Get Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Self-Sufficiency, Sustainable Farm, Homesteading, Off-Grid, Livestock cover art

Get Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Self-Sufficiency, Sustainable Farm, Homesteading, Off-Grid, Livestock

Get Goat Wise | Meat Goats, Dairy Goats, Self-Sufficiency, Sustainable Farm, Homesteading, Off-Grid, Livestock

By: Millie Bradshaw - Animal Scientist Rancher Homesteader
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** TOP 2.5% GLOBALLY RANKED PODCAST **

Are you concerned about the current food supply? Do you want to be more self-sufficient? Are you longing to raise goats and other animals for food but don’t know where to start? Do you wish you had a mentor to walk you through raising livestock?

I’m so glad you’re here!

In this podcast you’ll learn all about raising goats and other livestock, sustainable management systems that will keep you and your animals happy and healthy, and strategies to get self-sufficient by raising your own livestock for food.

Hi, I’m Millie. Animal Scientist, cattle girl turned goat rancher, co-owner of Dry Creek Livestock, and simple living enthusiast. Fifteen years ago, I began having severe joint pain that limited my mobility and affected every aspect of my life. With no answers from the medical community, I got to work researching and found that chemicals in our food supply were causing my problems. I removed them from my diet, and gradually my health and mobility were restored. Since then, I’ve been on a mission to raise all of our own meat, eggs, and dairy. I’ve put three decades of experience and a Master’s Degree in Animal Science together to teach you how to confidently raise livestock and give them the best life possible while fulfilling their ultimate purpose of nourishing your family, and I’m ready to share it with you!

If you’re ready to take control of your food supply, raise livestock with confidence, and provide your family with clean, healthy food, you’re in the right place!

Kick off your muck boots, pour a cup of coffee, and let’s talk livestock.

Email us: millie@drycreekpastures.com

Get premium meat fresh from the ranch: drycreekheritagemeats.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
Episodes
  • 88 | Regenerative Ranching Is a Process, Not a Destination: How We Actually Make Decisions

    88 | Regenerative Ranching Is a Process, Not a Destination: How We Actually Make Decisions
    Dec 15 2025
    Regenerative agriculture can feel like a buzzword, a badge, or a list of practices you’re supposed to follow. But in real life, and especially in a challenging climate, regeneration is a process of learning, comparing ideas against your own environment, testing small changes, observing what your land and animals are telling you, and adjusting as you go. In this episode, I’m sharing the decision-making loop we use on our ranch with both goats and cattle, and why I see multi-species grazing as a long-term benefit—even though it adds complexity in the beginning. I also walk through our big-picture goal of reducing supplemental hay by extending the grazing season, and the real constraints we have to work within, like limited moisture, fragile pasture, frozen ground, predators, and wildlife pressure. You’ll hear how we’re approaching water infiltration and soil building in a dry climate, why we’re testing straw bales to slow runoff first, and what we’ve already observed from years of intensive rotational grazing, chicken tractors, and summer bale grazing. I also explain why certain popular practices don’t translate well to goat management in our conditions—and how we adapt without abandoning the principles. In This Episode, I Cover: Why regenerative agriculture is a process, not a destinationThe decision-making loop: Learn → Compare Context → Clarify Goals → Test → Observe → Adjust → RepeatHow to learn from other producers without copy-pasting their practicesShifting from “this won’t work in my climate” to “how do these principles apply here?”Why nature is the best teacher and how to use observation as your guideOur big-picture goal: reducing hay by extending spring and fall grazingThe resource bottleneck in dry country: water infiltration and water-holding capacityWhy soil cover and organic matter are critical in moisture-limited environmentsUsing straw bales to slow runoff as a low-risk way to test water flow pathsWhat we’ve observed after 5 years of intensive rotational grazingThe forage improvements we’ve seen from chicken tractors and summer bale grazingWhy winter bale grazing is risky/not feasible for us right now (electric netting in frozen ground, elk pressure)A winter feeding strategy that works within predator pressure and management realityA soil-building feeding approach we’re preparing to test (and why snow cover matters)Why we’re not buying a no-till drill right now—and what we want in place firstWhy starting with annuals can make sense before investing in expensive perennial seed Key Takeaways: Regenerative practices aren’t universal—principles transfer, but application must fit your climate and animals.Nature is the best teacher: observation turns theory into real management decisions.Start with clear goals and real constraints, then break big objectives into small, testable steps.Moisture-limited land requires prioritizing water infiltration, water-holding capacity, and soil cover.Testing small and reversible ideas (like straw bales) can prevent expensive mistakes.Multi-species grazing is a long-term benefit, but it adds complexity—especially in the beginning.“Not yet” is a valid answer on tools and investments; timing matters.Progress comes from repeated cycles of learning, testing, observing, and adjusting—not from perfection. Mentions: Gabe Brown — Dirt to Soil Related Episodes: 84 | The Messy Middle of Regenerative Ranching: Key Insights from “A Bold Return to Giving a Damn” by Will Harris78 | Winter Grazing: Low Cost, Regenerative Strategies for Goats and Other Livestock53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset All the Best, Millie Resources & Links: Leave a review on Apple Podcasts + grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chartGet Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.comJoin my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insiderJoin the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/communityEmail me:millie@drycreekpastures.comSee ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/ Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • 87 | Coccidia in Goats: Understanding Coccidiosis, Symptoms, and Practical Prevention That Works

    87 | Coccidia in Goats: Understanding Coccidiosis, Symptoms, and Practical Prevention That Works
    Dec 8 2025

    Coccidiosis is one of the most common kid-health problems goat owners face, and it’s one of the most misunderstood. Some herds battle it every year. Others hardly see it. In this episode, I’m breaking down what coccidia actually is, how it functions inside the gut, which strains are the most dangerous, and why stress and environment play such a big role in outbreaks.

