Fias Co Farm

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.
Goldie This 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	If you are considering about getting a goat, please read this page. My first goat - A lesson on what not to get Why do you want to get goats? Goats for Pets: Friendly Goats vs. "Taming" "Wild" Goats Are some goats generally friendlier than others? Are boys friendlier than girls? Which breed do you want/need? Which sex to you want/need? How many goats should you get? What about horns? How old? Recommendations for Getting Your Goat Also see: What to look for when getting a dairy goat. How to choose a good goat.
Goat Stories & Other Essays by Molly	Goat Short Stories & Eassays: Candace The Tiny Goldie: Queen of Goats Goldie & Goldie Jr. Margie Matilda's Long Night Matilda's Longer Night (Her FIrst Kidding) Other Essays: My Humane-ifesto On Having Compassion for Animals (there is nothing wrong with it) Another Way Of Farming...You can raise livestock in a kind and humane manner
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	Age- How to estimate a goat's age by looking at their teeth Behavior, Characteristics & FYI: Kids Bottle raised kids Poops Hiding & Getting Lost Chewing Climbing Goat Toys Sneezing Head Butting & Head Pushing Adults - Both male & female Violence & Dominance How can I tell if my goat is fat? Sneezing Getting goats to move; do not push Petting goats Infertility, Gender Confusion, and "Gay Goats" Adult females & neutered males Fighting Dominance Heat Tongue flapping Leg pawing Blubbering Squatting & Back Arching Mother goats Pawing Adult males Courting/Mating Tongue flapping Leg pawing Blubbering Smell Urinating Aggression Other habits Breeds of goats- The most common breeds found in the US. Breeding : Female Goats At what age can goats breed? At what age should I breed my does? When can I expect my doe to come into heat so she can be bred? How many years will a doe continue to produce babies? How long can a doe keeping safely breeding? When should I "retire" my doe? Can I stagger breeding so that I can have milk year 'round? Can I breed my does again right after they kid? Can doe get pregnant when she is still nursing or being milked? Line-breeding & inbreeding Signs of heat How long does a heat last? How can I tell if my goat is pregnant? What if I don't know the breeding date? How we handle breeding here at Fias Co Farm What to look for when getting a dairy goat. How to choose a good goat. Also See: Care of Pregnant Does Infertility, Gender Confusion, and "Gay Goats" Breeding : Male Goats Breeding / Kidding Record Spreadsheet & Calculator Build your own Goat Stand Free download instructions Diseases & Health Issues (see below) Drenching & Dosing- Giving medications and herbs orally Edible and Poisonous Plants Listing Fat or overweight?- How can you tell if your goat is fat? Fecal testing Photos of Parasite Eggs/Oocysts found in Sheep and Goats Supplies needed to do your own fecal testing Step-by-step how to run your own fecal tests How to make your own flotation solution Feeding & Supplements - What we feed and how we feed it. Goat Pasture seed mix recipe Kitchen Scraps, feeding to goats Treats What not to feed A note on hay feeders Bottle feeding Colostrum: What is it and why do baby goats need it? Also See: Mineral Supplements How can I tell if my goat is too fat? Edible & Poisonous plants Fencing- The types of fencing I use: Electric Fence: What kind of wire? What kind of fence charger? Grounding Safety Putting up the fence Fencing for Bucks - Woven wire + electric Fencing for security Photo examples of how we put up our fence Fighting Does 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. Giving medications and herbs orally- Dosing & Drenching Goat Stand - Build your own Goats as Pets- Does and wethers make excellent pets. Bucks do not. Goats vs. Cows- Why I prefer goats as family milkers. Goat heath herbal starter kits Health Care, Vaccination & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that we follow. Hobble / Restraint- this goat hobble is the Milk Maid's life saver when it comes to kicky milkers. Hoof Trimming- 4 pages containing 17 photos detailing hoof trimming. Since these pages are photo intense, please be patient while they load. Hoof Rot Housing - Tour our barn A note on how we keep our barn clean Horns- Why you do not want your goat to have horns. Info on dehorning/disbudding Disbudding Photo