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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.
Saving the world: One goat at a time
These
web pages are intended to aid the reader in the care and keeping
of dairy goats.
In our methods, we 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 we do things here at Fias
Co Farm. 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. Goldie 3/11/1995 - 10/19/2006
Tribute Essay: Goldie- Queen of Goats
All the information on this site is provided to you for free.
But please be aware that this site is created and maintained by a single individual. It takes a lot of time to answer questions and email, write new articles, and update this site, as well as taking money to host and maintain it.
There are no ads on this site: it is support solely through contributions from people like you.
If you find this site useful,
please make a contribution to help support it.
We
raise full size Dairy Goats; this what we know and what this site is
geared to. You may have to adjust the provided information according
to the type of goat you raise (i.e. Pygmies, Nigerians, etc.). Our main
goat focus here at Fias Co Farm is to raise healthy, friendly goats
as family milk producers, pets and companions. We boycott all Factory
Farmed animal products and encourage others to do the same. We choose
not to eat animals (we are Vegetarian) and do not raise or sell
goats for meat related purposes. The only dairy we consume
are products produced here on our own small family farm from animals
that are loved, cared for like pets and are very humanely treated.
Goat Care Information, Health & Husbandry
and Assorted Other Tibits by Molly Bunton
I
continually write articles and update this site as time permits.
Please check back often.
Your donations make is possible for me maintain
and to continue to add to the site.
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NEWs
New page:Goat Videos: just added- a goat giving birth
The very first thing we always recommend to goatkeepers (new and old) is... get a book! More than one if you can.
The more you learn, the better off you and your goats will be.
I have compiled the following list of
useful and informative books for your convenience.
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)
Friendly
kids- If you've been told you must bottle raise to get
friendly kids, this is not necessarily true. We do not bottle raise
and our goats couldn't be more friendly and loving. Here's how we
do it.
Getting
Your Goat- Recommendations on choosing which goat that
is right for you.
Nanny / Nannies - This is an old term referring
to a female goat. We do not use this term any longer. It is more
respectful to refer to female goats as "doe / does".
Wattles- What are those fleshy, furry, hangy down things that some goats have on their necks? They are called wattles. Wattles are merely "goat jewelry". Some goats have them, some do not. They serve no real purpose but adornment.
Worms & Wormers- You
have to worm your goats. Here is the info you need to know.
Article:Worms: Misdirected Hysteria?, By Sue Reith
Article: Comparing Alternatives for Controlling Internal Parasites in
Dairy Goat-
Herbal vs. Chemical, By Crissy Orr
Vacation? - What about getting away from the farm for the weekend or taking a vacation.
Weight
Chart- Estimate your dairy goats weight by using a measuring
tape.
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.
Kidding Photos & Related Photo Albums- These pages give you a idea of what typical, and non typical, goat births (kiddings) may look like. Also photos of kidding and birth related stuff such as placentas, impending kidding "goo", etc..
Raising
Friendly Goats-
Some people believe that to insure friendly kids, and thus insure
friendly adult goats, you must bottle raise the kids. We have found this not to be true.
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.
Billy / Billies - This is an old term referring
to an intact male goat. We do not use this term any longer. It is
more respectful to refer to an intact male goat as "buck / bucks ".
Bucks- Before you get a buck, please read this page!
Milk- Nutritional breakdown- Nutritional breakdown of Goat Milk and it's comparison to Cow Milk and Human Milk, with reference to look up particular infant formulas.
Milk Sack - The proper term is "udder" not "milk
sack".
Taste- Properly handled goat milk is sweet, delicious and wonderful, tasting just like whole milk from the grocery store (if not better). It should not be bitter, bad tasting or "bucky". If your goat's milk is "off" there must be a reason. Here are reasons the goat's milk may not be tasting correct.
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.
Please let me know if you like these Albums and if you find them useful. This has been a huge amount of work, and I will continue to add more... I'd love some feedback.
If
you would like your site linked on our links page, we'd be happy
to EXCHANGE LINKS with you. Once you've linked to us, contact
me with
your site address and description and I will add your link to our
site.
Homemade
Dog Food - Mable's
Meat Loaf: nutritionally complete meat loaf meal for dogs. /
Mable's Meal Loaf: vegetarian/vegan version of Mable's Meat Loaf.
Goat
Wipes - I like to keep these homemade "goat wipes" (baby wipes) in the barn for lots of uses such as cleaning up goatbabies, goat butts and wiping my hands.
Copyright (c) 1997-2008 Molly Bunton / Fias Co Farm. All rights reserved.
All text written by Molly Bunton unless otherwise noted.
All graphics, photos and text on these pages
were created by, and are
the sole property of, Fias Co Farm. 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 express 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.
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.
The first thing you need when you start to keep goats is a good milk stand / goat stand.
This is an Excel based Spreadsheet / Template that we have created for you to use to keep track of your herd breeding and kidding information.
Sweater
Pattern
