the male breed is smaller or same size as the female breed) the logistics of getting the deed done simply may be an issue. I hope this information helps, and best of luck! Happy Goating! -Bobbi
I love my 4 Nigerian boys. They are friendly and loving and so very funny. They are terrific as pets. Low maintenance and easy to care for. I would also recommend Nigerian dwarfs. To know a goat is to love a goat!
Thanks for the article! I love the break down you provide and the differences!
Can the be trained to be house broken
I peepad trained a baby goat.
YES ! , In 2008 I got a Pigmy Alpine Goat to raise as a house pet. The first time she urinated on the carpet (whole house is carpeted) I rubbed her nose in it (the same as you would do when training a dog) , no animal likes to have their nose rubbed in their own urine. You can also tell when a Goat is about to urinate or defecate, because it will raise it’s tail up over it’s back to get it out of the way. Since that first time, she has either gone to the door and verbally let me know that she needs to go out, or she ‘thumps’ the wall with her horns to tell me that she needs to go out NOW !
Hi Dr. Walt-
Yep, goats are pretty smart animals. It’s my theory as to why they are so ornery too sometimes! Thanks for reading and posting! Happy Goating! -Bobbi
My pygmy doe is house broken, but overnight she sleeps in an XL Dog crate if she’s indoors. I never leave her inside unattended because she love to climb on the furniture and taste EVERYTHING. I mostly just bring her in for a shower and then we’ll sit and watch TV together while I brush her. My favorite thing to do is walk her in the woods behind our house. She gets excited tasting new trees, vines, weeds and shrubs.
Thanks for all the fabulous information!
Just wondering if I choose to get Nigerian goats, and don’t plan on milking, does that cause problems for the goat or does the milk just dry up?
Thank you!
Hi Valerie,
If you never breed, your goats will never produce milk. It’s just like in humans:)
Hi I am very impressed with all your knowledge. I bought a nigerine drrawf as a companion our 2yr horse , she is so precious. I have been reading all your articles. I went last weekend and bought a doe, and her 3 Dowling and a wether. . I just love them. I would like to breed mom, these babies are 7 months old, I would like to breed the 3 Dowling, mom is still in milk, should ii wait until she dries up? Thank you
Hi Judy,
This article will definitely help you! https://www.weedemandreap.com/goat-breeding-101/
The babies can be MUCH sweeter than mom even when dam raised. My sweetheart is more like a dog than a goat. Her mother barely tolerates people; unless they have treats. Brat. But I spent hours handling her and her sister (who is not as sweet as sister, but still way nicer than mom) when they were little so I think its all about proper handling from birth.
Check with the zoning. If you live in town there are zoning laws for livestock.
Thanks for making that clear. Lol.
Here in Michigan the G.A.A.M.P. otherwise known as the right to farm act contains the specifics.
Recently I helped my friend show pack with his nigerian dwarf goat. I have been wanting goats for about a year now, but I decided I NEED some cute goats. I would most likely like to show pack, and I don’t want to milk a goat. Any advice?
Thanks, Hayden
Hi Hayden,
Any breed of goat can stay as a pet as long as you don’t breed it to have babies:) We love Nigerians over here. Good luck!
Hi , I would appreciate your opinion on my goats… I have a female pygmy approximately 7-8 years old..to my knowledge she has never had babies. Recently, A friend gave me 2 Mini-nubian bucklings ( Nubian/Nigerian Dwarf cross) these little guys are 2 months old. I have them in a different pen away from my female. Do you know if the Pygmy doe can safely breed with the mini-nubians? I plan to keep them separated and possibly get the little males neutered. All comments and advice appreciated.
Hi Robert,
Unfortunately, they cannot breed. The best rule of thumb when breeding is to stick with the same breeds and if not, then to make sure the male is the same size or smaller than the female. A Nubian/Nigerian cross would be too big for a Pygmy and my fear would be that she’d have trouble giving birth.
DaNelle,
Thank you so much.. I figured as much. A friend showed up at my place with the little bucklings. As bad as I hate to, I will probably have to get the bucklings neutered.
