skip to main content

Pygmy milk goats

16 years ago

I want to get a pygmy goat for milk and cheese, and as a pet. My question is, can you get a goat lactating without breeding? My hunch is no, but if it's a possibility, it'd be great as bucks aren't allowed here (I'm in the city), and I wouldn't have to find one for breeding. How do you find a buck for breeding? I've also heard that you can keep milking a pygmy for up to 2 years once it's started. What are people's experience with keeping a goat lactating? Thanks for answering the questions of a goat newbie!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

oberhasli1
16 years ago
Wow, brave soul, are you sure you really want to milk a pygmy goat? Have you ever tried this? It might be helpful to find someone with a milking pygmy doe and try it. I'm not trying to be flip but Pygmy teats are REALLY tiny. You also won't be getting much milk, I'm thinking cupfuls at best. Nigerian dwarf goats aren't much bigger than pygmys but are supposed to have bigger udders and are referred to as backyard milkers. You can't get a goat to lactate unless it has been bred. You can buy a goat already in milk that has kidded. Goats can be milked continuously for years if they are pretty heavy milkers to begin with. I milked one of my Oberhasli's continuously for 4 years, and got a gallon a day consistently. But, if a goat is a light milker, when they go into heat during their breeding season, their milk volume decreases and if it gets too low, they start to dry off in anticipation of breeding.

To find a buck, you can look up the pygmy goat national registry to find one hopefully in your area. Usually the county extension office in your area can put you onto someone who has pygmy goats or maybe nigerians and a buck as well.

I assume you want a pygmy because a dairy goat wouldn't be allowed in the city. You might want to check out Nigerians or see if anyone in you area has one you can see before you buy.

Good Luck.

Bonnie
littlecritterkeeper
16 years ago
Hi. I raise Nigerians and have one pygmy. We have not bred our pygmy yet but Her mom did not make enough milk for her and her sister. I personally don't think that a pygmy could have enough extra milk. You would need to buy kid milk replacer which could get expensive after a while. My Nigerians give from 2 to 5 letters each a day, which is more than enough. I would consider them if I were you. Generally a registered Nigerian doeling costs $200 to $275 but unregistered does and doelings are almost always priced at $75. Something cool about them is that they can have blue eyes. That usually costs extra thoughÂ.

