Category: backyarding with kids and every day house projects

Small Ears, Big Personality, if you’ve ever spotted a goat with almost no ears, chances are you’ve met a LaMancha goat. 

Don’t let their tiny ears fool you—what they lack in ear length. They more than make up for in charm, milk, and personality!         

 Where Did These Earless Cuties Come From? LaManchas might look like they belong in a cartoon, but they’re a real American breed.       

 Officially recognized in the 1950s, their roots trace back to goats from Spain. Today, they’re one of the most popular dairy goats in the U.S.

Those famous “earless” ears?   They are often called  Gopher ears or Elf ears, but they are  teeny nubs, less than an inch long.  No matter what they are called, they hear perfectly fine. They just look like they’re  always ready for a close-up.

                            

Milk That’s Oh-So-Creamy LaMancha milk is rich, smooth, and high in butterfat. perfect for cheese, yogurt, or even homemade soap.     

Personalities can be as sweet as their milk. They can be friendly, curious, and downright lovable, LaManchas are known to follow their humans around like puppies, but just remember that they are also just like us they do all have different personalities, I have two that don’t follow me around just keep working with them.                 

Built for Any Homestead These goats are hardy and adapt well to different climates. Whether you’re on a small hobby farm or a bigger homestead, they fit right in.  

                           

Caring for Your LaManchas.  

* Shelter: Dry, draft-free housing keeps them happy.  

 • Food: Good hay, clean water, and grain! I use grain as an occasional treat or on the milking stand while milking or doing hooves.

  • Routine Care: Regular hoof trims, parasite checks, and if you do vaccinations for your herd.       

 * Don’t forget the Ears! Those adorable little ears need just a bit of extra  TLC.

In summer: Watch for sunburn is what I’ve been told but have never had this issue. If you choose to use a sunblock on them, do your research to find a safe one for goats. When using the sunblock, I would put a little on a q- tip and dab it on.      

Cleaning the ears : Take a cotton ball or a q – tip, dip it in warm water, you dont want it dripping wet, just moist. Then, gently wipe the outside of the ear, and you will not be going into the ear canal. Keep an eye out for scratches or cuts since the ears don’t have much.

Play time! Make sure to have toys for them to jump and play on and remember a goat needs a friend. One goat will be a depressed goat.

The Bottom Line LaMancha goats may have the smallest ears in the barnyard, but they’ve got some of the biggest personalities you’ll ever meet. Between their sweet nature, creamy milk, and unique looks, it’s no wonder they’ve become a homesteader favorite. So if you’re looking for a goat that will give you both milk and laughter, the LaMancha just might be your perfect match.

Here is a photo of our beautiful Ophelia. She was born in May.  So she still has a lot of growing to do.

Thank you for reading!  Please share my blog 😊

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If you’ve ever dreamed of adding goats to your homestead, chances are you’ve come across the beautiful and beloved Nubian goat.

With their long, floppy ears, roman noses, and friendly personalities, Nubians are not just practical homestead animals—they’re downright charming companions.

A Little History Nubian goats originally came from Africa and the Middle East. They were later crossbred in England with British dairy goats, which is why they’re often called Anglo-Nubians. This mix created a hardy breed known for adapting well to hot climates while still being productive in cooler regions.

What Makes Nubians Special?  • Milk Production: Nubians are dairy goats, and their milk is prized for its high butterfat content (usually 4–5%). That means their milk is creamier than many other breeds, perfect for making cheese, yogurt, and even homemade soaps.

• Personality: I love my Nubians. Yes, they can be affectionate and friendly, but just like people, they all have different personalities. 

I know many like to only dam raise, I like to hybrid meaning that once a day I offer a bottle to them so that way they become even more friendlier and learn to trust me sooner.

• Appearance: Their long, pendulous ears and roman noses make them stand out. They also come in a variety of colors and patterns, from solid shades to spotted coats.

• Size: Nubians are considered a large breed of goat. Mature does weigh around 135–175 pounds, while bucks can tip the scales at 175–250 pounds.

• Milk Quality – If you love rich milk for cheese-making, Nubians are ideal.

Friendly Temperament – They tend to bond closely with their humans, making chores more enjoyable.

• Heat Tolerance Their heritage makes them well-suited for warmer climates.

• Versatility – Some homesteaders even raise them for meat, though most keep them for dairy.

Things to Keep in Mind Nubians can be a bit loud, which is something to consider if you have close neighbors.

• Because they’re larger goats, they may need sturdier fencing.