    I’m also sharing the major shifts we made in genetics, kidding season, and management that completely changed our coccidia situation. After years of losing show goats to coccidiosis, we haven’t had a single case in our main herd in three years—and I’ll walk you through exactly why.

    And I’ll touch on some natural, tannin-based supplements that some producers use to support gut health in herds that battle chronic coccidiosis pressure. We’re incorporating one into our mineral mix right now, mainly for our show-goat breeders, and I’ll share updates as we see results.

    Finally, if you think a kid might be dealing with coccidiosis, I explain why getting your vet involved quickly makes all the difference.

    In This Episode, I Cover:
    • What coccidia is and how it functions in the intestinal lining
    • How infection spreads and why kids are most vulnerable
    • The strains of coccidia that cause the most damage
    • The genetic component: why some goats struggle more than others
    • How stress, moisture, overcrowding, and management influence outbreaks
    • Our real-world experience with coccidiosis in show goats
    • How shifting genetics and kidding season broke our coccidia cycle
    • Why chickens donot give goats coccidia
    • Natural tannin-based supplements some producers use for gut support
    • When it’s time to call your vet and why timing matters
    Key Takeaways:
    • Coccidia are microscopic protozoa that damage the gut by destroying intestinal cells.
    • The most pathogenic strains includeEimeria ninakohlyakimovae, arloingi, and
    • Stress + moisture + high oocyst load = ideal conditions for coccidiosis.
    • Genetics and kidding-season timing have a huge impact on resilience.
    • Chickens cannot give goats coccidia—the strains are species specific.
    • Tannin-based supplements may support gut health in high-pressure herds.
    • Bottle kids remain more vulnerable due to stress and barn exposure.
    • Good management prevents most cases—but if you suspect coccidiosis, contacting your vet early is critical.
    Mentions:
    • 86 | Can Goats and Chickens Live Together? What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Do It Right
    Related Episodes:
    • 82 | Internal Parasites in Goats: Monitoring, Prevention, and Treatment for Barber Pole and Other Worms
    • 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep
    • 08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead/ How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell

    All the Best, Millie

    Resources & Links:
    • Leave a review on Apple Podcasts+ grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
    • Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
    • Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
    • Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
    • Email me:millie@drycreekpastures.com
    • See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

    Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
    Show More Show Less
    16 mins
  • 86 | Can Goats and Chickens Live Together? What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Do It Right

    86 | Can Goats and Chickens Live Together? What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Do It Right
    Dec 1 2025

    This week on the ranch, we’ve got our young hens working half the barn, scratching through the bedding and cleaning up after the goats. They’re doing what chickens do best—turning packed areas into loose, manageable bedding. Watching them work reminded me how often I get asked whether goats and chickens can safely live together, so that’s what we’re diving into today.

    In this episode, I’m breaking down the real benefits of keeping goats and chickens together, the legitimate risks you need to manage, and the simple guidelines that make mixed housing safe. I’m also sharing what the newest research says about coccidia—specifically whether chickens can give it to goats—and how to decide if this setup is right for your farm or homestead.

    At the end of the episode, I’ll give you a quick preview of next week’s topic where we’re going deep into coccidia: what it is, how it works, why some strains are more dangerous, and the management shifts that helped us break the cycle of coccidiosis in our own herd.

    In This Episode, I Cover:

    • Why goats and chickens can safely share space
    • How chickens help disrupt goat parasite cycles
    • The barn-cleanup advantage of having chickens around goats
    • The #1 rule of mixed housing: keep goats out of chicken feed
    • What modern research really says about coccidia and species-specific strains
    • When mixed housing becomes risky
    • How to set up a safe, low-stress environment for both species
    • When you should NOT mix species—especially if anyone is sick

    Key Takeaways:

    • Chickens do not give goats coccidiosis. The strains are species specific.
    • Goats getting into chicken feed is the biggest danger—and it’s completely preventable.
    • Dry bedding, enough space, and clean feeding areas make mixed housing much safer.
    • Some diseases can move between species, so never mix sick animals.
    • With the right setup, mixed species can simplify chores and support parasite management.

    Related Episodes:

    • 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals
    • 20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor
    • 21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset
    • 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter

    All the Best, Millie

    Resources & Links:

    • Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
    • Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
    • Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
    • Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
    • Email me: millie@drycreekpastures.com
    • See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

    Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.
    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
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