Itty Bitty Critter Farm Nigerian Dwarf Goats Home Page

Home of Nigerian Dwarf Goats

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Itty Bitty Critter Farm is a small farm located approximately sixty miles south of St. Louis, Missouri. Our goal is to breed and raise happy, healthy, people-friendly Nigerian Dwarf goats; small, gentle and ideal for small acreages. Here on our nine and one-half acre farm, we have three bucks and five does (two blue-eyed) as well as one goat of undetermined origin (probably a Nubian/Alpine cross). In addition to our extremely spoiled goats, we have chickens and one cat, all very equally spoiled.

When we decided to raise goats, our initial goal was to have our own goat milk and to make money in our retirement years. Who doesn't need money during retirement? This would give us maybe five, ten years max, to plan and organize our project. Gary started researching the different breeds, trying to decide which would work best on our farm. Several months later, we were the proud owners of our first goats - two Nigerian Dwarf bucks. Within a week, we added our first two does, quickly growing to six does. They can be very addictive. And, goats are herd animals and need the extra companionship, right?

Even though this venture started out as a business, we grew to love each and every one of our kids, treating them as one of our own human variety - each one with their own special personality. You just have to love them!

We chose the Nigerian Dwarf because they are perfect goats for small acreage. They are a delightful family goat with charming personalities giving a surprising quantity of milk for their size, ranging from 2 to 6 pounds per day, thus being an ideal milk goat suitable for most families. These goats are gentle and easily trainable., making them popular as pets. At this time, we do not have any registered stock, but they make very affectionate and affordable pets. For more information about Nigerian Dwarf goats, see our F.Y.I. page.

Gary & Sandra Howell - Irondale, Missouri

ibcf@centurytel.net

Our Herd Management

We take pride in our animals and doing our very best to care for them. Because we care, before any animal is taken to its new home, we make certain that the buying family understands the needs and care of the animal before taking it home. That means a good home with adequate housing (a clean, dry, protected shelter), secure fencing (to keep goats in and predators out), and shade as well as access to plenty of hay, water and minerals. This also includes a caprine companion, routine hoof trimming, regular vaccinations and worming, and a safe environment free from poisonous plants and other hazardous situations. But most of all that means love, love and more love. (See F.Y.I. - Goat Care.)

Companionship

A single goat is a miserable goat. Therefore, we prefer not to sell to a home without a companion. Goats are an affectionate, herd-oriented animal thriving on each other's company. It is best for their health and well being to have the companionship of another goat. It is not recommended to keep a breeding pair together all the time, but a doe and wether, or two does, or two wethers make a fine starter herd.

General Information

We believe that the best way to approach animal care is by promoting excellent health in an effort to avoid costly treatments. We strive for healthy animals, using a lot of herbs and natural remedies. We grain twice daily with a specially mixed grain to promote healthy adults and kids. Our goats have access at all times to hay, SweetLix 16:8 minerals, baking soda, and plenty of clean, fresh water. Apple cider vinegar can be put in drinking water to prevent urinary calculi.Our pens are large allowing for plenty of exercise on a daily basis, and occasionally they are let out to run, browse and play in several of our other fenced areas. (Note: invest in a good hay manger, found at the local feed store, or make one - it will save money on wasted hay.)

DeWorming

Worming should be done to keep the internal and external parasites down in your goat. Preferring not to use chemicals, our goats are checked regularly and dewormed weekly with an herbal mixture. However, the best way to be accurate with deworming is to periodically take a stool sample of each goat to a veterinarian or to an experienced owner. Labs are relatively inexpensive. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is spread on sleeping areas, which is said to kill parasites in the droppings that come into contact with DE. (Note: If records of the samples examined are kept, the breeder can take into consideration using the goats that are resistant to parasites in their breeding program.)

Hoof Trimming

Hooves are also checked and trimmed on a regular basis. Goats need to have their hooves trimmed every 1-2 months. They can develop lameness and foot rot if their hooves aren't trimmed regularly. Having rocks for the goats to climb and gravel paths helps to wear the hoof down, so that hoof trimming doesn't need to be done quite as often. Nigerian Dwarves' coats are clipped for showing. Also, goats can be clipped in the summer to keep them cool and bug free.

Disbudding

We do not disbud our kids. It is our personal belief that as they were born with them, so they were meant to have them as a defense against predators. We have never had problems with aggression toward humans. Should you wish to purchase any of our kids, then it will be up to you to have them disbudded. Disbudding should be done before they turn three weeks of age. As I will not be doing the procedure myself, all costs are your responsibility and will require full payment on any kid to be disbudded, non-refundable after the kid is disbudded.

Breeding

Breeding is done in a controlled manner, hand selecting each doe and buck for the best offspring production. We stretch out our breedings throughout the year to provide our does with the time to raise their kids to their full potential, kidding only once a year so as not to overwork our does. We won't breed our does until they reach one year of age or older giving them time to mature and develop so they can handle the stress of kidding.

Weaning

Our goal is for our goats to be very friendly. They get a good deal of hands on attention several times daily and are well loved. However, our kids are dam raised because we feel mother knows best. Before any animal is taken to its new home, we make sure that the animal has been properly weaned. They are all watched carefully to be sure they are ready to leave their mom, adequately drinking from a bucket and eating on their own. In addition, each kid has age appropriate immunizations, checked for worms (even though they are on the herbal worm program) and have their first hoof trimming before they leave.

More information may be found on our F.Y.I. page, as well as the Links listed on same page.

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