22 Essential things you need to know about raising goats
Oh, Goat!
Perhaps one of the most comical, frisky, feisty, and troublesome (but loveable!) farm animals has to be a goat.
They will drive you nuts, eat what they are not supposed to, try to escape through the smallest spaces, ruin your garden, or maybe even jump on your car… Yes, I’ve seen them do that before!
But, above all, they will definitely make you laugh and enrich your everyday life. Raising goats has been an absolute pleasure, and I simply adore ours!
If you are thinking of getting and raising goats, or already have some but need some advice, in this blog I’ll share 22 essential things we have learned about caring for goats.
Content:
popular pet goat breeds
When choosing to raise goats, you should consider which pet goat breeds to keep. To help you decide, consider your space, time, and resources available and what you want from your goats (companionship, milk, meat, etc.).
Some popular pet goat breeds include:
Pygmy Goats
Advantages:
Their small size makes them suitable for small spaces.
Friendly and sociable, good with children.
Easy to handle and care for.
Disadvantages:
Can be escape artists, requiring secure fencing.
Prone to obesity if overfed.
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Advantages:
Small and easy to manage.
High milk production relative to their size, with rich, high-butterfat milk.
Friendly and good-natured.
Disadvantages:
Require regular hoof trimming and parasite control.
Can be noisy, especially when in heat or hungry.
Miniature Silky Fainting Goats
Advantages:
Unique "fainting" trait, which is harmless and can be entertaining.
Beautiful long, silky coat.
Gentle and good-natured.
Disadvantages:
Require regular grooming due to their long coat.
Need secure fencing as they can be easily startled and may "faint" frequently.
Kinder Goats
Advantages:
Dual-purpose breed for both milk and meat.
Small to medium size, making them easier to handle.
High milk production with good butterfat content.
Disadvantages:
May require more space and feed than smaller breeds.
Regular hoof trimming and parasite control needed.
LaMancha Goats
Advantages:
Excellent milk producers with a calm temperament.
Unique ear shape (very short or "gopher" ears).
Hardy and adaptable to various climates.
Disadvantages:
Larger size that requires more space and feed.
Need regular hoof trimming and parasite control.
Boer Goats
Advantages:
Primarily bred for meat, but can be kept as pets.
Hardy and resistant to diseases.
Easy to handle and generally docile.
Disadvantages:
Larger size means they require more space and feed.
Not as high milk producers as dairy breeds.
We currently have nine goats on the farm:
Pygmy Goats:
Dahlia
Ruby
Hazel
Rosie
1/2 Pygmy 1/2 Nigerian Dwarf Goats:
Violet
Poppy
Nigerian Dwarf Goats
Ricardo
Santiago
1/2 Pygmy 1/2 Borer
Daisy
Although many raise goats for their milk, meat, or breeding, our babies are just for fun. Their adventurous, curious, and sociable personalities ensure endless laughs and love. Their "pet me" behavior and doglike attitudes make them the perfect pets! They also help us clean up our weeds and wooded areas around the farm.
22 Things to know when Raising Goats
Goats are cute, I know! However, some basic care principles must still be followed when raising goats to ensure their health and happiness and prevent future problems.
Caring for goats is not difficult, but being prepared and knowing what to expect will make it much more enjoyable and manageable. Your reason for keeping goats may affect how you care for them, but here are a few basics to get you started.
goat HEALTH AND WELLNESS
1. Goats are prone to parasites
Goats can struggle with parasites, especially worms in their stomachs, which can cause anemia if not treated soon enough. Deworm regularly, at least every six months, and ask your local vet for advice and dewormer suggestions.
Chemical dewormers can become resistant over time, so you might want to try herbal dewormers and methods. HERE is an article on deworming naturally.
Remember to treat external parasites such as lice and mites as well. You can treat it with topicals, injectable medication, or natural remedies like my DIY mite spray. If you rotate pastures and keep housing areas clean, this also helps in keeping parasites down.
2. Vaccinations
All goats need to get vaccinated against the 5 clostridial diseases. These include Enterotoxaemia (Pulpy Kidney), Tetanus, Blackleg, Malignant Oedema (Gas Gangrene), and black disease.
Also, consider vaccinating your goats against coccidia, a parasite almost all goats have. When goats are stressed or exposed to sudden weather changes, coccidia levels can rise to dangerous levels.
Talk to your vet and get advice as to what is best. I also have not done this at times, so decide with your vet what is best for your animal.
3. Trimming their hooves
It is essential to trim your goat's hooves as their hooves are just like human nails that continually grow. Overgrown hooves can cause lameness, infection, and injury to your animal. It can also increase the risk of deviations in bone structure as your goat matures.
Trim their hooves, preferably every 2-3 months, to ensure they have healthy hooves and can walk properly. You can do it yourself by following THIS guideline or get your local vet to help.
Trimming might be needed less often if your goats roam on very rocky terrain and are quite active. We live in a very rocky space so our goats hooves do not require that much trimming at all!
