There is so much enjoyment that comes with having "goat buddies", they are very sensitive to having someone to love and care for them. And they return it to you...at times they have minds of their own and will not obey commands such as a dog would...they are not like dogs at all..they are goats. Most people who don't know goats think that they will eat anything you put in front of them. Not so..they are very picky eaters...hay dropped on the floor or in the dirt or even if they step on it...they will not eat it as they consider it dirty. Water that is not clean or has a bug floating in the bucket is considered dirty and they will not drink it unless you get that bug out of there! My elder doe Bootsie will make a beeline to one certain patch of clover and happily munch on it till she is full or it is gone..the next day she won't touch clover but will eat down a patch of dandelions instead. She will absolutely not eat after another goat...or even me! She loves jelly toast but will not take a bite if I took one first! I f another goat eats from an apple or a cracker she will not touch it...goats are picky! And little treats once in awhile is something they enjoy and will also help them bond to you. Mine are very different with their likes and dislikes...none of them will eat a carrot but they all love raisins, bananas(they like the peels best!) and oranges among saltines and pretzels and corn chips. Basically whatever you like to snack on..see if your goat will try it.
Goats need to have a draft free shelter to keep warm in the winter and provide shade in the summer. They can withstand the cold but not a wet cold. They do not like to get wet and if you ever see a goat out in a pasture in the rain they are either very hungry or they have no shelter. Two little goats or even more are better for you and them. Unless you are willing to spend 24/7 with a goat it's best to have 2. A single goat is a lonely goat...very noisy and will basically want to be stuck in your back pocket all the time. Think about it, would you be happy spending hours by yourself with nobody to play with or talk to?
I chose the mini's because they are alot easier to handle when they decide to act up and the fact that they stay little and cute. They love getting brushed and scratched and are the perfect size to be able to groom without breaking your arm! I milk my does after the babies go to their new homes because I really enjoy the quiet time I get to spend with them. It is relaxing for me after work and the girls enjoy the one on one without having to compete for my attention. I decided to add Binky..a registered Nigerian Dwarf to my herd because the breed is a dairy breed..pygmys are considered a meat breed(yep, there are some out there that eat goat) I also thought she had a sweet face and would have some pretty babies. Also the fact that in the miniature goat world Nigerians are the only mini that can have a multitude of colors and paterns and still be a Nigerian. Pygmys have a very specific standard when it comes to colors Agouti is the most common...which mine are considered agouti. So over the next few years I hope to have the nigi/pygmy cross that will give the amount of milk a nigi gives but have the "chubbiness" of a pygmy. Next spring I am hoping to have a couple registered nigerian dwarf babies from Binky.
Here are a couple links I hope will help.
They both have so much information on the pygmy and nigerian dwarf
I also post alot on a goat forum...previous one was GoatwebCoffeeshop..until problems with the server and now a new Goat Forum http://thegoatspot.freeforums.org
There is so much information on anything goat related that is communicated between us members...and if you have any questions whatsoever related to housing , kidding or even minor scrapes..the members do what they can to provide the info.
I am a member of the Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association and American Goat Society. I really have no interest in raising show quality goats but if I can provide the breed standard for a 4H member that wants to raise a mini goat for the fair I would be very happy with that accomplishment.
