How long do Nubian Goats live?
Nubian goats live 12–15 years with good care. Does reach breeding age at 7–10 months and are typically bred after their first year; gestation is about 150 days, with 1–4 kids per birth (twins and triplets common). A milking doe lactates for roughly 10 months after kidding if milked consistently. Their longevity makes a doe a decade-plus commitment with a daily milking schedule.
What do Nubian Goats need?
Nubians need good grass or legume hay (alfalfa for does in milk), browse time, and a free-choice loose goat mineral with copper — goats require copper that sheep minerals lack. Grain only for milkers in production or thin animals. Forbidden plants include azalea, rhododendron, oleander and wilted cherry — small amounts are fatal. Clean water, a salt block and routine hoof trimming (every 6–8 weeks) complete the base. Milking does need grain to sustain production.
Nubian Goat housing and setup
Build for Houdini: woven-wire or cattle-panel fencing at least 1.2 m high, taut, with hot-wire offsets if they test it. Provide a three-sided, draft-free shelter with dry bedding, good drainage (mud causes hoof disease) and a milking stand for routine work. Plan at least two goats — a single Nubian is a loud, lonely, stressed animal. Local zoning often classes goats as livestock with setback and number limits; verify before buying.
Common mistakes with Nubian Goats
Top errors: under-fencing (Nubians, like all goats, escape daily through weak spots); feeding sheep mineral (copper deficiency follows — goats need copper); overfeeding grain to wethers (urinary calculi block the urethra and kill); and keeping one goat (loneliness = constant noise and stress). The breed's loudness is also underestimated — neighbors who were not consulted will end the herd.
Beginner mistakes to avoid
- Under-fencing — Nubians test every fence; woven wire plus hot wire is the working standard.
- Sheep mineral for goats — Nubians need copper; sheep formula causes chronic deficiency.
- Grain for wethers — urinary calculi are fatal; roughage-based diets prevent it.
- A single goat — lonely Nubians bleat constantly; keep at least two, and warn neighbors about the noise.