Good Luck,
LittleCritterKeepr
Related Discussions
Pygmy goat infomation?
Q
Comments (5)
Glad to see that the two goats will be together because they like company. Females are so sweet and funny. They like to have something to climb/jump on.... tree stumps, cars or anything in between. They do not like to go where the trees and brush cover them because they want to keep a look out for predators. Will eat your brush, trees, grass, flowers, clothes, goat feed and use a salt lick. I used to save fall leaves to offer with the winter food to give them variety. They loved it. Spend time with them, pet them and talk to them so they will be comfortable around you for the eventual milking. Get them used to the stance while they are young, because as adults they will not like the unfamilia, and get very stubborn. Sing a particular song each time you feed them, then if they get loose, or you want to bribe them into the stance, just sing that song. This might be the same things your MIL is doing with her dairy goats, I only had pygmies, so I don't know about them. Oh yeah, they usually kid themselves with very few if any problems. The first time they will have only one kid, but each time after that 2,3 and yes, belive it sometimes four. Usually you shouild wait until they are 9-12 months old before intoducing to a buck. Mate them in September, you will have your first kids in March or so when the weather would be good for them. Good luck Joan
...See More
looking for pygmy goats
Q
Comments (1)
I had a hard time finding them in So.NH but I found them in S, VT, Good breeder. I am so happy with mine. Having a great time with them. Let me know if you want contact info.
...See More
Baby Pygmy goat feeding and water
Q
Comments (2)
I'd take the baby off milk replacer and start it on whole milk. (not 2%) Cow's milk is fine, and a pygmy won't be drinking very much so it wouldn't be too expensive. Give him access to browse, (green leaves from trees and grass) and hay with a small bucket of water available at all times. You can always add electrolytes to the water if you think he's looking dehydrated but no more water from a bottle; if he gets thirsty, he'll sip from the bucket. If you feed him things growing in your yard, make sure you don't have plants that are hazardous or even toxic for small ruminants. (Absolutely no yew, azalea, rhodendron, etc.) For the red urine: if it's water intoxication cased by the water in the bottle, it should clear up on it's own. If you suspect a UTI, give the little guy about 2 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice (Ocean spray brand is best) twice a day for a couple of days and if it's a urinary tract infection, it should clear up.
...See More
Pygmy Goats & Pigs
Q
Comments (17)
I think a certain amount of nibbling must be a social behavior mechanism of pigs. My pig is sweet as can be, my three year old toddler feeds her treats and I don't worry at all. However she occassionally still bites my shoe and nibbles on peoples shirts and clothes as they hang out with her - have to keep a close eye on her. Stray cats and chickens wander through her pen all the time and she has never been aggressive at all. I haven't found a companion for my pig yet and I've come to the conclusion that pigs are not animals that can live alone. I moved her to a pen that was closer to the hustle and bustle of everday activity around the house and that has helped some. She is actually suppossed to be a working pig, and has done some marvellous work tilling my garden (phenomenal and unbelievable work really). She tilled up a 50x50 plot that I've been working hard on for 3 years / and did an unbelievable job. The soil used to be of the type you had to use a pick axe on to plant a tomato: now I can stick my hand 8 inches deep into loam. Even her labor output has been poor lately. She'll dig a new area half heartedly and lay around like a potato unless someone goes out to keep her company. If I go out and play harmonica for her or just toodle around her pen doing odd chores she suddenly comes alive and turns into a two hundred pound mass of muscle and soil tilling machine: but I just don't have time to go sing to my pig so she'll do some work. The last area I had her till, I had to go set my preschoolers up with lawn chairs and popcorn next to her pen in order to get her digging with enthusiasm. They sat and watched her dig, better than a movie: but at this point it is just getting ridiculous.
...See More
nhsuzanne
16 years ago
I have Pygmy Goats but have never wanted to milk them. However, I did find this interesting article when I was doing research on the breed. I hope you find this helpful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Milking Pygmy Goats
earthnut
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for your replies! Any goat is allowed here as long as it is miniature. Thing is, I don't need much milk. the 1/2 gal / day at peak mentioned in Suzanne's article would be more than enough for us. It's only my husband and I, and we don't drink a lot of milk. I was actually concerned about having too much milk with other breeds, but I'll look more into Nigerians. I intend to use a lot of it for cheese, but since this is all very new to me, I was wanting to start as small as possible so I wouldn't get totally overwhelmed. Also, the smallness of the teats doesn't worry me much. I have very small hands - it's hard to find gloves that fit!

Related Stories

PRODUCT PICKS Guest Picks: Fresh Milk

By Lori Langille

Creamy white shades, milk bottle shapes and other dairycentric designs can refresh your decor

0

PAINTING What to Know About Milk Paint and Chalk Paint — and How to Use Them

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Learn the pros, cons, cost and more for these two easy-to-use paints that are great for giving furniture a vintage look

FUN HOUZZ The Cutest Darn Animals on Houzz

By Becky Harris

You might end up admiring these horses, goats, llamas and more until the cows come home

TRAVEL BY DESIGN 9 Vacation Farmsteads Offer a Taste of Country Life

By Mitchell Parker

Have a hankering for fresh air and even fresher food? Try a farmhouse, cabin or well-equipped tent for your next vacation

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: 10 Acres, 3 Generations and Many Animals in North Carolina

By Mitchell Parker

Check out a throwback-style cabin that celebrates simplicity, reclaimed materials and family

KITCHEN DESIGN Houzz Call: Tell Us About Your First Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Great or godforsaken? Ragtag or refined? We want to hear about your younger self’s cooking space

TRADITIONAL HOMES Houzz Tour: Connecticut Farm Restored for Generations to Come

By Mary Jo Bowling

A man renovates his extended family’s stately farmhouse and land. Sustainable practices are used in gardens, wetlands and recreation areas

LIFE Easy Green: Modern Homesteaders Stake a Claim

By Laura Gaskill

With more options for raising chickens, growing edibles and keeping bees than ever, suburban and city folk are rediscovering a lost art

REMODELING GUIDES My Houzz: Layers of Patina and an Artist’s Touch in a New York Colonial

By Rikki Snyder

Antiques and loads of found treasures mix with collections and art in a very personal home and studio

INSPIRING GARDENS My Houzz: DIY Love and Nature-Inspired Colors Update a Couple’s Garden

By Rikki Snyder

Secondhand finds and favorite pieces add whimsical beauty to this animal-loving couple’s property

Sponsored

More Discussions

The best colors for a house that has a red roof . The trim is going W

2