Remember my friend’s farm and the little lamb? Well, there were more babies born soon after my visit. Goat babies. And then an unrelated friend recommended, out of the blue, that I read the poetic Goat Song, having just read it herself on a whim. I did, and I quickly followed it with Raising Goats For Dummies
Jonny and I have sort of unofficially declared this a year for “experiences.” Doing things that are a little scary or “extra” ordinary. (Though nothing seems to really scare Jonny. He doesn’t get worked up about decisions in the same way that I do.) I really want to do things, not just think about them, over-analyzing the pros and cons. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking impulsive and irresponsible. I’m talking about grabbing hold of dreams when possible, rather than simply thinking about them.
Nearly every single person I know (and a couple that I don’t know) has had to have a conversation about goats with me over the past week. I don’t know how anyone puts up with me, really. Everyone has been so kind and so patient. All the while I’ve been a bit hyper and crazy. Last week when I lamented to a friend that it might not be the best time to get goats, she simply replied, “There’s never a good time to get a goat.” So true, my friends. That phrase may just have to become a cross-stitch. For those of us who like to play it safe, it’s never a good time to do anything that seems a little risky. (I hear you giggling!! No laughing at me for acting like getting goats is some kind of major life decision! It is, I tell you!)
We discussed getting bees for many, many years before we did, and the same was true for chickens. I know this might sound silly, considering how many children we have, but actually we still haven’t figured out how that happens. At least I’ve been asked by quite a few strangers whether or not we know, and it’s always fun to smile and play dumb. Anyway, the goat decision was made in a matter of days.
And really, this isn’t about goats. It’s about living.
I’ll make introductions next week. I know you can’t wait. Ha!!!
I am living vicariously though you right now! Oh, goats are soooo wonderful! Enjoy! 🙂 I hope to have some milk goats myself one day.
I’m taking a similar leap of faith this year and getting our very first baby chicks next week. I’ve researched and talked about getting chickens for the last 5 years, but like you said, the time was never “right”. This year is THE year, and next week is my 33rd birthday, so I’m getting birthday-chickens, ha ha. I’m very excited!
I had goats for a few years when I was a teen and I just loved them! I really wanted to become a goat lady, but we ended up moving and I had to sell them. I have real “kids” now–4 under 4– but I still would dearly love to raise goats again one of these days. I keep telling myself that when the kids are old enough to help with chores we’ll have a little hobby farm again.
Yay! Goats! Best wishes for your new adventure. I love goats — they’re so sweet, and oh my, goat’s milk, goat’s cheese, goat’s milk soap, so many good things.
They are changing the zoning laws here for urban agriculture and will allow miniature goats in the city. I am so excited about that!
Those goats are ADORABLE! That one little kid looks completely blissed out with their eyes closed!
My best friend’s family had goats when I was growing up and I have great memories from those days. Every sleepover involved chores (horses, goats, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, dogs, cats, garden, etc) and my friend and I always ended up on goat duty, bringing the mama goats into the mud room to milk them.
Hi Ginny.
I homeschool our 7 children. When we moved here to Wisconsin six and a half years ago we only had 2 cats. Now we are happy hobby farmers! Two cows, 26 chickens, two turkeys, two ducks, two dogs, gulp… eight cats and yes… two goats. I love my goats. They put life into perspective! We have never regretted getting them… well, maybe just once, but I’m OK now 🙂
Enjoy your new animals!
MarieAnne
marieannebranaman.blogspot.com
Are you KIDDING me?! 😉 Bahaha. I love your photos. I really love what you said about “It’s not about goats. It’s about living.” What a great line! Thank you!!! I want to be more BRAVE.
