I have put together a list of Nigerian Dwarf Goat Questions and Answers. Hope this is helpful.

Question: Why Nigerians?

Answer: I chose Nigerian Dwarfs because they are playful, cute, small, they give a lot of milk for their size, are colorful, are sweet and are easy keeper.

 

Question: How much milk does a Nigerian give per day?

Answer: Nigerian does can give between 2 and 8 cups per day.

 

Question: How much do Nigerian Dwarf does and bucks weigh?

Answer: Nigerian dwarf does weigh between 25 and 35 pounds. Nigerian dwarf bucks weigh between 30 and 45 pounds.

 

Question: Does a nigerian dwarf doe have to have kids to have milk?

Answer: Yes.

 

Question: How old does a nigerian dwarf doe have to be to breed?

Answer: A nigerian dwarf doe has to be at least 8 months old and 30 pounds.

 

Question: How old does a nigerian dwarf buck have to be to breed?

Answer: A nigerian dwarf buck has to be at least 9 months old to breed.

 

Question: What is a nigerian dwarf doe’s gestation?

Answer: Approximately 145 days.

 

Question: Do I have to have more than one goat?

Answer: Yes. Goats are herd animals and need a companion.

 

Question: What should I have for a feeder and waterer?

Answer: You should have a feeder that is at least 1 1/2′ long and 6″ wide. Keep your feeder off the ground. You should have a water bucket made of sturdy plastic or stainless steel metal and that holds at least 3 gallons (3 gallons will be good for 3 goats.). Fill the water bucket about 2/3 full and clean it at least once a week.

 

Question: Is it okay to have a goat that has horns?

Answer: I would say no. If a goat has horns it can hurt other goats, people and itself. When a baby goat is born it is best to get it disbudded.

 

Question: Are nigerian dwarfs good in goat shows?

Answer: Yes. Nigerians are great in goat shows. They can even be entered in costume contests.

 

Question: How do I transport a nigerian?

Answer: You can put your nigerian in a simple dog crate (a large dog crate will fit 2 nigerians) or if you have more than 2 nigerians that you nee to transport, you can use a small horse trailer or stock trailer.

 

Question: When should I breed my nigerian dwarf doe and when should she kid?

Answer: You should breed either in the Fall and have them kid in the Spring or breed in the Spring and have them kid in the Fall.  You don’t want to breed in the Winter or Summer and have them kid in the heat or cold.

 

Question: How many babies can a nigerian dwarf doe have per kidding?

Answer: A nigerian doe can have between 1 – 7 kids at a time (twins and triplets being most common).

 

Question: How old do Nigerian Dwarfs grow to be?

Answer: Nigerian Dwarfs can be up to 15 years old.

 

Question: Do nigerian dwarf does need assistance when they kid?

Answer: Only occasionally.  Nigerian dwarfs have very easy kiddings.  But, it is always best to be with your doe when she is in labor incase there is a problem.

 

Question: Do my nigerians need any shots or blood tests?

Answer: Not unless you are taking your goat for breeding, or you are crossing state lines, or you are testing for pregnancy or unless you goat is sick, etc.  But, it is always good to once a year CAE test your goat.

 

Question: Do my Nigerians need any straw or blankets in cold weather?

Answer: It is totally up to you.  But if it is below 40 degrees then I would suggest that you put some blankets, etc. in your goat’s pen.

 

Question: What goat registries will accept Nigerian Dwarfs?

Answer: The Nigerian Dwarf Goat Association (NDGA), American Goat Society (AGS) and American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) are the registries that I use and there are others that also accept nigerians.

 

Question: What colors can Nigerians be?

Answer: Nigerians can be any mix that you can think of. (except pink)

 

Question: How old do Nigerian Dwarf kids need to be to be weaned?

Answer: A nigerian dwarf kid has to be at least 6 weeks old (7 weeks is best), but if you are bottle feeding them then they only need to be 4 – 5 weeks.

 

Question: How big is a Nigerian Dwarf baby when it is born?

Answer: A baby nigerian weighs about 2 – 4 pounds when it is born and is about 5 – 6 inches tall at its withers.

 

Question: Do I need to breed smaller does to smaller bucks and do I need to breed smaller bucks to smaller does?

Answer: Yes, it is best to breed smaller does to smaller bucks.  However, you do not need to breed smaller bucks to smaller does.

 

Question: How often should I milk?

Answer: You should milk twice a day, depending on your schedule.  Some people can milk only once a day , so that is okay too.  Try to milk every twelve hours, such as 7 am – 7 pm.

 

Question: Do I have to trim my Nigerian’s hooves?

Answer: Yes. You should trim your goat’s hooves at least once a month. You can purchase hoof trimmers at a farm store or online. When trimming, always be sure to have a bandage available incase you accidentally happen to cut your goat. Don’t trim too close to the pad. Safety is the key.

 

Question: What do I do if my goat has diarrhea?

Answer: If your goat has diarrhea make sure that the area around your goat’s feeder is clean of dirty hay and manure. Also, when you give your goat grain, give it some raw pumpkin seeds (shell-less) and a little bit of Slippery Elm Bark in their grain. Keep giving the pumpkin seeds and Slippery Elm Bark until the diarrhea is gone.

 

Question: What is the earliest a doe can kid?

Answer: It is be safe for a doe to kid 10 days before their due date.

 

Question: How long does a goat labor last and what will it be like?

Answer: A nigerian dwarf goat labor last about 5 hours.  First, the labor starts with a lot of discharge coming out.  The discharge is yellowish greenish colored.  Your doe will be baaing a lot (some does are almost absolutely quite, except when they are pushing).  Your doe will be overly affectionate to you.  Then your doe will lie down and get up repeatedly, and will start pushing (you know she is pushing hard when she strains her neck).  You should see a bubble starting to appear.  It should have two hooves showing, and the pointy part of the hoof should be facing up, if it is facing down then it is a breech birth.  Don’t panic!  If it is a breech, a rump should be following the hooves.  If your doe is having trouble, gently open the area where the kid is coming out so that the doe can push easier.  If your doe needs help pushing, don’t pull until the baby is about half way out, then pull ONLY when the doe pushes.  If you pull when the doe isn’t pushing you can injure the doe’s insides.  After the baby is out, make sure that you wipe off it’s face with paper towels thoroughly.  Then wipe off the rest of the baby and give it to it’s mother to clean.  After it is all clean, help it find the teat and nurse.  After you make sure that the baby is fine, don’t spend too much time with it for a few hours so that the new baby and it’s mother have time to bond with each other.  Click here to see a great movie about goat labor!  If you have any questions please contact me!

 

Question: What are the best goats for growing for meat production?

Answer: I would say the best goats for meat production would be the Boer goats.

 

Question: How much food do the Nigerians eat per day?

Answer: I am currently feeding 11 goats 2 flakes of Alfalfa hay per day, so divide that by 11.  I also like to feed them some grain.  Each doe (in milk or pregnant) gets 1 1/2 – 2 cups of grain per day, and the bucks get about half of that.