6 Signs Your Goat is in Heat
If you want to milk your goat, she has to have kids, and before she has kids, she has to get bred. People with goats usually don’t let their buck run with the does, even if they have only one … Read More
goats
Deworming Goats
Although it appears there are about a dozen chemical dewormers on the market, all fall into one of three categories. Drugs in the same category have a similar mode of action and work to kill similar worms. Deworming goats correctly … Read More
Goats vs. Cows: The Ultimate Comparison
When we first moved to the country, I didn’t give much thought to goat vs cow. I thought we needed a goat to make “goat cheese” and a cow for all of our other dairy products, such as milk, cream, … Read More
What’s the Difference Between Alfalfa and Grass Hay?
When I got started with goats I barely knew the difference between hay and straw. Although I quickly learned that hay is food and straw is bedding, I just assumed that all hay was the same. That is definitely not … Read More
Goat Bloat
Many people think a goat is bloated when it simply has a large belly. I have seen many people post online, “My goat has been bloated for several days,” which is impossible. A goat with bloat will die within hours … Read More
12 Fun Facts About Goats
It probably comes as no surprise to hear that goats are my favorite animals. In addition to their incredible personalities, they are also just really fun creatures. But they are also misunderstood, so here are a few fun facts. Goats … Read More
Can I keep sheep and goats together?
Like many things related to livestock, the answer to the question, “Can I keep sheep and goats together?” does not have a simple yes or no answer. Sheep and goats have the same diseases This is probably the #1 reason … Read More
Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats
Whether you already raise goats or you are thinking of getting a couple, you’ve come to the right place. This Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats includes links to some of Thrifty Homesteader’s most useful goat posts. Caring for goats is … Read More
Copper Deficiency Case Study
We’d had Nigerians for three years when I purchased Muse, my first LaMancha, a yearling in milk. At six months fresh, she dried up, which was disappointing, but I was eagerly looking forward to her kidding the next spring. We … Read More
Alfalfa Pellets vs Cubes and Hay
Even though I have written about feeding alfalfa pellets to goats, I still get a lot of questions about exactly how pellets are different than cubes or hay and how they should be used as part of a goat’s diet, … Read More