Soon after we moved onto our 5 acres 12 years ago, I met a homeschooling mom who had goats. She got into them primarily because of her daughter’s allergies and digestive problems. The more I talked to her, the more I thought that this was something we could do. Both my husband and I grew up without farm animals, so it was a big decision. But we had managed the chickens that came with the property all right and had even added to the flock. The delight of having fresh eggs! The next logical step seemed to be fresh, raw milk with the “poor man’s cow”. We fortified and adapted the horse corrals and pens that we’re already on the property and bought two (because goats like company) milking goats from my friend. I learned how to milk pretty easily and we adapted the milking to our schedule. The whole thing actually went pretty smoothly and I found that I really like goats – not just their milk, but I also enjoyed them as “pets”. I was surprised at how good the milk tasted, having only had “old milk” from the store. When I became pregnant with my last baby, my 12yo son took over milking chores, with my husband filling in occasionally. When my son left for college, another of my sons was old enough to do the milking. We’ve bred the does every other year, had kids (some of which we’ve kept or sold) and increased the herd. My kids have watched births, but usually the does kidded without us. The goat manure has been great for the garden and the compost pile. Half of the 5 acres is devoted to the goats, so we let them free range and don’t buy alfalfa (which can get very expensive and goats are wasteful with it). Our neighbor who has ten acres also lets us pasture the goats on his empty fields. We only have to buy 4-way (sweet feed) for the milking does. Now that our older three children have left home, we found we didn’t need as much milk, so we reduced the herd to three Nubians (our original old doe for sentimental reasons, a milking doe and her kid). It’s been a very good experience, as most things which are hard work are.
This is so informative, interesting, encouraging and … sweet. I enjoyed reading your comment.
This is hugely encouraging, Kate! Thank you for sharing your experience!
Just a word of warning…….goats are addictive, once you get one you will want more and more! We currently have 5 does (4 will be kidding in the next few weeks!!) and 1 buck. Goats are so much fun to raise. Can’t wait to see your new additions.
SO fun! Can’t wait!
Ginny, ok I just ordered The Goat Lady off Amazon and while I was there, ended up ordering a Goat Cookie Cutter, I Love Patchwork, and Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II (a missionary story). I figure I can make cookies with my grandkids and read them The Goat Lady.
I don’t think you’ll have any problem with the children doing chores with the goats. They look absolutely thrilled with them!
Gwen
I have wanted goats for years! I am just too chicken to take the leap. My grandparents had some goats when I was a kid and I loved them! Your family will love them!
So exciting! My parents raised a couple of dairy goats when I was a kid and being around them are some of my favorite childhood memories (their marriage was falling apart around the same time, so I expect I was escaping to the goat pen at lot!). I can’t wait to read about your adventures!
exciting!!
Oh my gosh!! I am so excited for you all. Oh the fun! Your photos are so very beautiful!
Ha, I really can’t wait! They look so sweet. And I love that last picture of Beatrix holding the goat close to her…that’s adorable. I bet the kids are excited about it, too. Glad you decided to just do it!
I’ve wanted a goat for years. Maybe some time in the future. Chickens were awesome and my husband (anti-goat) loved them more than me…. so, bees, then goats. But first, a house. 🙂 (and baby #6, because we like to do things waaaaay out of order…. “there’s never a good time for a goat” indeed. 😉 )
Ginny,
I am so excited for your family that you are getting goats!! We had goats here before Bracken was born and for awhile when he was a baby. To say that Jeff and I loved them would be an understatement! They were our favorite animals to have around ever!! You guys are going to have so much fun with them. Oh, and I could talk about goats all day long, so feel free to share all you want about them. 🙂
Love,
Taryn
P.S. If I was nearby I’d offer to teach you how to trim hooves, which a neighbor did for us when we were first starting out.
I wish you could teach us how! The girls we brought home earlier this week are in desperate need of a trim, so we’ll be attempting that asap!
Do you by any chance have a milking stand? If you can keep their head busy eating and stationary, it makes their hooves much easier to trim!
Jonny built one today! I was thinking of trying that!
Good ol’ Jonny! That will help a lot.
Not showing this post to my 12 yr old daughter! It is unfair that God made all kinds of babies so dang cute. My only bit of advice, if you get a milker, touch her Every. Single. Day! Otherwise she will win the milking war and you will not get a drop. So happy for you though. I wish I needed brush eaters.
Oh, aren’t those kids adorable! I hope to see lots of baby goat pictures from now on, and to know a lot about them. I really love how much I get to learn through your blog.
