Thursday, January 18, 2018

Tips For Raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats Santa Cruz County Residents Offer

By James Kennedy


As people get more and more interested in raising their own food and eating organically, the idea of owning a goat or two is becoming more popular. If you have lots of land, it may not matter how big your animals get or how many you have. For homeowners with limited space, owning goats is still a possibility. A good option is raising Nigerian dwarf goats Santa Cruz County residents have for sale.

These animals are great if you have an acre or less of land and still want to farm. They are small, standing less than two feet at the withers. They are great milkers. One female goat can generate over a quart of milk a day. Their milk makes great cheese and cream. The high fat content makes it excellent for soap.

You will find them quite easy to train. Dwarfs are intelligent and have sweet dispositions. It's not hard to get their attention with whistles and clickers, and they will remember audible commands. Goats have a tendency to rush gates, but you can correct their behavior with a spray bottle filled with water. Dwarfs don't like getting wet, and soon understand to stop when they hear the spray.

You have to be careful with the collars. They can get caught easily in fences when a goat tries to stick its head through or jump over them. You may find that just holding the collar when walking with an animal can be dangerous. If the animal turns its head, and the collar slips up, it can stop blood flow to the brain. All of a sudden your goat will be laying on the ground. Immediately removing the pressure solves the problem.

Goats and cats have more in common than most people imagine. Both animals are incredibly curious, and they have a tendency to get stuck in odd places. Fences can be especially hazardous for dwarfs. They will repeatedly stick their heads between the fence wiring with no hope of backing out. Carrying a pair of wire cutters around with you is essential.

A goat also loves to use fencing to rub off their winter coats. Dwarfs are strong and determined enough that you will be spending a lot of time and money repairing your fencing unless you can interest your animals in another source, like a street sweeper, to rub against. These animals are natural jumpers and climbers and love crates in their area.

You might think that a goat will eat anything, and can live under all kinds of conditions, but the reality is that most of them are extremely picky. They hate being wet, and they won't eat food that is left out for an extended period of time. It becomes dirty, in their minds, and unappetizing.

You don't have to own a big farm to become self-sufficient in the food department. A vegetable garden, fruit trees, compost heap, and a few goats will go a long way to doing that. With practice you can have fresh fruits, vegetables, milk, and cheese all year round.




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