Album Scur trimming Photo Album Inbreeding & Line-breeding Infertility, Gender Confusion, and "Gay Goats" Life Expectancy Medical Cabinet Supplies- This page contains the supplies that I make sure to always have on hand. Medications (Modern) - A large listing of medications and the correct dosages used for goats. Medications (Natural)- herbs, homeopathic remedies and natural alternatives. Milk & milking information- scroll down to Milk & Milking Mineral Supplements 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". My first goat - a lesson in what now to get Paper vs. No Papers - One Breed vs. Mixed Breeds Pets- Information about getting goats as pets. Questions & Answers Fighting Does How can I tell if my goat is too fat, overweight or obese A problem with aggression Behavior - Natural kid behavior Poisonous and Edible Plants Listing Rhododendron Poisoning Antidote Registered vs. Non-Registered - should you get registered/papered goats? Selling Goats- Things to think about and how I sell my own goats. Supplies- This page contains the general goat supplies that I make sure to always have on hand. Sex/Gender: How to tell the sexual gender young goat. Taming a Wild Goat Tattooing- How to tattoo a goat in the tail. Teeth Terms - Definitions of goat related terms Vaccination, Worming & Health Care Schedule- This is the schedule that I follow. 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. General information Notes about chemical wormers When to worm your goats using chemical wormers Notes about herbal wormers When to worm using herbal wormers Symptoms of worm infestation How worms build resistance List of Wormers use for goats and their dosage amounts Also See: Herbal Wormer Fecal testing Photos of Parasite Eggs/Oocysts found in Sheep and Goats Supplies needed to do your own fecal testing Step-by-step how to run your own fecal tests How to make your own flotation solution Article: Worms: Misdirected Hysteria?, By Sue Reith Article: Comparing Alternatives for Controlling Internal Parasites in Dairy Goat- Herbal vs. Chemical, By Crissy Orr 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.	Breeding Does Signs of heat At what age can goats breed? At what age should I breed my does? When can I expect my doe to come into heat so she can be bred? How many years will a doe continue to produce babies? Can I stagger breeding so that I can have milk year 'round? Can I breed my doe again right after she kids? Line-breeding & inbreeding How to choose a buck to breed your does to How can I tell if my goat is pregnant? When does a doe go into heat? How long does a heat last? How do we handle breeding here at Fias Co Farm? Breeding / Kidding Record Spreadsheet & Calculator Birth- How to deliver a kid / Assisting a birth - step-by-step guide Birth- Detailed photo log of a goat birth MUST SEE Birth Related Photo Albums You need to check this out: photos of kidding and birth related stuff such as placentas, impending kidding "goo", etc... Birth Video Birthing/Kidding & post birth information Normal birth Assisting birth After the birth Post birth normal/abnormal kid/doe related things to look for Diagrams of kidding positions - Normal and problematic Also See: Kidding Positions Albums - various positions and what to do about them Birthing Kit- Items to have on hand before kidding begins "Bouncing"- With this technique you can early check to see if the doe has finished kidding or not. Care of bred does- Prenatal care (starting at conception). Diseases & Health Issues (see below) Health Care & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that I follow. How can I tell if my goat is pregnant? Ketosis Kidding- Explanations of kidding, kidding procedure and birthing assistance Normal birth Assisting birth After the birth Post birth normal/abnormal kid/doe related things to look for Diagrams of kidding positions - Normal and problematic Also See: Labor Signs Kidding Positions Albums - various positions and what to do about them Kidding- Assisting a birth - step-by-step guide Kidding- Detailed photo log of a goat birth MUST SEE Breeding / Kidding Record Spreadsheet & Calculator Kidding Positions - Diagrams of correct and problem positions Kidding Positions Albums - various positions and what to do about them Kidding Questions Can you feel the kids move when they are still inside the doe? How many kids can a doe have in a single kidding? How can you tell how many kids a doe will give birth to. What if the mother will not nurse her kids? Also See: How long before a doe is due to kid will she start making her udder? How long soon before kidding will a doe's udder start filling with milk? My goat does not have that "big bag" like I see in the photos. Is this normal? 