4. Goats are herd animals
Goats need other companions as they depend on each other for safety. They are pretty unhappy and lonely by themselves and get depressed when alone. Goats take comfort and a sense of safety in a friend. How sweet, right??
It is recommended to keep female and castrated male goats together and not intact males. They are often more aggressive and can cause trouble in the herd. If you are just starting out, I say 3 is a good number to begin with.
5. Kidney Stones
Wethers (goats that have been castrated) are prone to kidney stones because their urinary tract stops forming. This is caused mainly by feeding too much grain to bucks and wethers.
It's also commonly found in show wethers, when they are given large amounts of a high-concentrate feed and low doses of roughage or hay. You can prevent kidney stones by giving them loads of clean water and quality hay.
Be very careful in allowing your goats near your chicken feed. We keep our goats in similar areas with our chickens but we do not allow them to eat the chicken food. This can cause a big problem and can lead to the kidneys stones.
6. Probiotics
Consider adding some probiotics to your goats' water during stressful situations, weather changes, or when they are on antibiotics.
7. A healthy body temperature
A goat's average temperature should be 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Check their temperatures whenever they show signs of illness, look unwell, or display abnormal behavior.
8. Grass tetany
Goats are also susceptible to grass tetany, which is caused by a magnesium deficiency. This can happen when they graze too much on very lush pastures. To prevent this, always have a mineral supplement with higher levels of magnesium available to them.
9. monthly routine checkup
Doing a monthly routine checkup could help you maintain your goats' health and always be on top of it. This includes checking their coat for external parasites or dandruff and their feet for overgrowth or problems. Also, check the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for any apparent issues.
WHAT DO GOATS EAT?
Nutritional requirements will vary depending on age, activity level, pregnancy, lactation, and breed. It's easy to overfeed a goat, which can lead to obesity and other health problems. That's why it's essential to do some research and consult your local vet for advice.
10. Goats are primarily browsers
This means they pick and choose between various pasture grass, weeds, woody plants, tree leaves, and bushes. Their multi-chambered stomach allows them to digest all kinds of forage.
When roughage and pasture quality are poor, you should supplement goats' feed with quality hay or pellets and supplements explicitly formulated for goats.
Goats will even chow on non-edible items like plastic, trash, rope or fabric! So ensure their grazing area are free of such items that may cause obstructions in their digestive systems.
11. Supplement with hay
Goats need about 2-4 pounds of hay, like alfalfa, per day, with an average protein requirement of 8%. This can increase to 11% for a pregnant or lactating doe.
Only feed grass hay, minerals, and necessary supplements to wethers (castrated males). They do not need alfalfa or grain, as they don't tolerate it very well, and it can lead to kidney stones, as mentioned earlier.
Use hayracks to keep hay off the ground, but avoid using nets because goats can become entangled and may eat the net material.
12. Treats for goats
Goats can easily gain weight, so treats should be very limited. If your goats have good pasture to roam and get hay and pellets as an extra supplement, they would be perfectly content. But they will also appreciate the occasional cabbage, carrots, blueberries, or apple!
However, avoid tomatoes, garlic, onions, or citrus, as these can upset their stomachs.
13. What do baby goats eat?
A baby goat (kid) can start eating hay already when they are a few days old. Generally, baby goats will be ready to wean off the bottle or mom’s milk after 6 weeks of age.
Once weaned, feed growing kids a high-quality diet formulated to help them grow. Bbay goats can be separated from their mothers at around 3–4 months of age.
14. Essential Minerals
Minerals are essential for primary body function and optimum production. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and chlorides are a few of the macrominerals they need.
A lack of minerals can lead to serious health issues such as arthritis and joint problems, anemia, weakness, stiff joints, low interest in breeding, skin problems, excessive salivating, and deformed hooves. Copper deficiency (especially in goats) affects the coat and can cause abortions, stillbirths, low milk supply, and weight loss.
Ask your local vet which minerals are needed for your area. Always give minerals developed for goats specifically. I give minerals in free choice form. Meaning, I always have a container with minerals at all times in their barn and sleeping areas. They are very smart and know when they need minerals. By having it accessible at all times, they can nibble on it when they need it.
15. Give them baking soda
Goats enjoy the occasional baking soda. It helps to keep their rumen's pH balance in check and aids in digestion and bloating. Just leave it out for them to decide whether and when they want to eat it or not.
16. Goats drink a lot of water!
I always ensure our goats have fresh water and regularly clean their troughs. During winter, consider warming up their water, as goats are not too fond of cold water.
SHELTER AND SPACE needs
17. Goats need shelter too
Although goats are pretty hardy, they still need shelter to protect them from the weather elements. Exposure to wet, cold weather can cause pneumonia.
A three-sided shelter is often better than an enclosed structure because goats need proper ventilation to maintain healthy lungs and prevent the build-up of dangerous gases.
Twenty square feet of indoor space per goat should be sufficient. My goats do not like the rain at all, having shelter allows them a safe, dry space during rainstorms.
