We love our kids! Nigerian Dwarf Goat kids, that is!
We love our human kids too but these cute babies are just adorable!
Nigerian Dwarf Goats are an amazing breed of dairy goat and so personable you can’t help but fall in love with them!
The Nigerian Dwarf goat is an American breed of dwarf goat derived from West Africa. They are wonderful for dairy production, as show animals, or even as just companions. Males reach heights of up to 23.5 inches while females reach heights of up to 22.5 inches. Their milk is often considered a universal milk and can be used to feed other animals or people. There are awesome products you can make from their milk as well such as goat’s milk soap, lotions, lip balms and much more!
When considering adding a Nigerian Dwarf Goat to your farm you must think of the three main components needed for any animal (just like people!). They need food, water, and shelter. A clean and constant supply of water is absolutely necessary for any animal. This can be done in water troughs, buckets, dishes, or however you choose that works best for your farm. It is extremely important that these little guys remain hydrated though!
One thing very common to male NGD’s is bladder stones. When considering your males food, a combination of hay and foraging is awesome. We also supplement with a feed that contains ammonium chloride. This substance aides in breaking down bladder stones before they even happen. Stay away from the sweet feed for these little males though. Did you know that the urinary tract for a male is extremely long which makes them more prone to bladder stones than females? If you don’t catch it in time, this can be fatal to your sweet boys. You can also purchase ammonium chloride in a powder form to add to their water as needed. Just stay on top of making sure they are consuming water and watch for any changes in their urine output and you should be just fine!
Shelter can take shape in many forms. Again, do what works best on your farm! There are lots of ideas for shelters on the internet, in Facebook groups and especially on Pinterest! Think through your fencing for sure! These little guys are absolute escape artists! You don’t need to just look at the fence itself, but what’s around the fence! Remember, they can jump and hop and preform some of the most amazing acrobatic feats known to the farm animal world? (Seriously, how do they do that?!). Our own little Sue is a Houdini to say the least! Sometimes it will take a few attempts to figure out exactly how they are escaping but when there is a will, there is a way! And with a NGD there is always a will!
Caring for the basic needs of your NGD’s will help stave off many issues. Spending time with your babies and getting to know their sounds and normal activity level so that you notice when something seems off is also a great way to stay ahead of the curve. Trust your instincts!