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.. Labor Signs-signs of impending kidding Ligaments-Feeling for these can help you tell when your doe is going to kid. Mastitis Milk & milking information- SCROLL DOWN to MILK & MILKING Milk Fever Pregnancy Toxemia Pregnant Goat Care / Prenatal Care-How we care for our pregnant does from breeding up until they give birth. Selling goats - How I sell my own goats Signs of Labor-How can you tell when your doe is going to kid. Udder Information and Q&A - Also see Milk & Milking Page
Information, Care & Health issues KIDS (baby goats)	Behavior, Characteristics & FYI - Natural kid behavior and general information Coccidiosis- What it is, it's treatment and prevention. Diseases & Health Issues (see below) Disbudding (dehorning)- Step-by-step instructions, with photos, detailing how we disbud our kids. Information on horns Disbudding Q&A, hints and comments. Disbudding Photo Album Feeding Bottle feeding Colostrum: What is it and why do baby goats need it? Health Care & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that we follow. Kid Care- How we raise our kids. 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. Before the kidding/birth Birth The first few days Is the kid getting enough to eat? What if the kid(s) is only nursing from one side of the udder? Two weeks of age Three weeks of age Four weeks of age Six weeks of age Eight weeks of age Weaning Also See: Behavior Information about baby goats Poops Hiding & Getting Lost Chewing Climbing Goat Toys Sneezing Head Butting & Pushing Neck swelling / Neck abscess / Milk Neck / Milk Goiter- It's normal; Vets do not know about it and no, it isn't CL Sex/Gender: How to tell the sexual gender of a kid.
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.	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! Keeping a buck or wether Getting a buck Can I keep a buck as a pet? What are the "bucky" characteristics? Buck behavior "Should I keep him a buck or neuter him" and "Should I buy that buck" Q&A When do a really need to get a buck? Reasons to keep/buy a buck. Where will you keep your buck? Do you want papers? Aggression Behavior in bucks Breeding What age can a buck breed? At what age should I remove the buckling from the does? Also See: Infertility, Gender Confusion, and "Gay Goats" Line-breeding & inbreeding What to look for when choosing a buck. Diseases & Health Issues (see below) Health Care & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that we follow. Horn/Scur Trimming Photos Neutering Cutting Banding (elastrator) Burdizzo (emasculatome) Urinary Calculi / "Stones"
Milk, Milking and Udder related	Blood in Milk Butter from goat milk? Dairying and cheesemaking- Info on goat milk, articles on milk handling and cheesemaking, recipes. Drying off- How to dry off your doe (stop her from making milk) Goat Milk- Nutritional breakdown Hobble / Restraint - this goat hobble is the Milk Maid's life saver when it comes to kicky milkers. How to Milk a Goat - Step by step instructions Milking: The Procedure, Sanitation & Equipment- A walk through of the entire milking procedure, what basic equipment you need and how to sanitize it. Milk information: What is Pasteurization Why is Raw milk better What is Homogenization Lactose intolerance and goat milk What about fat content Raw Milk Info Also See: What does goat milk taste like? Info about goat milk Milk- Comparing Human, Cow, Goat & Infant Nutritional needs - 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". Milk Stand - Build your own. Free instruction download Milk Storage & Freezing Milk Milk record keeping Keeping records of how much milk your doe produces. How much does a gallon of milk weigh? Milk & Milking related- General information; how-to. Questions & Answers Can I stagger breeding so that I can have milk year 'round? How much milk could I expect from just one goat at each milking? What can I do to increase milk production? If we are milking our doe and she becomes pregnant again, do we need to stop milking at anytime during her gestation period? Does a goat have to have babies to make milk? Once a doe kids, do I have to