Table of Contents
How much land do I need for Nigerian Dwarf goats?
You’ll need about 135 square feet (12.5 m2) of space per goat that you have in your herd. Nigerian dwarf goats are very playful, and they love to romp and climb on things. So if you have 3 goats, for example, you’ll need about 405 square feet (37.6 m2) of space.
How much do you feed a Nigerian dwarf goat?
Nigerian dwarfs and pygmies only need about 1/2 cup each per day while standard sized goats need about twice that much. Bucks and wethers should not have grain after about six months of age, and does only need grain at the very end of pregnancy and while in milk.
What do I need for my Nigerian Dwarf goats?
Feeding Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats – What Gets Fed. Because goats are designed for processing fibrous plant material, the most important feature of their diet is free choice, good quality hay or hay and forage. Next, they need access to free choice goat mineral with a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus.
Do I have to milk my Nigerian Dwarf goats?
Female Nigerian Dwarf goats, or does, need to be milked daily. When a doe is nursing her kids, you will not need to milk her as her milk will be used naturally. However, most kids will naturally wean between one to four months of age. When this happens, it will be your responsibility to take over.
Do Nigerian Dwarf goats stink?
They have an extremely offensive odor, especially during the breeding season. The reason they smell so bad is that they constantly urinate all over themselves, on their faces, bellies, legs, beards and yes, even in their own mouths! They have longer hair than does and wethers, which makes the stench even worse.
How long do dwarf Nigerian goats live?
Reproduction & Lifespan Males reach sexual maturity at only 4 months of age, while females aren’t fully mature until 8 months. With a gestation period of 5 months, they breed all year round and produce 2 to 4 young. On average, these goats live between 15 and 20 years.
What do goats need in their pen?
Your goats will need to be protected from extreme temperatures, both heat, and cold. They need shelters that will get them out of the heat and warm in the cold. Goats also hate to be wet, so they also need a place to get out of the rain, hail, and wind.
Do goats need heat in the winter?
Goats kidding in the cold weather will require more shelter because young kids will not be able to maintain their body temperature outside. A heat lamp may be required in these situations but should only be used with extreme caution because of the risk of barn fires or animals chewing electric cords.
Do goats need a salt block?
Goats, like all mammals, crave salt. They will consume more salt than they actually need for nutritional purposes. Therefore, remove all white, yellow and trace mineral salt blocks because these high-salt blocks will interfere with proper consumption of a complete mineral and vitamin supplement.
How hard is it to raise dwarf goats?
As with most livestock, Nigerian Dwarf goats are fairly easy to raise and maintain. They only have a few basic requirements, and most goats are pretty tough. Even so, a good book on the breed is always great to have on hand.
Can Nigerian Dwarf goats live inside?
Keeping even a miniature goat breed like a Nigerian dwarf or Pygmy goat as an indoor pet is simply not a good idea. While some folks have successfully potty trained baby goats, they will feel too confined in such an unnatural environment and ultimately wreak havoc on everything they can either chew or climb.
How much space do mini goats need?
Most sources say that goats need ten feet per goat of indoor space. If you keep the goats in a dry lot (no pasture, you bring in all the hay), miniatures do okay with about 200 square feet per goat.
How often do you worm Nigerian Dwarf goats?
Deworm every 4-6 weeks through September. Change to clean pasture at each deworming.
Are Nigerian Dwarf goats noisy?
Nigerian dwarf goats are usually quiet, but they get very noisy when they want something. Since these types of goats are in heat every month, you will have a hard time keeping them quiet. There are, however, a few tricks you can try to keep them quiet.
Can a billy goat breed his daughter?
Occasionally you can breed father/daughter but it’s not ideal. Line-breeding goats will accentuate the good qualities- and the bad. If your buck has any negative traits (aggression, mother had low milk production,etc) those traits will be accentuated in his offspring if they are a product of line-breeding.
Should you get male or female goats?
For the most part goats make good pets. Most people prefer smaller breeds such as dwarf or pygmy goats. As well, female goats and castrated male goats (also known as wethers) are preferred to intact males. This is because intact males tend to get larger and will be more aggressive.
What’s the difference between a Nigerian dwarf goat and a pygmy goat?
To a newbie, Nigerian Dwarfs and Pygmy goats can look very similar. They can, many times, be the same height and weight, but pygmy goats tend to be stockier, and have shorter legs. Nigerian Dwarf goats have a more slender neck, and thinner, longer legs.
