Customer Reviews

Raising Goats For Dummies

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As someone who has had a small goat herd for two years now (heading into my second kidding season), I can't recommend this book highly enough for both newbies and more experienced goatherds.

Prior to getting our first goats, my partner and I read probably every book on raising goats available in our local library. They all contained good information, but I wasn't completely satisfied with any one of them. This is the book I was looking for.

"Raising Goats for Dummies" is easy to read and (more importantly) easy to navigate. The formatting makes it easy to flip to the sections you need or to locate important tips in a hurry. The author has covered every aspect of basic goat husbandry for the urban and rural dweller alike, from the very beginning aspects of selecting and purchasing goats, preparing for the new arrivals and basic routine feeding and care, to more specialized information on breeding and kidding, milking, raising goats for fiber or meat, and common health issues to look out for.

Though I wish we would've had this book when we started our goat adventure, it's still a valuable part our farm's reference library. Earlier today, for example, I reviewed the sections on "Getting Ready for Kidding," "Grasping the Basics of Kidding," and "Taking Care of Mother and Kids after Kidding," in preparation for our doe's upcoming birth. I can see myself referring to this book often over time, as our goats present us with new situations.

We also own the author's other book, "Goat Health Care"--the two books complement each other well, and are our first go-to books when we have any questions or concerns about our goats.

Teri Myers
Braided Bower Farm

I've raised dairy goats for years, and read at least 20 books on the subject, but every single chapter of this book held useful information I hadn't encountered before, in addition to thoroughly covering all the basic information on housing, feeding, and health care that one needs to get started.

Before you jump into goat keeping, you should read /every/ book about goats and livestock that you can get your hands on - and spend time with experienced goat owners - but Raising Goats For Dummies is as close as you can get to "everything you wanted to know about goats" in one volume

This is an excellent book! Full of information not found in other books of the same subject. I recently decided to purchase a goat for weed control and blackberry bushes that have overtaken my property. After reading this book I realized I had no idea about what to do with a goat. How to pick one, take it home, or shelter it. I guess it wasn't a good idea to pick one up in my car and let it sleep with me and my other animals. The author's choice of icons make it easier to pay attention to important points and the recipes look delicious. The Part of Ten's is very informative and the way the book is organized makes it easier to look up information you need. Overall this book is a great addition for DUMMIES.

This book was very in depth and informative. Such that, I've decided NOT to raise any goats. Thank goodness for the information in this book, or I would have purchased a few goats for the wrong reasons.

As someone that grew up having farm animals, I recently began to miss how relaxing they can be. I know that I don't have time to ride horses anymore and why get a giant cow as just a lawn ornament? Then, it hit me... how about goats??? Perfect. But, wait. I don't know anything about goats. AAAAH, but I do now. Every single question that I had about raising and owning goats was answered by this book. There was not a single topic that was not covered, from nutrition to vaccinations... plans for hay racks to the fact that my rose bushes are like goat-candy. I would recommend this book to anyone that is considering goats as pets or as a business.

This book is BRILLIANT. It is easy to use, the author writes in very 'lay-person' terms, whilst educating and informing at the same time. The style of the book is set up so that each chapter can be flicked to if you just want to check a particular point or make reference quickly to something specific. I have only had it a few days and I have already been through it several times. I have learnt a lot of 'how tos' which I was having trouble finding in other books and publications I've read. This is truly a bible for those who are first time goat owners, but it will also come in handy for any experienced goat owner. The diagrams are simple and quite charming and the author's writing style is friendly and approachable and not at all condescending as some other 'how to' style books can be. This book is a gem and a must have - if you are a goat owner, get it on your bookshelf, you will use it all the time and be glad you have it. I give it a big thumbs up.

I can not say enough good things about this book! I have learned a great deal and I am only 1/2 way through the book. If you are planning on getting goats or you have goats already this would be a great resource.

Together with Allen's various writings on goats and the husbandry, Raising Goats for Dummies completes your library to be in business, to keep goats as pets or to just know everything about them.

We have had fainting goats for years and this is a excellent guide for new or experienced owners! Whenever we have a problem with our herd, we go to this ook to resolve it. A MUST Buy!!! Get it now!

-Brooke- booklover

It ok, it answered some questions but left many out, including a dummy question - how to handle goats in the winter months. Buy it used.