Welcome to Carraig Daire Ranch. We are located in the foothills of Northern California, about an hour's drive from Sacramento. Carraig Daire raises Boer meat goats and guinea fowl. For those of you who are unfamiliar with those critters, here is some basic information.

Boer goats are a relatively new breed, first bred in South Africa. The first Boer breed registry was started in 1959. The American Boer Goat Association was begun in 1993. Boers are very hardy, put on weight easily, require minimal upkeep, and have great dispositions.

If you are unfamiliar with goat meat, we encourage you to try it. Boer goat meat is very mild flavored, and has less fat than chicken. It is a terrific source of high quality protein. Goat meat from any breed can be substituted for lamb in many dishes, and the results are fantastic. Boer goat meat is also a great substitute for lean pork in many stir-frys or other fare.

Guineas are a fascinating breed to raise. They are native to Africa, and can be quite peculiar. They feed predominately on insects, but we supplement ours with high protein commercial feed. They are absolutely the best thing that has ever happened to our garden. They eat a prodigious number of flies, ticks, and even tomato horn worms. Too bad they can't handle gophers. Guineas are worth their weight in gold just for the fly suppression they do on the ranch.

Guineas are highly prized in classic French cuisine. They are nearly the size of a chicken, but their meat is almost indistinguishable from quality pheasant. It works very well in any recipe intended for an upland game bird. In fact, if you have ordered pheasant in a posh restaurant, it is very possible that you were served commercially raised guinea fowl.

Guinea fowl are not easy to raise. They tend to be prolific layers and terrible parents. They are also very clever at concealing their nests. They will almost always lay in a hidden nest somewhere within thick cover. We watch our laying hens assiduously, and pull their eggs when they have accumulated enough to incubate. Once we have spotted and pulled a hen's nest, she probably will not lay there again, so it all starts over again.

If you have any questions about raising or buying guineas or goats, please fill out the form on the right. We usually have guinea keets (chicks) from May through October. They ship very well with proper care in their packaging. We are having no problem selling our goats, but if you are interested in breeding stock rather than table fare, send us a message using the same form.