Oh my goodness…another teaser for next week! Well I loved the pictures…and did I see the new hat pattern?? Our neighbors that moved to Missouri last year were about you and Jonny’s age and had 4 children. They raised about 30 goats. The kids loved them. There were tears when they moved and had to sell their pets. Can’t wait to see pictures.
Gwen
Darling goat pictures!
I raised goats for 4-H growing up,for 8yrs.I had a small herd of up to 12,in a converted 2-car garage with a hay loft above,on a 1/2 acre plot in a village in the Catskills.I was held to strict standards and exhibited in the local fairs.but I loved my babies,my girls! My mother sold them off when I went to college.it broke my heart!I wanted nothing more than to have a farm and raise goats for the rest of my life.they will affect you that deeply.be prepared.they are family and they will change your life forever.we used to have some great books on the subject.if I can find the titles,I’ll let you know what they are.good luck!
So excited for you and for your girls! I grew up on a farm and for years I was the ‘goat girl’. I dearly loved my goats! Some of the family could never stand the taste of goat milk so we ended up using their milk to raise bottle lambs, calves, and even a few pigs (which of course is just pure joy for little girls), and I think we always did come out ahead that way. Milking does tie you down but really, the goats had so much personality that if we had the space now I would want them around just for fun.
Ginny – I love this quote or yours ~ “And really, this isn’t about goats. It’s about living.” That’s exactly how my husband and I felt when we finally dove in and got our alpacas. It is all about living, and living the life that is good and honest for your family. I’m excited to hear more in the future! As always, I love your posts!
How exciting! You are in good company with the lamenting, I think many of us moms totally get it. I tend to feel as though I drive my husband nuts with my regrets over decisions. You know, when you finally make some choice, then follow through, then obsess over how maybe it wasn’t the right thing. We are blessed that God gives us these ever patient men who listen lovingly to our ramblings, aren’t we?
Goats are wonderful to have (although my husband would disagree). I love my goats, they are so funny and intelligent (and make wonderful milk, too). My goats know their names and will bleat back to me if I call them. Just don’t expect them to stay in a fence and behave! That was a mistake I made early on, but luckily they are easy to tame by appealing to their stomachs with treats.
A great book to have on hand for goats is Pat Colby’s Natural Goat Care. I’ve read that book like four times cover to cover, and every time I learn new things from it. I always have it on hand to refer to when things happen. We struggled for years with parasite issues here in the deep South until we started using her lick recipe with copper sulfate.
I am totally planning on the worst–tons of bad behavior and escaping etc. 🙂 I just ordered that book–sounds right up my alley. Thank you!!
Oh my goodness!!! I’m so excited for your family! My family dreams of the day in the not-so-distant future when my husband can retire from the military and we can finally have our forever home and consider having “farm” animals!! It’s so easy to dream, isn’t it? I am the one who is so eager for him to get out and for us to plant some roots for our children, and yet the closer we get the more nervous I get! Dreaming is one thing. Actually doing it is a whole other ballgame! Can’t wait to hear more about the goats!
That is so exciting. Can’t wait to hear what kind of goats and see pictures. Would love to see pictures of your chickens. I have always wanted to have chickens but we live in the city.
Laura, we don’t currently have a flock, we gave them to a friend just before Job was born. We are hoping to get chicks again this spring if Jonny can find time to build a new coop.
Yay! We have been in goat negotiations for the past year. These goat pictures are tugging at my heartstrings. Can’t wait to read about them. Have fun!
Well, Ginny, I thank you for belaboring all these great life questions because you inspire me.
We are getting bees this year. Maybe goats too. I just want a couple of wethers to get used to them and to eat back some of the crazy brush here. Then we’ll see what happens.
Two of the babies in these pictures will be our brush eating wethers, if all works out as planned!
On second thought, are those dairy goats? Mini Nubians? Oh, this is all so exciting!
Nubian Alpine crosses, though we are getting two boys, having them wethered and hoping they will help us with brush clearing. Our plan was to get started with just the two of them…but that plan has evolved…there may be milk in our future–next spring we hope!!
I love these pictures. We just watched the Little House when Laura took a pesty goat as payment for work and it butted people off their feet. We are debating taking in three goats from a friend. They seem like a lot of work and planning to keep from causing more work other places.
