Our First Goat Show: What We Learned, Loved, and Wished We Packed
We attended our first ADGA goat show with our Nigerian Dwarf goats and made plenty of rookie mistakes along the way—forgotten gear, wrong clipper blades, and a few embarrassing moments included. Even without ribbons, the experience was full of learning, laughs, and valuable takeaways. Read about our first show day, what we’d do differently, and why we are still proud of our herd.
June at Bootsy Garden: Goat Shows, Clipping Chaos, and the Pollen Plague
June 2025 Nigerian Dwarf goat update at Bootsy Garden. Prepping for shows, clipping lessons, late-night milkings, our first vet visit, and big homestead projects. Learn from our rookie mistakes and follow along as we dive deeper into dairy goat life.
Week Four: Settling Into Our Routine with Dairy Goats
Settling into a smooth goat milking routine with two milk stands, tackling mosquito problems with UltraBoss, and adding essential goat minerals like selenium, copper, zinc, and kelp to support health and productivity. Discover how we're caring for dairy goats.
Goat Adventures Week 3: Hand Milking Wins and Mosquito Battles
Follow along as I share the week-by-week adventures of building my first Nigerian Dwarf goat herd. This update covers hand milking progress, mosquito battles, Demi’s stand struggles, and the hard work of keeping goat shelters clean. Real life, small wins, and plenty of learning on our growing homestead.
Preventing Coccidiosis in Baby Goats: What Every Goat Owner Needs to Know
Coccidiosis is one of those things that can sneak up on you fast. One day your baby goats are bouncing around, and the next they’re scouring and hunched in the corner. Preventing coccidiosis in goats, especially young kids, should be a top priority in your herd health plan. Once symptoms show, the damage is already being done. Here’s how we handle coccidiosis prevention at Bootsy Garden.
Week Two with Goats: Rookie Mistakes, Milking Wins, and Goat Drama
It has officially been another full week with goats at Bootsy Garden, and I am happy to report that I can now hand-milk a goat without it taking a full hour. That might not sound like a huge win, but if you know, you know. Hand milking Nigerian Dwarf goats takes practice, and I am finally starting to get into a rhythm.
Meet the Goats: Our First Herd at Bootsy Garden
Our small starter herd includes two Nigerian Dwarf does in milk and two doeling kids. One of the kids is actually the daughter of one of our does, Demi, which felt like the perfect beginning to our dairy goat journey. After months of planning and preparing the pasture, it was surreal to finally have goats riding in the back of our car and headed to their new home.
Getting Ready For Our First Goats: What We're Buying
Welcoming goats onto our homestead is an exciting endeavor that requires thorough preparation. To ensure the health and happiness of our new herd, it's important that we have all the necessary supplies ready before their arrival. This guide provides a comprehensive list of everything we have purchased or plan to purchase to meet the needs to care for our goats, from housing to healthcare and kidding essentials. Everything in bold is what we recommend to be purchased before any goats are on-site. We hope this list helps you create your herd when the time comes!
What to Feed Chickens and Roosters: A Practical Guide for Mixed Flocks
Feeding chickens seems simple—just toss out some grain and call it good, right? But if you’ve ever stood in the feed aisle wondering what’s best for your mixed flock—especially if you’ve got laying hens, roosters, and maybe even chicks—you’re not alone. Whether you're brand new to chickens or just rethinking your setup, here’s a straightforward guide to feeding your flock the right way.
How We Built The Duck House
This article breaks down how we built our duck house step by step using a simple plan, salvaged bricks, and a little creativity. If you're thinking of building a backyard duck coop, this might be just the inspiration you need.
How to Incubate Chicken Eggs at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
This spring, we decided to try something new on the homestead. Instead of buying more chicks, we’re hatching our own. There is something incredible about watching an egg slowly turn into a tiny, living fluffball. It is a lesson in patience and care, and we are learning as we go.
If you are curious about how to incubate chicken eggs at home, this post breaks down our beginner-friendly process. From setup to hatch day, we are sharing what has worked for us and how you can try it too.
Getting Started with Nigerian Dwarf Goats: Essential Tips for New Owners
If you’re thinking about adding Nigerian Dwarf goats to your homestead, you’re in for a fun and rewarding experience! These small, friendly dairy goats are perfect for beginners, whether you’re looking for fresh milk, weed control, or just adorable farm companions. Before you bring home your first goats, it’s important to set up the right environment and understand their care needs.
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about raising Nigerian Dwarf goats, from setting up fencing to proper nutrition and health care.
What Type of Fencing is Suitable for Goats?
Choosing the right fencing for goats is one of the most important steps in setting up a secure and successful homestead. From woven wire to electric fencing, here is everything you need to know about keeping your goats contained and protected.
Can I Use Chain Link Fencing for Goats?
Yes, you can use chain link fencing for goats, but it often needs reinforcement. Goats are natural climbers and curious escape artists. This guide walks you through how to make chain link fencing more goat friendly and effective on your homestead.
Raising Ducklings 101: What You Need to Know
Thinking about raising ducklings? Learn everything you need to know, from brooder setup and feeding to water needs and transitioning to a grow-out pen. Get expert tips to ensure your ducklings grow up happy and healthy!
How to Raise Chicks: Essential Tips and Tricks
If you've decided to start raising chicks, you’re taking a step into a rewarding aspect of homesteading. Given the recent surge in interest due to egg shortages and high prices, it's crucial to know the ins and outs of proper chick care. Here’s a detailed guide to help you ensure your new chicks thrive right from the start.
Homestead Life One Month In: Chickens, Snowstorms, and Big Plans Ahead
It’s been a little over a month since we moved onto our new homestead, and life has been anything but quiet. From navigating a surprise snowstorm that left our free-range chickens stranded to preparing for an exciting expansion of our flock, we’ve been busy turning this land into a fully functioning farm.
With more chickens, ducks, and goats on the way, a brand-new chicken coop and run arriving soon, and plenty of farm projects on our to-do list, this homestead is growing fast. Here’s what’s been happening over the past few weeks and what’s coming next.
Finding Home: The Journey to Our New Homestead
It’s hard to believe that we’re finally here. After months of searching, dreaming, and navigating the unexpected, we’ve found our dream homestead. Looking back, it feels like this place was always meant for us, even if the journey to get here was anything but smooth.
The process of finding and moving to a new homestead has been full of surprises. There were moments of doubt and plenty of hard work, but every challenge brought us closer to where we are now, a place that truly feels like home.