• They’re social animals, so they’ll be happiest when kept with other goats. ( Remember, one goat is a sad goat )

Final Thoughts Nubian goats are a wonderful addition to many homesteads. They offer rich, creamy milk, sweet personalities, and endless entertainment with their playful nature.

Whether you’re looking to expand your dairy production or just want a friendly goat to brighten your days, Nubians are a breed worth considering.

Here is a photo of our sweet girl Ozzy.

✨Nigerian Dwarf goats are one of the most popular goat breeds for homesteads and small farms – and it’s easy to see why!                                         

They are adorable, fun-sized, and full of personality. Plus, their milk is creamy, sweet, and higher in butterfat than most other dairy goats. But before you bring these little charmers home, let’s talk about how to care for them properly.          

🏡 Housing & Shelter Even though Nigerian Dwarfs are small, they still need a safe and comfortable place to live.                                                                    • Shelter: Provide a dry, draft-free space with good ventilation. A three-sided goat shed works well in mild climates, but in colder areas, a fully enclosed barn or goat house is best. 

• Space: Plan for at least 20 sq. ft. of indoor space per goat, plus plenty of outdoor room to roam.           

• Bedding: Straw or pine shavings make cozy bedding. Just remember to keep it clean and dry.          

 🚧 Fencing If you’ve heard goats are escape artists… it’s true. Nigerian Dwarfs may be small, but they’re clever!             

• Use strong fencing (woven wire or cattle panels work, but make sure they can’t get through the cattle panels. I have put up extra fencing wire on mine because I have one doe that can fit through)

Make sure it’s at least 4 feet tall, they say. If you can make that work, then awesome, but I have started going with 6 ft. • Check often for weak spots they will find it!         

 🥕 Feeding Nigerian Dwarfs thrive on a good diet.                   • Hay: A constant supply of good-quality hay should be the main part of their diet. ( I used to feed a mix of grass hay. Now I only do alfalfa hay )

• Grain: Only give in moderation. We only give it to the does that are in milk. Otherwise, they get it every 4 weeks when hooves are being done.                       

                                                         • Minerals: Keep a goat mineral block or loose minerals available at all times. (most prefer loose minerals)               

• Water: Fresh, clean water!  No matter what you use for keeping their water in. It is going to get dirty. Give those buckets or troughs a good scrubbing every now and then.

🩺 Health & Grooming Taking care of their health is key to happy, long-living goats.                                                           • Hoof trimming: Every 4–6 weeks, keep their hooves from overgrowing.                                          

• Vaccinations / deworming       Do your research if you decide this way for your livestock.  Remember if using a vet check and make sure they know about goats.

For my herd, I use holistic care. Please do your research on both ways to find out which way is best for you. 

I recommend the book    Holistic Goat Care: A Comprehensive Guide…
By Gianaclis Caldwell

 • Grooming: Their short coats don’t need much, but a quick brush helps keep them clean.  we do a brushing when they are getting milked or hooves done.

  Enrichment & Personality are playful, curious, and social.                                               • Goats are herd animals. No matter what breed you have, you need more than one! (one goat is a lonely goat!)

• Provide climbing structures like stumps, rocks, or wooden platforms. They will give you lots of laughs as you watch them play.     

• Spend time with them-they can be very affectionate, but just like humans, they have their own personalities too.     Yes! They can even learn tricks, but remember that takes time and patience and snacks!(treats)  

 Why They’re Worth It Caring for Nigerian Dwarfs takes some effort, but the reward is huge. They’ll give you milk, laughter, and endless entertainment with their silliness. 

Plus, their gentle, family-friendly nature makes them a favorite for both kids and adults. If you’re looking for a goat that’s easy to manage, full of love, and perfect for small homesteads, the Nigerian Dwarf might just be the goat of your dreams.                                 

Here is a photo of Frank. The top photo is him at year and 5 months old. The bottom photo is him at 4 weeks old.       

                                                                                                                                 

We have a few new doelings on our homestead. 

We got Eleanor first. She is a nubian. 

Eleanor is 10 weeks old. A little shy, she was not a bottle baby. She is getting better about not running away when we enter the pen. She is a beautiful doeling.  I am looking forward to breeding her with Frank.

Our next new little doeling is Lucy!

Lucy is a mini nubian, 9 weeks old. She reminds me of a deer. She is very sweet and loves to be held. She is a bottle baby.

Our next little doeling is  Persephone!

  Persephone is 3 weeks old, she is a  mini LaMancha! She is very sweet. She is a bottle baby. I was worried because the other person who had her was having trouble getting her to take a bottle, but she has  been taking it very well for myself.

I am thinking about breeding her with Frank as well.

Adding the nubians and the lamancha will help with my milking production. 

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