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.
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!
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.