Description
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201 is the second book in a series of four on the breed and it describes the decisions to consider when choosing your first goats, how to select good goats, how to prepare for them, and the basics on how to care for your first Nigerian Dwarf goats. It also includes appendices with a downloadable goat health record form, downloadable shopping lists, and a glossary of common goat definitions.
Nigerian Dwarf goats are increasingly popular because they’re small, low maintenance, adorable, useful, and incredibly productive for their size. They don’t require pastures, are easily handled and housed, and can provide milk, meat, companionship, weed control, and fertilizer.
Goat’s milk is preferred over cow’s milk in most of the world, and folks here are starting to catch on in a big way. There’s a growing population segment that desires greater control over the food they eat, and they find that Nigerian Dwarf goats help them accomplish that goal. And since Nigerian Dwarves are about the size of a medium to large dog, they’re an easy homestead addition — no matter if the homestead is large, small, rural, suburban, or urban.
But, there hasn’t been much written on the specifics of how to get started and succeed with these smaller dairy goats. So, this series of books on Nigerian Dwarf goats is intended to help goat owners at various stages of knowledge find reliable answers to their questions. The information is presented in several smaller books so that you can purchase only the portion applicable to your needs.
In this second book you’ll learn:
• How to find and choose the best goats (and right number) for your individual situation
• How to prepare for housing and feeding them as well as the supplies you’ll need
• What’s needed for routine daily care and how to do it
• What’s needed for basic goat health care and how to care for them
Other books in the series include:
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 101: Background & Basics
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 301: Bucks, Breeding & Kidding
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 401: Herd Credentials & Income Sources
Deena –
Detailed and thorough!
Easy to read and refer back to. Great reference for beginners.
Mark W. –
This was excellent information for us as we chose to have goats and especially during the preparation of their arrival. I even printed out 2/3rds of it to be sure I always have it. We can’t wait for version 301!
Michelle McKinney –
We are preparing for miniature goats and the information in this book has proved indispensable. Thank you Lisa
B Wulff –
I found this book to be full of useful and interesting information. It will be useful for all individuals that getting started in raising of goats especially theNigerian Dwarf goat. It has information on how to set up housing for goats, appraising , pitfalls, diseases , and loads of reference material in the appendix even downloadable forms , other online resources, and a good appendix of goat terminology. I highly recommend this book.
Mitch Bortner –
As a novice looking into raising goats, I was having difficulty finding information about the Nigerian Dwarf breed of goats. Fortunately, this concise book has been an indispensable resource with the primary goal of raising healthy happy goats. From setting up the barn, to finding healthy does, this book gave me the confidence to enjoy these animals and the rewards of raising a healthy herd.
Margie B –
This book included lots of great information on Nigerian Dwarf Goats. I came away very informed and confident that the author knew what she was talking about. I would recommend it to anyone getting into the goat business.
CHUBB E ACRES FARM –
I started raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats 4 years ago and this is hands down the best handbook for Nigerian Dwarf goat care. As a veterinarian it is hard to find a book that not only gives detailed information but also accurate advice on nutrition, husbandry and health care. Lesa also includes great advice or “learning moments” throughout the book that everyone can learn from. This is the only book that I will be recommending for all of my future customers to prepare for bringing home their new goats.
Happy Customer –
I wish I’d have had this book several years ago. It would have prevented situations and lessons learned the hard way.
Just like its predecessor, it’s well-structured, clear and concise.
I’m looking forward to the volumes yet to come!
Homestead Lady –
Maybe it’s the author’s engineering background but I love how organized and to the point this book is and how quickly it gets me the information I need. There’s enough personal experience and prose to make it interesting and engaging to read, without a lot of useless fluff that gets in the way when I need to figure out what’s going on with my Niggies.
Plus, even though I’ve kept goats for years, I had NO idea you could machine milk a Niggie. What?! I guess you learn something new every day and I’m glad to have Ms. Wilke’s book to help me do just that. Great work, as per her usual.
MITTEN –
This book is a MUST HAVE kind of book! You’ll find extremely important details to consider when buying Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Housing Considerations, Feeding & Dietary Needs, their Daily Care, Health Care considerations, about possible Diseases, Treatments and more from a successful Breeder willing to share their knowledge! As a current owner and breeder of Nigerian Dwarf Goats, this book will be one that I will highly recommend to anyone purchasing a Nigerian Dwarf, thinking of purchasing a Nigerian Dwarf and even those who already own Nigerian Dwarfs. This book is well written, provides an enormous amount of information specific to successfully raising and keeping Nigerian Dwarf Goats written by a person that actually has successfully bred, shown, milked and raised registered Nigerian Dwarf Goats – The information contained within will provide you the roadmap to successfully raise and keep these wonderful, sweet creatures, called Nigerian Dwarf Goats.
