What You Need To Know Before You Bring Home Goats
Raising goats is a lot of work, and it can be hard to know what you need to do before getting your first goat.
It's important to make sure that the goats are healthy and happy, but there are so many things you need to know about feeding, housing, and general care.
We've put together this guide for anyone who wants to bring home goats.
This includes information on feeding, housing, fencing requirements, as well as how best to find a local vet in case of emergency.
Things You Need to Know Before Getting Goats
We didn't really do a lot of research before we went out and bought goats if I'm being honest.
I had a friend that had Nigerian Dwarf goats for milk, and I knew I wanted milk so I went with Nigerian Dwarf goats.
So, that's what we found.
It was really only then that we started doing research about what to feed, what sorts of shelter they needed, and if you needed to keep the boys and girls separate.
Thankfully, we were really lucky with our first 3 goats we purchased and we've learned so much since then.
How Long Do Goats Live?
On average, goats live to about 15 years of age. In some cases, they can live in their twenties.
Goats live longer than sheep but shorter than horses.
A healthy goat is a happy goat, so if you keep your goats happy, they will live long lives. That doesn’t mean that all goats are always happy though!
Sometimes they get sick or have other health problems that shorten their lives.
In some cases, these seemingly healthy and strong goats become ill because of something you did or didn’t do.
That's why it really pays to know what you're doing as a goat keeper. This includes knowing the best practices for feeding, housing, and caring for your goats.
Goats Thrive In Herds
Goats are herd animals. They do better when they have other goats to interact, play and keep each other company.
Goats are very social animals and can become depressed if they have no one to talk to. This can lead to other problems such as eating their own hair or going blind because there is nothing stimulating them mentally.
Wethers Make The Best Pets
Without being castrated, a buck can get up to 60lbs and will have an enormous amount of hormones. They may be aggressive or even dangerous around people, animals, and other goats.
With proper care, you can keep a buck as a pet goat if you want one for show purposes, but it's not recommended for your first pet goat.
Keeping a wether is a much better option for your first pet goat because they often stay small and make great pets.
Many people keep their wethers in the house as pets and companions, and you can even teach them to do tricks or walk on leashes. Just make sure you buy two so they're not lonely.
Wethers are generally very friendly animals.
The Importance of Buying Goats From Reputable Breeders
Some people may try to buy their first goat from a random person in the neighborhood, but this can be risky.
It's important to make sure that your goats come from a reputable breeder so that you don't end up with sick or potentially dangerous animals.
The best breeders will be able to provide you with information about the background of their animals, as well as a brief history of the goats' ancestors.
They should also be willing to let you meet your goat's parents (if possible).
You should also ask them a lot of questions about the health of their goats (including if they've been vaccinated), as well as any guarantees or warranties that you have when purchasing an animal from them.
You also want a breeder that is willing to take the goat back if anything happens to it such as an injury or illness. That way, you won't be stuck with an expensive vet bill and no goat!
Housing For Goats
Goats are very hardy animals, and they can generally survive in a wide range of weather conditions. However, you should make sure to provide your goats with an area that is protected from extreme heat or cold.
Ideally, you will want housing for them that provides shade during the summer, as well as a warm place to sleep during the winter.
We have a few igloo dog houses plus a shelter we made from pallets and sheets of tin. They're happy with the setup and so are we.
If it gets too cold we have a goat barn we layer with pine shavings that has a door we can close for them.
Be sure that your housing is big enough for all of your goats. They tend to be very social animals and you may end up with a lot more than just two if they are happy together.
Learn how urinary calculi can effect your male goats: Urinary Calculi In Goats
Feeding Your Goats
Most goats will eat anything that they can get their mouths on, including your expensive landscaping.
It's a good idea to keep them in an area where you don't have anything that they can destroy, and preferably with plenty of grazing area.
They will need to have access to free-choice hay.
You may also want to provide them with some kind of grain supplement if you find that they are not keeping a good weight.
Around here we let our girls out to browse on weeds and shrubs that have grown in the pasture or whatever they find delicious that they find. We also feed hay and quality feed.
Also, make sure you give them a suitable mineral. Here's what we feed: Sweetlix
Fencing For Goats
Goats are very hardy animals, and they can generally take care of themselves. However, you will need to provide them with some kind of shelter from the elements, as well as a way for them to stay warm at night. Some people recommend building an inexpensive goat barn for their goats.
Be sure that you don't buy a cheap fence for your goats. Goats are very strong animals and will be able to knock over or jump over almost any type of fence.
They may even get tangled in barbed wire! Make sure that they have plenty of high-quality pasture, but also some shelter where they can escape from the weather.
If you don't keep your goat fenced in, it will most likely get loose and run away. Goats are very curious by nature, and once they see something that they find interesting or tasty on the other side of a fence, they may try to escape to get it.
Be sure that you have a way for them to get out of their enclosure in case there is a fire or other natural disaster. That way, they can escape if needed, and you won't have to worry about losing your goats!
Emergency Care For Goats
In the unwelcoming event of an emergency, it's best to have a veterinarian on speed dial.
Scour your area for a veterinarian that is well versed in caring for goats.
Not all vets are well studied on goats and will treat them much like any other animal, but this is not always the best. There are some things that they might prescribe to a goat illness that isn't quite great.
So, it's best to make sure you know your veterinarian well and how often he has treated goats.
Don't be afraid to search outside of your area for a vet that might be a better fit for your herd.