Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by A. Banks on October 15, 2008 at 14:06

We did not do the battery backup system. Can't remember the cost but that may have been a factor. Possibly will add it in the future but so far haven't needed it - no major power outages.......yet.

Permalink Reply by Keith Mauck (Site Publisher) on October 15, 2008 at 4:03

As Hank Williams Jr said, "A country boy can survive"

Permalink Reply by Earth Mama on October 15, 2008 at 6:57

Yes, and survive we will. We are so fortunate to live in an area that is really rural compared to the other heavily populated parts of the USA. I have lived on the East coast and it was almost clausterphobic due to the amount of other people. I am so happy here on my ten acres of woods. It is all Ive ever wanted.

Permalink Reply by P.G. on October 15, 2008 at 16:54

Check out a dairy goat!
You can feed 7 goats for the same feed as one cow and the milk is excellent.

Permalink Reply by getoverit on October 16, 2008 at 3:07

I heard that you can only have 1 cow per acre of land. How many goats can you have per acre, or is there a limit? We are wanting to get some goats in the near future. What type(s) should we look at purchasing and about how much do they run? I know they are good for the milk and they keep the grass trim, but what are the other benefits of owning goats? Thanks!

Permalink Reply by P.G. on October 16, 2008 at 4:31

They say 7 goats for same costs and space as one cow. But I wouldn't count on them keeping the grass trimmed unless that's all they have available to eat. For that you need sheep! Goats are browsers, not grazers! They'll walk through chest high grass to get to brush which they prefer. They are characteristically more like deer than cows.
I have nubian goats but there are other breeds of dairy goats. I like the milk better than cow milk. It makes good yogurt and mozzarella cheese too! A Nubian doe can give around and average of 3 to 5 gallons of milk per week, depending upon her lactation cycle. Some breeds do better than that but nubian is high in butter fat than some breeds like a jersey is of the cow breeds.

Nubian goats are considered a multipurpose breed. They are fairly large as goats go so they can be used for both milk and meat. But be warned that it's very easy to become attached to them as they are affectionate and it will be hard to kill one.
They become more pet like than livestock. If you are the type person who could shoot your dog without feeling bad, then you could probably shoot one of your goats!

Permalink Reply by getoverit on October 16, 2008 at 6:00

Thanks! My miniature dachshund, Pooka, gets on my nerves when he wines a lot; but, I could never shoot him. =) Once, you kill the goat...it's not worth much as a tax credit.

Permalink Reply by Earth Mama on October 19, 2008 at 5:37

I am sort of thinking about a Nubian doe. I have a female brush goat kid and she is very lonesome. Ifyou

Permalink Reply by Bobi Carr ("parker") on October 19, 2008 at 6:44

Goats need company. Get anything that you can as long as you get some company for it pronto. The will not be as healthy alone. One of the lessons we learned the hard way this year.

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