An Urban Family Farm

Our does are part of our family. We spend time with them each day to better understand their individual personalities and needs, paying close attention to issues such as hygiene, diet, behavior and herd dynamics. By knowing them well in their "normal" or healthy states, it's easier for us to notice when things are out of the ordinary.

Caring for our girls in natural, sustainable ways is of the utmost importance to us. We start with a healthy diet that includes continuous, free-choice access to high-quality alfalfa hay, a variety of forage options, kelp, loose minerals, and fresh water. Additionally, each of them receives an herbal-protein boost daily of dried herbs, flowers and seeds. When our girls are in milk, they also receive protein-rich grain feed to support their milk production.

Goats are a naturally "wormy" species, meaning that they carry a normal worm load in their gut that must be regulated so that health problems don't arise. Diet and hygiene are the most important factors in maintaining that load at healthy levels. In addition to keeping our barn spic and span, we supplement our girls' diet with a weekly herbal dewormer to maintain good health and only use chemically-laden dewormers or antibiotics when absolutely necessary.