We’re expecting our goats to kid in the next two weeks. I’ll post pictures! They say chickens are a gateway drug to bigger livestock and I think its true. You should add some dairy goats to your herd. 🙂
Yes, pictures please! What kinds of goats do you have?
Here are last year’s kids. http://peerieflooers.blogspot.com/2014/03/clove-had-two-kids-this-morning-doeling.html
We have mini Alpines which are a cross between Alpine and Nigerian Dwarf. I expect my two mini does will supply my family with about a gallon of milk a day, for most of the year. Maybe more? If you get into milking, I’m happy to answer questions. I’ve been milking goats and cows for the last 8 years. Never thought farming would be part of my homeschooling life—I’m a suburban girl from Chapel Hill and had never met a cow before I bought one. Right now I have the goats and chickens on less than one acre. A gallon of milk and 7 eggs a day isn’t a bad haul for such a small plot of land. Its a great life!
I simply can’t wait to see photos of your goats and listen to endless stories about them – what fun that will be! Blessings to you and yours.
Oh, now you just HAVE to read the picture book, “Unicorn Thinks He’s Pretty Great.” You’ll see — it’s our new favorite!
http://www.amazon.com/Unicorn-Thinks-Hes-Pretty-Great/dp/1423159527/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424405686&sr=8-1&keywords=Unicorn+thinks+he%27s+pretty+great
I will check it out for sure!!
goats are trouble, but it’s a good kind of trouble. they fit well with bees and chickens, you’ve got a proper farm now. congrats on your “easy” decision!
oh fun! 🙂 that’s great! cute pictures!!! God’s blessings on you all!!! including the goats…
I currently have a goat kid -in the house! He is so adorable. It’s like having a puppy. We love our onrey goats. Have fun!
I think goats are a perfect addition for your family!
(I’m really bad about overanalyzing everything. Case in point – I’ve been wanting to get an essential oils diffuser for well over a year. I asked around. I researched. A few months ago, I asked a friend (again) about hers (she has two ~ that just makes things trickier, because there are different things to like about both of them…) instead of answering my questions, she said, “it’s a diffuser. Just buy one!” (Which I found funny, not offensive) But you know what? I STILL haven’t bought one. Sheesh!)
Yay goats! Everyone should have goats! Having your own fresh dairy products can’t be beat, and goats have personalities every bit as appealing as dogs. As a veterinarian and dairy goat owner, I would definitely suggest you have your goats disbudded. If done at the proper age (3 to 5 days in most dairy breeds), and using proper pain control (lidocaine block before and meloxicam or banamine after), disbudding is a very humane procedure. Horns can cause problems both for you and the goats. If you have any questions feel free to email me!
i got mine when they were too old to disbud. i have had them for over two years now, and i have to say i have never had one problem with them hurting themselves, each other, or us with their horns. always two sides! 🙂
oh, but these wee kids are adorable. i fully approve of adding goats to any household. pigs are at the top of my farm animal wish list, but i think your post just pushed goats up to next-in-line!
have fun!!!
I used to have dairy goats- some of the best experiences came from that! Is there a local 4-H chapter for your children? I loved 4-H SO much as a child and teen.
Welcome to the world of goats! One of my two mamas had her babies today, triplets! I am so excited! They are precious! I will let you in on something that had helped me immensely with my goats…black oil sunflower seeds. They are a great treat for my girls.
Your gorgeous pictures could make anyone want to get a goat!! I always love all your photography but these shots have got to be some of my favorites 🙂
Both my girls and I thoroughly enjoyed these pictures (there was a lot of squealing and declaration of possible fainting) 🙂 Can’t wait to see more. Enjoy!
possible fainting!! your girls are so adorable!!!
Happy Chinese New Year…year of the goat!
I love goats! I had a pet goat named Friday when I was young…
lol, this reminds me of my friend. First she got chickens. Then she got a rooster. She is thinking about getting bees, but has been talking about getting goats for even longer. I keep referring her to your blog because of the kids’ crafts and bees. Now I’ll have to add goats 😉
Good for you Ginny and I can’t wait for introductions!