Other Farms and Ranches
Breed Associations
Helpful Links
Goat health and husbandry information
American Dairy Goat Associaton pedigrees and planning
Beginners guide to goat care...
I am not a vet, below is informational only and medical care should be directed by your trusted veterinarian.
Bringing home goats requires some forethought on your part so that you can keep your goats safe, healthy and protected from predators. Here are some things that are good to know and have before you bring your goats home.
Build housing or get current housing ready. Goats need some kind of shelter from the elements and a safe place to bunk down. In addition, you might want to have a dedicated area for milking or kidding, if you decide to breed your goats. Dog houses work great for shelter and a toy for your goat to jump on, though it is best that your goat also has an area that is covered where they can walk around, eat and drink.
Build a fence or check your fencing for security. Goats are smart and curious, and they will head out into the neighborhood if given the chance. Furthermore, wolves, wild dogs, and other predators would love to be able to get at your goats, and so you need to do your best to keep them out. Secure fencing that they can’t get out of or tangled in is very important. There are many different types of fencing that is suitable for goats, but most importantly make sure that goats can’t get tangled in the fence in any way. You will also want fencing that they can’t fit through or is easy for them to jump over. You will want a fence no shorter than 5 feet tall. Be sure to routinely check both your goats’ fencing and housing for any weaknesses.
Buy feed and feeding equipment. The basic feeding requirements of goats are hay and free choice minerals, but depending on what you have goats for, as pets, breeding animals, or as pack animals, they may have different feeding requirements. Please do research on this subject. A proper diet is important to a goat’s overall health and lifespan. Google can refer you to many sites that are very helpful in the area of goat nutrition. Clean, fresh water is also vital to a goat’s health. At a minimum, you will need:
Recognizing signs of a sick goat
Make yourself very familiar with your goat’s personality and behavior. This will make recognizing a goat that isn’t feeling well very easy. Here are some common signs that mean your goat is sick. If you think your goat is sick taking its temperature should be one of your first actions.
Goats should receive either alfalfa, grass hay, or oat hay daily and should always have fresh, clean water available. They also need access to a mineral block or loose minerals and baking soda at all times. You can give your goats treats. Fruit and vegetables are a good treat, but don’t expect your goat to always want to eat what you bring them. Many goats don’t like new treats and will need to acquire a taste for anything new. Always make sure what you are feeding your goats isn’t poisonous or toxic to them, and do not feed them too much of a “rich” treat. It can cause them to become sick. ATTENTION: Always be extremely careful if you feed your goats grain or other rich feeds, if they are feed too much it can cause them to get “Bloat” and this sickness can kill your goat! Make sure that any feeds like this are kept in a container that is completely goat proof, something that even if they knock over and jump on still can’t be opened, and preferably kept in an area that your goats can’t ever get into. Do not overfeed them grain. It can cause them to become overweight that can lead to many health problems. Animal crackers and plain oatmeal cookies with very little sweetener can be great treats for goats, but make sure the ingredients are safe for your goats. Attention: if you get a bottle baby that is still being fed milk please do not bottle feed them water. This can make them sick, and will discourage them drinking water from a bucket like they should.
Bringing home goats requires some forethought on your part so that you can keep your goats safe, healthy and protected from predators. Here are some things that are good to know and have before you bring your goats home.
Build housing or get current housing ready. Goats need some kind of shelter from the elements and a safe place to bunk down. In addition, you might want to have a dedicated area for milking or kidding, if you decide to breed your goats. Dog houses work great for shelter and a toy for your goat to jump on, though it is best that your goat also has an area that is covered where they can walk around, eat and drink.
Build a fence or check your fencing for security. Goats are smart and curious, and they will head out into the neighborhood if given the chance. Furthermore, wolves, wild dogs, and other predators would love to be able to get at your goats, and so you need to do your best to keep them out. Secure fencing that they can’t get out of or tangled in is very important. There are many different types of fencing that is suitable for goats, but most importantly make sure that goats can’t get tangled in the fence in any way. You will also want fencing that they can’t fit through or is easy for them to jump over. You will want a fence no shorter than 5 feet tall. Be sure to routinely check both your goats’ fencing and housing for any weaknesses.
Buy feed and feeding equipment. The basic feeding requirements of goats are hay and free choice minerals, but depending on what you have goats for, as pets, breeding animals, or as pack animals, they may have different feeding requirements. Please do research on this subject. A proper diet is important to a goat’s overall health and lifespan. Google can refer you to many sites that are very helpful in the area of goat nutrition. Clean, fresh water is also vital to a goat’s health. At a minimum, you will need:
- Feed storage area or container
- Food bowls
- Hay manger
- Mineral feeder
- Water buckets
- Shelter that shades, blocks wind and will stay dry during winter
- Wethers (neutered males) need Ammonium Chloride routinely to protect them against Calcium stones in their urinary tract.
- Wormer
- C&D Antitoxin in case of enterotoxemia (aka overeating disease)
- Tetanus Antitoxin in case of Tetanus
- Vitamin B complex
- Thiamine for treatment of goat polio
- Penicillin
- Probios for Ruminates
- Propylene Glycol
- NutraDrench
- Dexamethasone
- Benadryl
- Vet Wrap
- Gauze
- Vetericyn
- Fura-Zone wound ointment
- Sharp pair of scissors for cutting bandages
- Styptic powder
- Rectal thermometer
Recognizing signs of a sick goat
Make yourself very familiar with your goat’s personality and behavior. This will make recognizing a goat that isn’t feeling well very easy. Here are some common signs that mean your goat is sick. If you think your goat is sick taking its temperature should be one of your first actions.
- Not chewing cud
- Not getting up
- Pressing head against wall or fence
- Feces aren’t pelleted (it’s not uncommon for a goat to have clumped pellets at times, due to stress or a change in diet).
- “Stargazing” please Google this behavior and know what it looks like. This can mean your goat is seriously sick and needs immediate medical attention to prevent death.
- Not urinating or straining to urinate.
- Not drinking.
- Pale or grey eyelid membranes or gums.
- Hot udder.
- Limping or staggering.
- Ears held oddly
- Isolating itself from the herd
- Grinding teeth
- Coughing
- Unusual crying
- Runny nose or eyes
- Body temperature lower than 101 and higher than 103
Goats should receive either alfalfa, grass hay, or oat hay daily and should always have fresh, clean water available. They also need access to a mineral block or loose minerals and baking soda at all times. You can give your goats treats. Fruit and vegetables are a good treat, but don’t expect your goat to always want to eat what you bring them. Many goats don’t like new treats and will need to acquire a taste for anything new. Always make sure what you are feeding your goats isn’t poisonous or toxic to them, and do not feed them too much of a “rich” treat. It can cause them to become sick. ATTENTION: Always be extremely careful if you feed your goats grain or other rich feeds, if they are feed too much it can cause them to get “Bloat” and this sickness can kill your goat! Make sure that any feeds like this are kept in a container that is completely goat proof, something that even if they knock over and jump on still can’t be opened, and preferably kept in an area that your goats can’t ever get into. Do not overfeed them grain. It can cause them to become overweight that can lead to many health problems. Animal crackers and plain oatmeal cookies with very little sweetener can be great treats for goats, but make sure the ingredients are safe for your goats. Attention: if you get a bottle baby that is still being fed milk please do not bottle feed them water. This can make them sick, and will discourage them drinking water from a bucket like they should.