Frequently Asked Questions

We are not a licensed dairy and therefore do not sell our milk or milk products. In Virginia it is illegal to sell raw dairy. You may legally consume raw dairy only if is produced from your own animal. For more information regarding raw milk questions please read Weston A. Price Foundation.

We are now offering a limited number of herd shares. If you would like additional information regarding our herd share program, please email me at David@tinroofdairygoats.com.

Which do I need? A wether, doe or buck?

Wether (neutered male):
If you are looking for goats as pets or companion animals only, and you are not interested in producing any milk, then Wethers are what you are looking for. Their entire lives they remain like a kid and do not go through breeding cycles or develop the odor or aggression of intact males. Our experience has been that males, both Bucks and Wethers, in general are friendlier than does. They appear to be more outgoing and curious as a rule however females can be equally as friendly. Wethers are also much cheaper to purchase. Two to three Wethers can usually be purchased for the price of one doe. They will learn their names and come when called.

Feeding a wether costs a fraction of what it would cost to feed a doe or buck that routinely goes into breeding cycles or remains on extended lactation. Good grass hay, goat specific mineral and minimal amounts of grain are necessary to keep a wether in good condition year round.

Doe (female):
If you are interested in a pet/companion that will also provide you with milk then the doe would be your best choice. If you only want a single doe for milk, a wether companion is always a great choice.

You may also decide to never breed your doe or if you do not want to milk but want to have kids, you can. The milk production will adjust to the demands of the kids.

Buck (intact male):
A buck is used for breeding. Period. Although they are quite amusing to watch and are extremely friendly, they do have quite a few habits that most would not enjoy to be around. They frequently pee on their face and you as well if you are in the vicinity. They have a pungent odor during half of the year that is hard to wash out of clothes or your skin.

If you are looking for a pet, a wether is a better choice. A lot of people are advised that they need a buck as a companion for their doe. The only reason anyone needs a buck is for breeding. If a buck is allowed to run with your does, your milk will be tainted by the buck aroma that will be in the air and on the doe you are milking. By doing this you will also not have any idea of when the kids might be born and you will not be around if delivery help is needed.

Do I want horns on my goats?

All of our goats are sold disbudded (without horns) for both their well-being and the people they are around. Goats in general are very friendly toward people however will learn to use their horns if they are handled by them. Dairy animals especially that are usually handled every day, likely twice per day at a minimum, can intentionally or accidentally gore their handlers. Although goats are usually people friendly they can be aggressive to each other. We disbud to prevent a goat from goring its herd mate or handler and as a result the goat being sold because they can no longer be comfortably handled or trusted. It is especially not worth the risk when children are around.

Horns can also be caught in fences, trees, brush, etc. resulting in strangulation or open for attack by predators. A goat with horns is still not able to defend themselves against a predator (mostly neighboring dogs). A dog can kill a goat with or without horns.

If you ever plan to show your goats, they will also be required to be disbudded.

Which breed is right for me?

This is a question that only you can answer. There are several breeds available and as long as you research each breed as well as the farms that raise them, you will not be disappointed.

How many goats do I need?

Goats are herd animals and therefore require the companionship of the same species. A minimum of two are required to keep them content however they like to form small groups within a bigger herd and their circles can change daily.

A single goat will let you know they are distressed and lonely. They will continuously call for you and try to escape your fencing to try and find a herd mate, goat or human.

How long do goats live?

Properly cared for goats can live a relatively long time. The average lifespan of a doe is 10-14 years although reports of does up to 20 years of age have been reported if they stopped breeding around 10 years of age. Most doe deaths are the result of problematic kidding. Wethers average between 12-16 years of age. Their longevity is considerably more than that of a buck due to not having the drive to breed therefore they rarely get stressed enough for long periods to reduce their health. Bucks average 8-10 years of age due primarily to going into a rut for half of each year. This takes a major toll on their health.

Why do you want to get goats

Please keep in mind that contrary to what you may have heard, goats are not lawn mowers and do not eat tin cans. Goats prefer shrubs and browse over lush green pasture and will not keep an open field grazed down. Sheep are grazers.

In my opinion, goats are more personable than sheep and make equally great companions as dogs that also provide you with a wonderful food. They will learn their names and come when called. Being out in the pasture with them or while milking can be a great daily stress reliever.

You will also not become rich by raising goats. At best you can hope to break even on the feed, medications and care which I am not even close to seeing yet. I raise them to provide my family with the most nutritious dairy that I can obtain and they make excellent pets.

Do you sell your goats for meat?

No. We do not sell our goats for meat. Does and Wethers make wonderful pets and companions. Bucks are sold for breeding only.

What do you do with your "extra" males?

All of our males not sold for breeding or retained within our own herd are wethered and sold as pets and companions. If our wethers do not sell, we simply keep them on our farm as pets. We have been able to place our wethers in pet homes.

How large of a fenced in area do I need?

This varies depending on how many goats you have and how much supplemental feed you are looking to provide. Of course the larger an area the better, and better yet is to have several smaller pastures to rotate your goats every couple of weeks to reduce the buildup of internal parasites.

Access to pasture/browse is ideal for most of the year. NEVER tie or chain your goat unless you are right beside them to prevent strangulation, open for attach from predators (dogs), or numerous other potential dangers.

Our goats are seperated by gender at all times with the does being rotated between 2 pastures that are each between 1/2 - 1 acres and the bucks/wethers are in roughly a 2 acre pasture.