How To Register A Nigerian Dwarf Goat

Alan is a longtime hobby farmer who enjoys writing about his experiences with apiculture, baby ducks, fish ponds, and Nigerian Dwarf goats.

Toddler feeding a goat by hand. This breed is especially gentle. — Toddler feeding a goat past hand. This breed is especially gentle.

Basic Information on Nigerian Dwarf Goats

As with all goats, Nigerian Dwarf goats practise not require much in the way of intendance. They can thrive with simple housing, fresh water, and a counterbalanced goat feed. Providing them with plenty of room to graze on good grass and castor too makes for a better herd.

We go along a small herd of registered Nigerian Dwarf goats on our farm here in Westward Georgia. We manage our small property past cross-fencing and rotating the herd. Temporary feedlots built with wire panels also assist out with provender in the winter.

These goats are pretty pocket-sized when grown, about 18–21 inches at the shoulder. They are easy to tame and great around kids. We can walk up and pet all of our goats without any special attention other than routine feeding. They are overnice for a minor subcontract equally they stay small and docile.

Nigerians are a dairy breed and can produce large amounts of valuable milk. This goat'southward milk tin be used to brand a variety of consumer items such as cheese, soap, and balm. We recommend this breed to anyone interested in getting a goat. We suggest visiting the NDGA website for recommended breeders in your area.

Constructing a Proper Goat Firm

When planning housing for your goats, your local climate should be considered. Here in the South, a three-sided shed with a good roof is fine with our mild winters, only your region may require a more than insulated construction. Anything from a large doghouse to a small shed should do the play a trick on, depending on your needs.

The housing should provide plenty room for your goats to movement about comfortably, and they seem to love being up off the footing. One important thing to remember when dealing with goats is that they are very curious and will nibble on everything. When I say everything, I hateful everything! Make sure yous don't leave annihilation exposed or loose that you do not want to be nibbled or that could harm your goats if eaten.

I call back that their nibbling habit is why some people believe they will eat anything, even can cans! It's not truthful, by the way. They only seem to nibble at everything while simply really eating more often than not feed and plants.

Goat fencing should be strong. — Goat fencing should exist strong.

Fencing for Your Goats

Fencing tin can be a little frustrating to the novice farmer, but with a little enquiry and practice, you volition be running miles of contend in no time. There are too many choices and methods of fencing to cover here, only I can provide a few tips specifically for goats:

Make your fence actress sturdy. Goats beloved nothing more ram, spring on, and rub their sides against the fence, and if it is not strong enough, they will not cease until they knock it down.
Use locking gates with actress safe clips. Goats are notorious escape artists. I take personally had endless latched gates opened by smart goats. Open up gates tend to permit the unabridged herd out!
Goats will eat or destroy annihilation inside the fence. They will likewise consume annihilation exterior the fence that they can reach. Never fence in plants or trees that y'all want to go along, goats volition eat any institute they tin attain. Many landscaping plants can be toxic. Besides remember that goats dearest to climb, rub against, and hoofbeat everything in their path.
Check your pastures for toxic plants. When you build your new fence, be sure to check and remove whatever plants that might be poisonous to your herd. Lists of toxic plants tin exist found online.

Goats love to climb and play king of the mountain. — Goats beloved to climb and play king of the mount.

Coil to Go on

Feeding Your Goats Properly

Feeding goats properly is as like shooting fish in a barrel every bit providing a balanced goat feed daily. A nutritionally advisable caprine animal feed can exist establish at your local feed and grain store. Use a feed trough to spread the feed out for proper distribution. Your trough should have enough infinite for the unabridged herd; otherwise, just the about dominate goats will be able to swallow. While the addition of forage can certainly enhance a caprine animal's nutrition, a proper goat feed is actually all that is necessary.

When information technology comes to a goat's diet, forage is actually their master interest. They love a nice pasture, where they tin nibble on grass and weeds. Goats are mostly not very picky when it comes to forage. When a herd has proper forage, feeding a modest corporeality of goat feed each day, along with a vitamin supplement, is all that is needed.

Blue-eyed goat. — Blueish-eyed caprine animal.

Buying Goats the Right Way

If you plan to brood registered goats of any type, exist sure to buy stock from a reputable breeder. In that location are many goat breeder associations on the internet you lot can use to find a good breeder. Visit as many as you can, and take your time choosing breeding stock.

