Raising Goats in our Humble Homestead

Raising goats has been here since ancient times. They are a good source of meat, and you can even get goat's milk. Its meat, however, has a bit of gamey odor, so we have different ways of preparing it.

One of the things I like when raising goats, is that they can graze or find food on their own. Though, depending on your setup, sometimes you have to lead them somewhere where grass is abundant, as if being a shepherd.

Morning Check

Every morning is barn-cleaning and health check time for all our livestock.

Our goats are usually out in the open by the time we arrive at the pasture.

They usually graze near the barn in the morning. They know their health check routine.

Since they're grazing in the fields, we can easily clean their barn.

It's usually scattered with some marble-shaped feces. This is also the best time to check if their droppings are watery. It's a sign of diarrhea and might require medical attention. If there's a watery poop, then we need to locate that goat.

It's also the time to clean and replenish their drinking water.

If you take a look at the picture, you'll see a white block hanging by a rope. It's a mineral block that they love to lick. It should supply them with ample nutrients.

Vaccination and/or Vitamin Injections

Newborn kids are initially given Iron and Multivitamins injections since they will only consume their mother's milk and cannot take food supplements yet.

When they reached a certain age, they will also be dewormed and vaccinated.

Mother goats that have recently given birth are also given Iron and Multivitamins injections because they have lost some blood during delivery and they need more nutrition for nursing their young.

And as I have mentioned earlier, locating that goat with watery droppings is very important. One way of locating a goat with diarrhea is by checking its butt which is usually soiled from its watery feces.

Feeding with Grass and Leaves

Rain is good, but rain for long periods of time can be problematic when raising goats. It's also true when soft grass is also scarce by overgrazing.

Then we'll have to acquire and give them their food.

These shrubs in the picture are called "Jerusalem" plants. I'm not sure what they're called in different areas though. And our goats love their leaves, especially when fresh.

Well, we just have to prune and cut some branches for our goats from time to time.

This Jerusalem plant is budding and showing its flowers, August must have been its budding season.

They know what they want =)

Goats Grazing in the Field

Our goats love to eat soft grass, thorny bushes, young banana leaves, the "Jerusalem" plants, and any other leaves they can get.

They're just grazing most of the time, especially on a sunny day. They will just rest a bit and drink their water in the barn when it's too hot.

And sometimes, when I feed our turkeys, and our goats caught a glimpse of me carrying a food bucket, they will also come running to join the food fest. lol.

And our children would sometimes join me while feeding our farm animals.
My niece here is so cute dangling around with everyone =)

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Hello Hive community!
You can call me, Jay.
I'm a Farmer by day, and a Web Developer at night.
I'm also a greenhorn blogger and a Rising Star and dCrops player.
Thanks for reading my blog!