This 27 year old website is going through a complete overhaul to bring it up to current standards for use with mobile devices. All of the information will be preserved. Please be patience as I am only one person and this is taking ever-so-much longer than I originally thought it would.

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This site provides a multitude of information on the care and keeping of dairy goats, with an emphasis on a natural and humane approach. These pages contain information on all aspects of goat raising and goat care including: health & husbandry, feeding, medications, wormers & worming, natural, herbal & holistic health care, breeding, kidding, milking, behavior, how-to instructions, free downloads, and much more.
GoldieThis web site is intended to aid the reader in the care and keeping of dairy goats. In my methods, I emphasize natural & holistic health care and treat our animals with the love, dignity and the respect they deserve.

This site is dedicated to all those who want to learn how to raise your goats in a loving and humane manner. This is my gift of "metta" (loving kindness, compassion and friendship) to you

The information presented here reflects the way I do things . There are as many ways to raise goats as there are people who own goats. It is helpful to know how others do things, and with this knowledge you can then develop your own way of raising goats that works best for you and your own situation.

In loving memory of Goldie, matriarch of our herd, wonderful friend, and the most extraordinary animal I will ever have the honor to have known.
Tribute Essay: Goldie- Queen of Goats

Goat Care Information, Health & Husbandry and Assorted Other Tibits

Getting Your Goat

Goat Stories & Other Essays
by Molly

Goat Short Stories & Eassays:

Other Essays:

Normal Goat Health Information
  • Temperature = 102.5 - 104 - This varies depending on the temperature of the goat's surroundings. 
  • Pulse rate = 70 - 80 beats per minute
  • Respiration =15 to 30 per minute
  • Rumen (stomach) movements = 1 - 1.5 per minute
  • Puberty = 7 weeks - 8 months (separate bucks from does at 2 month)
  • Estrus/Heat Cycle = 17 to 23 days
  • Gestation = 143 to 155 days
  • Life span:
    • Does = 11-12 years average age, but... usually the death in does is kidding related.  Does that are "retired" from breeding around age 10 live longer: 16-18 years (and I just recently found a doe who was 24; she was retired from kidding at age 10).
    • Wethers = 11-16 years average age
    • Bucks = 8-10 average age - bucks usually live shorter lives than does and wethers due to the stresses of going into rut each year.
  • Full growth size: Most goats do not reach their full size until they are about three years of age. (They keep growing for about three years)

 

General
Information & Care

 

ALL GOATS OF
ANY AGE

 

Kids (young goats)
Does
(females)
Bucks
(intact males)
Wethers
(neutered males)

 

Also see individual sections listed below

 

Information, Care & Health issues

 

DOES (adult females)
&
KIDDING
(having babies)


 

Please note:
Does should NEVER be housed with bucks. If you "run" does and bucks together, you will never know when to expect kids, you won't be able to prepare for the kids, and you will risk loosing them.

 

Information, Care & Health issues

 

KIDS
(baby goats)

 

Information, Care & Health issues

 

BUCKS (intact males)
&
WETHERS
(neutered males)

 

 

Please note:
Bucks DO NOT make good pets. You DO NOT want a buck for a pet. Please read this page to find out why.

 

Wethers make excellent pets.

 

Milk, Milking and Udder related

Diseases and Health Issues

Health Care, Vaccination & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that I follow.

All See:

 

Medications:

Medications (Modern/Traditional) - Main Page

 

Natural Health, Healing & Alternative Medicines

Natural Health, Healing & Alternative Medicines & Herbals - Main Page


logo

This is my other web site providing information on natural practices and the use of herbs, herbal formulas & natural supplements used in the holistic care of your dogs, cats, goats, horses, other pets & animals.

These are my personal herbal formulas and treatments that I have developed to use as part of the holistic natural care I give my own animals. Sales from the Molly's Herbals site help support the Fias Co Farm web site.

 

Photo Galleries

 

fiasco the blue goat

Free Downloads

Build Your Own Milk Stand / Goat Stand
icnpdf The first thing you need when you start to keep goats is a good milk stand / goat stand.


Breeding / Kidding Record Spreadsheet & Calculator
sheet This is an Excel based Spreadsheet / Template that we have created for you to use to keep track of your herd breeding a

 

Recipes

recipes

 

Sweater Pattern

Goat SweatersSweater Pattern-
You can knit your own goatbaby sweaters.  Included here are patterns for a knitting machine, hand knitting and crocheting.

 

Miscellaneous Information

Terms

Definitions of goat related terms

Videos A goat giving birth

 

 

Fias Co Farm Web Site: Designed, written and maintained by Molly Nolte

Copyright (c) 1997-2024 Fias Co Farm. All rights reserved.

All graphics, photos and text on these pages were created by, and are the sole property of, Molly Nolte.

Individuals are granted the right to download a single copy of this page for archival purposes on electronic media and/or conversion into a single printed copy for personal use.

All other use or reproduction of this material, such as in publications or use on other web sites is strictly prohibited. It may not otherwise be reprinted or recopied, in whole or in part, in any form or medium, without expressed written permission.

This site may be used as a reference (but not copied and/or plagiarized) if proper credit is provided and a web link is given.

Disclaimer

The information on this web site is provided as an examples of how we do things here at Fias Co Farm. It is supplied for general reference and educational purposes only. This information does not represent the management practices or thinking of other goat breeders and/or the veterinary community. We are not veterinarians or doctors, and the information on this site is not intended to replace professional veterinary and/or medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your vet and/or doctor. We present the information and products on this site without guarantees, and we disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this information and/or products. The extra-label use of any medicine in a food producing animal is illegal without a prescription from a veterinarian.

The statements presented on this site regarding the use of herbs, herbal supplements and formulas have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The use of herbs for the prevention or cure of disease has not been approved by the FDA or USDA. We therefore make no claims to this effect. We do not claim to diagnose or cure any disease. The products referred to and/or offered on this web site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information provided here is for educational purposes only. This does not constitute medical or professional advice. The information provided about herbs and the products on this site is not intended to promote any direct or implied health claims. Any person making the decision to act upon this information is responsible for investigating and understanding the effects of their own actions.