How to keep goats warm in winter
In the winter, goats grow wool undercoats to keep them warm. You only need to provide some extra grass hay for added warmth and ensure their shelter is sturdy against the elements. But, if you have frigid winters, here are some extra steps you can take:
Insulated Barn or Shed: Ensure goats have access to a well-constructed barn or shed that protects them from wind, rain, and snow. Insulating the structure can help retain heat.
Bedding: Use deep bedding such as straw or wood shavings. This not only provides insulation from the cold ground but also generates heat as it decomposes.
Draft Protection: Make sure the shelter is draft-free. Cover any openings that allow cold air to enter but ensure there is adequate ventilation to prevent moisture buildup.
Increased Feed: Provide extra feed during winter, as goats need more energy to stay warm. Good quality hay is essential.
Grain Supplements: Supplement their diet with grains or a higher-calorie feed to help them maintain body heat.
Coats and Blankets: Consider using goat coats or blankets for extra warmth, especially for older or more vulnerable goats.
Heat Lamps: Use heat lamps with caution, ensuring they are safely installed to prevent fire hazards.
Companionship: Goats are social animals and huddle together for warmth. Keeping them in groups can help them stay warm.
18. Goats have no designated “toilet”
Unlike alpacas, goats tend to go to the bathroom anywhere they like, even where they sleep. That’s why regularly cleaning their sleeping quarters is so important to avoid the buildup of gases and diseases. So much more cleaning up to do, urgh! But it’s part of the game of raising goats ;-)
19. Goats are quite the escape artists!
Goats can fit through tiny holes, jump onto and over the unlikeliest of things, and are rough on fencing. So make sure you construct a solid and high enough fence to keep the goats in.
Even though our fencing is relatively high and sturdy, our goats still sometimes manage to escape our fencing! They are sneaky and clever!
Goats and their temperament
20. An adventurous bunch
Goats are adventurous and curious and like to be entertained. Give them plenty of space to move around, things to eat, and structures to play on.
Think stairs, tires, tunnels, platforms, and rocks! This will keep them occupied and prevent them from using your car as a playground!
They will also love a good old backscratch from their human caretaker!
21. Goats living with other farm animals
Goats can get along with other farm animals and chickens, but the level of harmony can depend on several things, such as the temperament of the goats, the type of other animals, and how they are introduced to each other.
Goats and Other Farm Animals
Cows and Horses: Goats generally get along well with cows and horses. They can graze together and share space without significant issues.
Donkeys: Both goats and donkeys are social animals and can benefit from each other's companionship. Some donkeys can be territorial and may need time to adjust to sharing their space with goats.
Sheep: Goats and sheep can coexist, but it's important to watch for competition over food and resources. Goats can sometimes be more aggressive and may butt sheep.
Pigs: Pigs and goats can be kept together, but supervision is needed. Pigs can be aggressive, especially when food is involved.
Chickens: Goats and chickens can share the same space, but there are a few considerations. Make sure chickens can't access goat feed and vice versa. Chickens can also make a mess, and their droppings can be a source of parasites for goats, so regular cleaning is essential. Goats can be curious and may accidentally harm them.
Tips for Successful Coexistence
Introduction: Gradually introduce new animals to each other to reduce stress and aggression.
Space: Provide ample space for all animals to avoid overcrowding and competition.
Supervision: Monitor their interactions, especially in the beginning, to intervene if any issues arise.
Separate Feeding Areas: Ensure each species has its own feeding area to prevent dietary issues and competition.
READ MORE: How to integrate new animals on your farm
22. goats and human relationships
Goats can make friendly and engaging companions for kids and people in general. They can be tamed and form attachments to humans, much like pets.
Many goats are naturally curious, friendly, and playful, making them enjoyable for children to interact with. But, goats can also sometimes become boisterous or accidentally knock over a child.
Goats are very affectionate, and ours love being around people and being petted and scratched.
Spending time with your goats from a young age, handling them gently, and providing positive experiences can help in taming them and fostering a bond. Goats also respond well to routine and will come to recognize their caregivers, especially if associated with feeding times or treats. Obviously ;-)
FUN GOAT FACTS
Goats giving birth are called "kidding", we're not kidding…
Goats are curious and smart; they learn quickly.
Hence the fact that they will come when you call them by their name.
Goats communicate with each other by bleating.
Goats are very picky eaters, don't think for a second that they will eat old hay.
Goats sneeze to warn others of any danger nearby.
Goats don't have teeth on their upper jaw, only a strong dental pad.
Goat's milk is the most drank milk worldwide.
Cashmere is made of the downy winter undercoat produced by certain goats.
Goats prefer happy people who are smiling and are more willing to approach them.
Goats are not huge fans of rain, water puddles, and mud. So they will rather starve than having to walk dirty grounds to get to their feed.
I hope you have learned a few new things today about raising goats! Friends, please remember that these are beginner guidelines based on personal experiences. It is always best to consult your local vet and do some more research on specific requirements.
I also have a beginner’s guide to caring for donkeys and a guide on how to raise healthy alpacas!
AND AS A BONUS: Here is a free quick referencing guide on donkeys, goats, and alpacas. Download HERE
With love, Annette xx
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