milk the doe, or will she just dry up once the kids are weaned? I don't want to milk if I don't have to. There are clumps in my does milk. Does this mean she has mastitis? There is blood in my doe's milk or the milk is pink. Does this mean she has mastitis? Does letting the kids nurse their mother "ruin" or tear up the udder? My doe has kind of formed her udder, but her teats are still small and not starting to elongate. They are still the same size as when she was never pregnant. This is her first pregnancy. Is it normal for her teats to still be so small, or is there something I should do for her? How long does it take to milk a goat? There is blood in my doe's milk, should I be concerned? Can I still use the milk? Milking, Miking Once a Day, and Taking Time Off from Milking Milking once a day-I only milk once a day, here's how I do it. The Milking Cycle- Milk yield information 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. Will what the goat eats effect the flavor of the milk? Teat Dip- This homemade dip is just as good, if not better than "store-bought". Udder Information and Q&A - Also see Milk & Milking Page Is it possible for a doe to start filling her udder and making milk without ever being pregnant? What if the kid (or kids) is/are only nursing from one side of the udder? If you let the kids nurse their mother, will it ruin her udder? My doe's teats are still small and not starting to elongate. They are still the same size as when she was never pregnant.... I think my doe might be getting really close to going in to labor. I've looked at so many of the photos on your website and others' websites and my goat does not have that "big bag" like I see in the photos. Is this normal? Udder wash- Recipe for homemade udder wash.
Diseases and Health Issues	Abortion Bloat CAE Chlamydia Coccidiosis Colds Coughs Ear problems / infections Goiter Hoof Rot Ketosis Mastitis Milk Fever Miscarriage Neck swelling / Neck abscess / Milk Neck Pink Eye Pneumonia Poisonous Plants Listing Pregnancy Toxemia Respiratory Infections Sneezing Squatting & Back Arching Urinary Calculi / "Stones" Worms & Wormers Health Care, Vaccination & Worming Schedule- This is the schedule that I follow. All See: Goat Behavior, Characteristics & FYI Breeding Udder Information and Q&A
Medications:	Medications (Modern/Traditional) - Main Page
Natural Health, Healing & Alternative Medicines	Natural Health, Healing & Alternative Medicines & Herbals - Main Page
	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. Molly's Herbals - Main Page Nutrition Information & Recipes Misc. Information Health Issues Herb & Supplement Information Herbal Formula Information 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. Herbal Formulas Herbal Salves & Oils Herbal Wormer
Photo Galleries	Milkroom Tour Goat Care and How-To, Explaination & Information Photo Galleries Birth Related Birth / Delivery Photos Afterbirth Peepers Delivery This is a must see. Enya's Delevery Goldie's Delivery Chicken Coop Raid Disbudding Kidding Positions Milkneck Scur trimming Umbilical Cord Dipping Udder Photos
Free Downloads	Build Your Own Milk Stand / Goat Stand The first thing you need when you start to keep goats is a good milk stand / goat stand. Breeding / Kidding Record Spreadsheet & Calculator This is an Excel based Spreadsheet / Template that we have created for you to use to keep track of your herd breeding a
Recipes	Cheese: Cottage Cheese/ Cheese Curds Feta Mozzarella Ricotta Panir/Queso Blanco Queso Fresco Chevre/Fromage Blanc Saint Maure Ear Oil Eggshell Powder (for calcium) Goat Milk Soap - A plain and simple recipe for homemade soap. Herbal Dosage Balls For Livestock & Dogs Homemade Dog Food - Mable's Meat Loaf: nutritionally complete meat loaf meal for dogs. 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. Teat Dip Tofu Udder Wash White Wash - You can make your own white wash to brighten up your barn. Yogurt - Make yogurt as simply without the use of special equipment.
Sweater Pattern	Sweater 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 Clipper blade care- How to properly care for your clipper blades. Measurements: Conversion Guides, Charts & Calculators- Convert Area, Length, Mass, Pressure, Speed, Temperature, Volume... Flies- The following is what we do to control flies.
Terms	Definitions of goat related terms
Videos	A goat giving birth

Goat Care Information, Health & Husbandry and Assorted Other Tibits