WINTER GOAT HOUSING

[Brimfield]

My wife wants goats for milk. She wants Nigerian dwarf or boer for meat. So we live in Mass and I wonder what we need to keep them in the winter. I don't want to build anything expensive or big yet, she has never had them and what if she changes her mind. Also can goats and pigs get along?

 

[big lar]

Never had goats, but am also in Mass. so know how the winters can be. Maybe you can rent a small storage container if you have the room. I have seen school buses being used for chickens; perhaps you could buy a used small school bus or even a handicap van (so they could go in and out using the ramp! )Cities and towns sell them off; my town just sold one by bid for $500! then sell it if it or the goats don't work out.,

Or buy one of those sheds, they are sold everywhere; or have an unemployed carpenter or handyman make one for you, put it on blocks or skid so you move it to sell it, later.

Don't know about pigs and goats together.

 

[300UGUY]

Goats and pigs aren't gonna be good buddies. Goats are herd animals, and to get milk ya gotta have a billy involved, doing the nasty.. This means baby goats, and you have to do something with them. As far as housing, out of the rain, and dry is good. Animals don't do well in the wet. I built a 12 x 20 shed for my 2 goats, holds all the feed and hay. They seem to like it

 

[dave1949]

Good points Irv.

Goats are a lot tidier than pigs. If you want to milk the goats, general cleanliness is a top priority. I don't know how well they get along together, but the challenge of keeping the goats clean would be a problem I think.

I took a short class in goat tending, just to see if it really appealed to me. The hosts milked their goats in a dedicated parlor off the side of the barn. You don't want the milk to pick up odors.

 

[LJH]

Goats need to stay dry and out of drafts at the very minimum. A nice layer of straw or other bedding would be nice too and if you do the deep litter method, come spring you've got a nice head start on your compost. They should have access to clean water 24/7 so you'll need some way to keep their water from freezing. A separate section or hay mow to store their winter feed. Good fencing - as they saying goes, "If it won't hold water, it won't hold a goat". That's an exaggeration ... but not by much.

BTW, both the breeds you mentioned originated in warm climates. I have two Boers (pets, Sid & Nancy) who do just fine here in the Utah mountains but then, we went overboard & built them a bit of a goat palace. Can't help with the dairy end, ours are sister/brother and Sid has been 'wetherized'.

 

[RichZ]

I live in upstate New York, and we have several dairy breeds, including Nigerian Dwarves. They do fine in this climate, but as has been said before, they can't handle getting wet, no goat can. They'll need a shelter big enough for them to have some room to move around in, in the winter. If you just have 2, a large calf hutch is acceptable, but the bigger the better. You'll also need a heated water bucket for fresh, unfrozen water.

 

[Egon]

Pigs are about the cleanest animals on a farm.

And the smartest.

 

[jwstewar]

We have 16 goats currently. Last year we started the winter with 2. We had an Alpine Doe and a Boer Doe. We then bought another Alpine Doe that was pregnant. She brought us another doe and a little buck. We then bought a Pygmy Doe and Boer/Pygmy wether. We then bought 2 more Boer does. We then bought a LaMancha yearling that was in milk and another LaMancha Doe a few months old. Then we bought 4 Toggenburgs 3 does and a buck (1 doe died). We then bought a Boer Buck and an Alpine Buck that wasn't related to our Alpines. That being said, last year the 2 were kept in our 8x16 shed with access to an outside area. It worked fine for 2 and then 3 and that has been the home all summer for everyone except the 4 bucks (and 2 wethers that were sold at the fair). So we are getting read to do a deal for a 36x54 (or 60) barn to keep them in this year. Hopefully I can get the barn built and be able to get water and electric to it before winter.

 

[lutt]

Pigs are about the cleanest animals on a farm. And the smartest.

i I second that, we show pigs and goats. Working on raising registered spots, very intelligent and when kept in pens very clean, our spot guilt won't even go to the bathroom on the small pens at shows, my daughter has to walk her. LUTT

 

[Concordriver]

My wife and I are in Mass. and have Nigerian Dwarf goats. I will private e-mail you and give you our contact information.