When we bred our doe, Buttercup, for the first time, we were novice goat keepers. We rented a buck, Stinky Dan, whose musky aroma was nothing out of the ordinary […]
goats
BACKYARD FARM
How to Milk a Goat, Maybe
Even with massage and sweet nothings, Buttercup won’t be milked
I think goat kids are among the cutest creatures on Earth. But most backyard farmers are more interested in goat mamas — does. That’s what happens when you’re keeping goats […]
IN THE BUD
Is It Wrong to Be Horny?
Why some backyard farmers are reconsidering ‘disbudding’ their goats
Goats have horns. That’s something I always took for granted. I grew up seeing goats on mountaintops throughout my childhood in Austria, and every one of them had horns. But […]
WEEDEATERS
Goats Eschew Poison Ivy Duty for the Lure of Provincetown
Open space committee to regroup; better fencing a consideration
PROVINCETOWN — A vegetation management project in Provincetown resulted in a community goat herding effort last Friday night, June 11.
HOMESTEADING
Sorrow and Joy on Buttercup’s Birthing Day
Two lively kids comfort a doe and her homesteaders
Last summer our sweet Nigerian dwarf doe, Princess Buttercup, gave birth with remarkable ease, which is typical for her breed. I barely noticed that she was in labor before her […]
FARM & GARDEN UPDATE
Birthing Suite
Princess Buttercup, here in her birthing suite, is in good company, in spite of being separated by a fence from the other goats. Goldie Hen has stayed close by her […]
HOMESTEADING
What to Expect When Your Goat Is Expecting
It’s kidding season on the Outer Cape
At first, it can be hard to tell whether your doe — your female goat, that is — has gotten pregnant. For those new to animal husbandry: don’t expect a […]
HOMESTEADING
Could She, Would She Give You Goat’s Milk?
It’s not easy to make a match for your backyard doe
For some people, chickens are a gateway farm animal. You start out with a backyard flock. The fresh eggs are nice. So, you start thinking about producing something else, maybe […]