Yous may likewise want to get to a goat show and view some of the best, but do not buy goats at a evidence. You can brand some good contacts and visit the farm to view breeding stock before any purchase. Visiting the farm volition requite you a great opportunity to assess subcontract maintenance, management practices, and general overall weather condition at the subcontract. A make clean, well-managed farm normally has a healthy, well-maintained herd.

It should also be noted that goats are herding animals. When starting out with goats, I strongly recommend ownership at least two or more. Starting out with multiple goats allows them to fulfill their natural urge herd together. This can help reduce the stress of newly adopted goats.

A young white Nigerian Dwarf goat in pasture.

Accept this awesome True or False goat quiz!

For each question, cull the best answer. The answer key is beneath.

Goats love to eat tin can cans.
- True
- False
Goats love to crumb on everything.
- True
- Faux
Goats practice not require dry out housing.
- True
- False
I should purchase all my goats at livestock shows.
- Truthful
- False
Some goats have blue eyes.
- Truthful
- False

Answer Fundamental

False
True
Fake
Imitation
True

Interpreting Your Score

If you got betwixt 0 and i correct answer: A caprine animal goes baaah and is a farm animate being...exercise more research!

If you got betwixt two and 3 right answers: You're on the right track, keep digging!

If you lot got 4 right answers: We have a regular goat whisperer on our hands here, fashion to get!

If you lot got v correct answers: You could be part caprine animal, baaah...baah...yous understood that, correct?!

Transporting Your Goats

We were not prepared when we purchased our first ii Nigerian Dwarf goats. We ended upwards property the 2 caprine animal kids in our laps for the curt drive dwelling. Since that first goat pickup, we take improved our transportation equipment.

Afterwards trying a few different setups, we settled on an extra-large domestic dog kennel. A kennel works keen for transporting smaller sized goats, and near of them even fold upwards for storage. The one glaring downside is that a dog kennel volition most oftentimes have a glace flooring. Goats take hooves, and hooves and glace floors do not mix well. A simple solution is to put a thick layer of hay or straw on the floor of the kennel. A small carpet also works well, as long as there are no loose parts.

This overgrown pasture is perfect for goats.

Veterinary Care

While goats are mostly pretty hardy animals, they do require the occasional visit to the vet. We live in a rural area, with a thriving agronomical industry. In our expanse, finding a veterinary that cares for goats is quite piece of cake. However, this may not be the case in your local area. Exist certain and locate a vet that volition service your herd before you lot purchase your goats. This will eliminate the stress of trying to find a well-qualified goat doctor during an emergency situation.

All goats should have a series of CDT shots, which is a vaccination regimen that protects them from mutual ailments. Consult with your veterinarian to determine the correct timing for these vaccines.

Goats Are Fairly Piece of cake

As with almost livestock, Nigerian Dwarf goats are fairly easy to raise and maintain. They simply have a few basic requirements, and nearly goats are pretty tough. Even so, a good volume on the breed is always great to take on hand. I own many books on the bailiwick, and in my opinion, this book offers the most bang for your cadet. It covers many useful topics in an easy to follow format. I find that I nonetheless reference the cloth information technology offers several times per month.

Be sure and plan alee by building a secure fence and proper housing prior to purchasing your commencement goats. Also, make sure you take a balanced goat feed on hand.

Having a proper way to transport goats and a preferred veterinarian on speed dial will also make your life a little easier. When following the tips above, you should accept a smooth transition into the life of a caprine animal herder.

This commodity is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Information technology is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, or formal and individualized communication from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should exist seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Questions & Answers

Question: Residue feed...what should the residuum be for the dwarf goats?

Answer: A standard stock feed, or a feed made specifically for goats. Just pasture fodder or hay will not provide all of the vitamins and minerals your goats need.

Question: I'thousand preparing to purchase some Dwarf Nigerians. Would an extra large igloo way doghouse make a suitable day shelter for them while they're pasturing?

Answer: Yes, large dog houses work well as pasture shelters. Of course the goats will spend more time on top of it than inside, lol. Good luck with your goats, I know you will enjoy them.

Samantha Adams from Auburn, GA on March 18, 2014:

Cute article. I loved the quiz.