Friday, September 14, 2012

Gotta Get A Goat

I want a goat. No, I am not joking. I want a goat. Or two or three. 

I have a fenced back yard that is about half an acre. I am a single mom trying to keep the grass cut (which really means paying to keep the grass cut) and nobody uses that part of the yard for anything. Goats would keep the grass trimmed and, as a bonus, we can have fresh goat milk. I would absolutely love to learn to make goat cheese, too!

I've never owned a goat, although my uncle used to keep them. Having no idea where to actually find a goat, I looked (don't laugh) on Facebook. I went to the fan pages of several local farms and found a single goat for sale. It's a special purebred goat and the asking price is $400 obo! No, no, no. I am not entering these goats in the fair. I need a less expensive version! 

Where do I go now? Do you have goats? Do you have any advice for me?


8 comments:

  1. I have no clue about goats but I was tempted to get chickens this spring. The ticks around our house were INSANE and fresh eggs *sigh*
    Good luck on getting your goat, maybe try asking some local farmers...

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    1. I want chickens too, but since we are planning to move in the next year I thought I should wait.

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  2. Awesome. I have no advice for you.. except for- GO FOR IT! I've always wanted them too. They are playful, and fun. We saw a man hiking with his pet goat the other day on a trail. It was running all around him like a dog.

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  3. if you really want to own a goat and you know how to take care of it, go for it, i wish to own different farm animals too but i guess, we just don't have the space yet.

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  4. I own goats, used to be a goat dairy farmer. Had to sell my herd to move and we have only 2 now. Hate to tell you this but goats eat the weeds, they don't care for the grass much. If you want the lawn 'mowed' you either need a cow or sheep :) Goats are my favorite animal!! Craigslist is one spot where I have had success selling goats to people for various reasons. You can zip me an email and I can give you more goat info if you need. You have to be careful to not get one with disease as well.
    melanieinoh2003 at yahoo dot com
    Melanie

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    1. Thanks for the advice Melanie!!! I do have a weed problem in the back. More weeds than grass! But I didn't know that. Also, thanks for the tip. I will look on Craigslist.

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  5. Maybe contact your local extension office? Or maybe local 4H? Try telling them that you don't want them for show, but just to raise....

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