They can breed,but the chance of having kidding problems is great. If you are afraid that a small doe may have been bred, there is a shot that your vet can give to abort. A c-section is very costly and you may lose the doe and kids.
I have a mini Nigerian doe who mated with my pygmy twice. Never had a problem. They about the same size. The die had I kid the first time and twins the second time. Be aware they can mate through a wire fence as the male has a pizzle, that is very long. All the best
Thank you for the wealth of information here DaNelle!! Your site is a God-Send!! I haven’t yet encountered a question such as ours yet tho’ ……. we have a Saanen x Nubian yearling doe whom we would not like to be bred (Petal). This week we acquired an 8 week old Nigerian buckling as her companion (Hawthorn). Being that he is “mature” at that age, is there a chance that this wee lad will be able to “reach” her to impregnate her if they are kept together. The vet didn’t recommend “neutering” him until he was 3 months old. Wondering if it is necessary to keep them apart for the upcoming month to avoid any accidents?? Thank you for your insight !! Also – the few short visits they have had initially went well with curiosity and affection on his part, playfulness on both parts …… but then Petal seemed to want to dominate him by head-butting and chasing. Any suggestions on how to assure her that she doesn’t need to bully him? We’re making sure she is receiving lots of attention too in the hopes to ward off any jealousy. Thanks so much for any information you may be able to impart !! Teresa (Blytheswood, Ontario)
Hi Teresa, it is possible for them to breed. Just to be safe, I’d keep them separated:) As far as bullying goes, they have to set their “pecking order” in the herd and decide on who’s going to be the boss. Unless they are being VERY mean, I’d let it go:)
Hello dear Soul and thank you ever so much for your insight !! I have to say – Petal managed to engineer a way into Hawthorn’s stall one afternoon !!! He had been displaying some fondness towards her, but wasn’t interested in seizing the opportunity when I discovered them. I wondered if perhaps they had already consummated their friendship during our absence?! Well – it appears that she is in heat tonight – so I will take that as a sign that she “wasn’t that kinda girl” after all !! 😉 She does seem less aggressive towards him and content to poke along the fields in quiet company with him. She certainly hollers and runs to him if I’ve separated them for a walk or a nibble in the wheat field. They do like to head butt one another which is a problem at the moment, as his disbudding wounds keep opening up. Petal has horns and after a few playful rounds, she will try to bean him 🙁 Even though he is being castrated on Monday – we will continue to keep them apart until his forehead has completely healed. (Blu Kote is really helping the process!) I’ll do my best to take your advice and not interfere with their sussing of each other out. My concern is that Petal’s size and agility with her horns can be intimidating to a wee youngster – though he is not afraid to hold his own for awhile! We are certainly getting an education and some good clean entertainment over here !! All the best to you and your goats DaNelle!! Thanks again for your reply !! oxo
I have my land wired with a in ground wire electric fence for dogs. It works great with my dogs. The collar gives a warning if they get to close to there boundary line & gives a shock if they get even closer to the boundary line. Would this work for these goats also?
Hi Michelle,
Goats do well with electric fences, but I’m not sure about the in ground with the collar. Sorry, I wish I had more experience in this area for ya’!
Hi DaNelle,
I just discovered your blog today and I already love it. I can deeply relate. I saw one post and liked it so much I subscribed. Then I clicked another one and had to remind myself I’d already subscribed–because I was ready to–again. 🙂 Great site. Thank you for sharing. -Georgia
Don’t forget that goats are herd animals. They are genetically wired to be with an herd. If you are thinking of purchasing goats, you must get at least 2-3, so they will feel safe. A goat that is kept alone can develop anxiety that will cause gastrointestinal problems. That, in itself, is another reason why dwarf goats are a good choice for the small farm. Three dwarf goats eat the combined amount of food as one regular size dairy goat. If you only have a budget for one dairy goat, then get 3 dwarf goats. They will be happier and so will your budget.
I love what you have learned.I am interested in the Nigerian more for milking. I hope i am not taking on more then i can handel. How much land should one have?
Mary
Hi Mary, you can keep two goats in an area as small as 1000 sq. feet, but they’d love more if you let them! If you have a small space, I’d recommend looking into pasture rotation:)