Janet Garman –
Lesa Wilke serves up another excellent guide to goat ownership. Geared towards the Nigerian Dwarf breed that she raises, the book is actually a great guide to owning goats of any breed. Raising goats can be frustrating if you are acquiring goats for the first time. Grab a copy of Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201 and learn the care required. From bottle raising to hoof trimming, making decisions about neutering, breeding, dehorning, the best feed, and health concerns, this e-book has all the subjects needed to get you started. Let Lesa Wilke guide you past the pitfalls. I will be recommending this book to all potential goat owners, regardless of breed.
Ryan –
I read 101 first and was totally hooked on getting goats. After setting up our barn and acquiring a few goats I had a lot more questions and this book was just what I needed to fill in the gaps. It is easy to follow and a great reference to keep on hand. What might not apply the first time you read it will certainly come up in the near future. The author has organized all the important information in a way that is not overwhelming!
Happpy Customer –
Loved this book! Very well written, informative and a must have for those of us who have goats or dream of getting goats. Everything you need to know is laid out and straight forward information you need to be a successful goat owner! I’ve never had a book that was so full on information. Nothing left out! It is a great followup to the first book in the series Nigerian Goats 101.
Emily McCafferty –
My husband and I had entertained getting goats for our growing homestead, but kept getting conflicting information from people we know about how to care for them and what they really require. I got this book to bridge that knowledge gap and it did not disappoint! This book is practically a college course about goat care. It’s very well informed and laid out in a clear way. It doesn’t dumb things down but it makes everything about these goats super easy to understand for a newcomer. I can see this book being THE go-to reference for us in caring for Nigerian Dwarf goats.
Jo Rellime –
I kid you not! If you have or want goats, you need this book!
This book is written for anyone with an interest in goats (not just Nigerian Dwarfs!) and maybe thinking of getting them or already has them and sometimes feels lost & frustrated! The first two books in the series (I read both) are invaluable and will quickly become any goat keepers FIRST reference (even before calling the vet!)! It is clear, easy to understand (even when things got a little technical), had meaningful definitions and cross-references, and is well organized. As an editor (by profession), I can be picky about the organization but this was a great way to organize a LOT of info and keep simple too! Loved it!
Lisa Lombardo –
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201 is a great introduction to selecting and keeping healthy goats!
I recently read Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: Getting Started: How to Choose, Prepare & Care for Your First Goats and found it to be packed with helpful information!
People often think that keeping goats is easy and they can be kept under any conditions. This is a completely false notion and is the reason that many pet goats and caprine livestock become sick or die. It is so important to be aware of the proper housing, care, feed, pasture, and medical attention needed by goats before you get started.
That’s where this book comes in! Lesa Wilke goes into details about providing the proper care and nutrition for your goats. Although this book is written from the perspective of keep Dwarf Nigerian goats, it is a great resource for anyone considering goats of any size or breed. There are details specific to the dwarf breed that will help anyone interested in keeping the smaller breeds as pets or dairy animals…including specifics such as the proper size copper bolus to administer.
The section on plants that are toxic to goats is an important aspect that prospective goats keepers should attend to before turning their goats out on pasture.
I am hoping to keep goats again in the future and I’m glad to have this book as a handy guide for providing the proper care for them!
Dianne Hadorn –
Loved this book! Very well written, informative and a must-have for those of us who have goats or dream of getting goats. Everything you need to know is laid out and straight forward information you need to be a successful goat owner! I’ve never had a book that was so full of information. Nothing left out! It is a great follow-upDiane to the first book in the series Nigerian Goats 101. Can’t wait for #3 to come out!! I would so recommend this book to anyone that has or is interested in raising goats.
Ann Marie Lewellyn –
Every goat owner and enthusiast needs this book!
This is a well-written book, filled with detailed information and expert advice on every single page! I especially love the “lessons learned” sections where Lesa shares her wins as well as losses during her experiences in raising Nigerian Dwarf Goats. There is a lot to be learned here for everyone, from the wanna be goat owner to the pro! A definite must-read!
Julie Murphree –
Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201: – Getting Started is one of the best books on livestock I have read. Lesa Wilke presented the information in a thorough and detailed way, yet it is still easy to understand. As a livestock owner, I can nod my head at her ‘Lessons Learned’ sections, and appreciate how she outlined everything from why you want goats, housing and step-by-step care, to parasite controls and downloadable forms and charts. For anyone considering buying goats, this is the best series to help you understand Nigerian Dwarf goats. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series!
dawn sarver –
good information – Well thought out, easy to read style. Good solid information, really enjoyed learning more about Nigerian dwarf goats. Looking forward to more installments.
Satisfied Customer –
Everyday knowledge in a user-friendly way –
This book is a quick read packed with useful, up to date information every Nigerian Dwarf goat owner should be aware of. Every goat for that matter. It’s a resource I use time and time again.
B. Hammack –
Very informative book, a must-read for anyone looking to raise goats. More to think about than just buying a goat blindly.
Doris –
So happy when “Nigerian Dwarf Goats 201” arrived -I may never have a goat, but if I change my mind I will approach the new adventure with Lesa’s 101 and 201 with me throughout the process. Her style is easy to read and understand and she answers the questions I didn’t know you should ask! Thank you Lesa…301 next?