Chorioptes mites are a common but frustrating parasite that can affect goats, causing irritation, hair loss, and discomfort. Although they don’t burrow like some other mites, their presence on the surface of the skin can still create significant problems for … Read More
Episode 155For the Love of Goats Goat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Melissa Holahan, a small … Read More
Episode 151For the Love of Goats As goat owners, understanding diseases that can affect our herds is crucial for maintaining healthy animals and preventing the spread of illnesses. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Linda Detwiler, Staff … Read More
Fall is the time when goat, sheep and camelid owners start to see problems with meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis). Unlike intestinal worms, which go to work in an animal’s stomach or intestines as soon as it is ingested by the … Read More
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What do you do when your goat has diarrhea, which is often called scours in livestock? Unfortunately, that’s not an easy question to answer because there are a couple dozen possible … Read More
What do goats eat? The main food of goats is browse, which is bushes and trees, but that’s just the beginning. Many new or aspiring goat owners ask what goats eat and expect a short, simple answer. Some expect you … Read More
Episode 106For the Love of Goats Almost everyone has a tetanus shot to protect us from a deadly disease that can be transmitted from an injury that breaks through the skin. Although some animals are not as susceptible to tetanus, … Read More
It was not until around 2015 that I ever heard anyone talk about constipation in goats. I suddenly started seeing a lot of posts on Facebook about goats with constipation. I had never had a constipated goat in my herd … Read More
Episode 97For the Love of Goats We have a lot of episodes on various diseases that can be prevented by vaccines, but rather than tell you to listen to all of those episodes to figure out which vaccines your goats … Read More
Episode 96For the Love of Goats One of the most common questions I get during kidding season is, “why was this kid born dead?” Unfortunately, I can’t answer that question because there are dozens of possibilities, starting with a long … Read More
Thrifty Homesteader was created in 2012 after the publication of my second book, Ecothrifty. The name was coined by one of my followers because I said that I didn’t want anyone to think that they had to be rich to homestead or live a greener life....
