Goats are one of the easiest animals to raise on the homestead. They’re smaller than other livestock, they’re safe for children, they give lots of milk, they can be a good source of mean, and they’re just fun to have around.
Learn everything about goats, from how to raise them, problems that may arise, hoof care, dealing with a pregnant goat and much, much more.
When it comes to livestock, goats have a lot going for them for homesteaders. Smaller, cheaper, and easier to handle compared to cows, and not quite as nasty or destructive as pigs, goats occupy a neat middle ground and can still furnish you with plenty of meat and milk for your own family or as … Read more
When homesteaders start thinking about livestock, they usually think of chickens, cows, or pigs, but increasingly we are seeing goats gain more ground in the United States. They’re much smaller and cheaper than larger livestock and are truly multi-purpose, capable of producing meat, milk, and in some cases valuable fiber. But as always, picking the … Read more
Winter is invariably a challenging season. Intense cold makes everything harder, people and animals are more prone to getting sick, and quality forage is either dead or concealed under snow, meaning you’ve got to provide your livestock with food around the clock. Different livestock species handle winter weather better or worse, and when it comes … Read more
No matter what sorts of animals you take care of on your homestead, expanding your herd or flock the all-natural way is always going to be an exciting, and somewhat nerve-wracking time. Pregnant animals need lots of additional care, and the closer that the delivery date comes the more there is to do to make … Read more
Goats can be one of the most challenging livestock species to keep, but they can also be one of the most rewarding: They are affordable, don’t need a ton of space, and can produce lots and lots of milk and meat to keep your fridge full and your freezer loaded. This is reason enough to … Read more
Goats get a bad rap with homesteaders, I think: while it is true they tend to be troublesome escape artists and can have more health problems than other livestock animals, they are supremely versatile. And I’m not just talking about their products, either! Believe it or not, your goats can help you out in a … Read more
Owning livestock, of any kind, entails a lot of calculation. How much food to get, how much they will cost, etc. If you plan on free-ranging your animals and allowing them to live or eat on a pasture, figuring out how many your acreage can support is one of the most important calculations of all. … Read more
Goats are turning into a really big business in the United States. With consumption of goat meat and milk on the rise this year compared to just the past couple of decades and a steady demand for other products like goat-sourced fiber, it’s a good time to put your herd to work for you… Believe … Read more
What’s the best part of bringing home new animals? If you ask me, it’s thinking up a fun name for them. For most of us, whether we’ve got pets or actual livestock, we’ll be spending a lot of time with our furry friends, and that means they deserve a name. Besides, it’s a lot easier … Read more
Goats are just like every other kind of livestock: they have specific dietary needs that must be met. They need the right kinds of foods that will supply the right amount of calories and all of the vitamins and minerals for them to thrive. But goats are fairly unique among mammals in that they need … Read more
If you want goats on the homestead, pygmy goats can be a surprisingly inspired choice. They produce a lot of milk for their size, are very space-efficient, and easy to handle. They also have great personalities and tend to like people, meaning they’re perfect if you want to play with your herd. If you’re ready … Read more
If you live out in the country on a farm or homestead and keep animals, you know that flies are an unfortunate, constant, and maddening part of life. In the end, you and your animals, goats in our case, will always have to put up with them to a degree, but your goats will be … Read more
When it comes to milk production, there are few dairy goat breeds that can rival the legendary Alpine. These large, graceful, and beautiful goats are known for producing gallons of milk a day and also for extraordinarily long lactation periods. Even a couple of healthy does can keep a large family, and all of your … Read more
Goats are herbivores, and that means they eat all kinds of plant matter, fruits and vegetables included. However, some vegetables, despite an excellent nutritional profile, may be harmful for goats or are generally disagreeable to them. How about asparagus? Can goats have it? Yes, goats may eat asparagus safely, though truly excessive amounts might be … Read more
I guarantee that if you’ve been on the internet for any length of time, you’ve seen myotonic goats before… I’m talking about these: Myotonic goats, also known as fainting goats, live up to the name: when they get startled, these goats go stiff-legged and then topple over hilariously. Most folks can’t help but try to … Read more
If you want to go to great lengths of time, you know how downright ornery they can be, especially the bucks. They can be so recalcitrant it’s hard to believe any other animal would even want to be near them, but the reality is that goats have quite a few predators you’ll need to contend … Read more