Am I Ready For Goats?
1. Is my property zoned for goats?
-Call your city or read your city’s code.
-If you have an HOA, check their rules.
2. Do I have the permission of my landlord (if renting), spouse, or parents (if a minor)?
3. Is my backyard/pen suitable for goats?
- Goats taste everything and decimate some things.
A few things to think about:
4. Do I have adequate fencing for goats?
- Baby goats are small, smart, and dinner for lots of animals. A good fence is essential.
- For babies I recommend chain link or woven field fence with chicken wire.
- For adults, I like cattle panel or hog panel with green stakes. It lasts forever. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/feedlot-panel-cattle-16-ft-l-x-50-in-h
5. What kind of shelter do I need?
- Goats need protection from rain, sun, and snow. They are small so it’s possible to use a dog house or calf hutch. But they will not come out if the weather is bad, so you want something they can stand up in and turn around.
-In the winter, straw for bedding (shavings could cause a blockage.)
-Dirt floors are easy to keep clean.
6. What do goats eat?
- They will eat weeds, but some are toxic or cause long-term problems. They will sort of eat your lawn.
- Primarily hay (especially in the winter): grass hay for wethers; alfalfa/grass mix for growing/milking.
- Grain is a supplement/treat for breeding/milking/growing animals. Too much can cause them to get fat or become thiamine deficient (goat polio.)
7. Do I have a goat-specific veterinarian? Currently we can't find any goat veterinarians in our area.
8. How long do goats live?
A breeding animal averages 8-13 years. Wethers and nonbreeding does may live 15-20 years.
-Call your city or read your city’s code.
-If you have an HOA, check their rules.
2. Do I have the permission of my landlord (if renting), spouse, or parents (if a minor)?
3. Is my backyard/pen suitable for goats?
- Goats taste everything and decimate some things.
A few things to think about:
- toxic plants/flowers (tulips, larkspur, rhubarb, peach leaves)
- your garden
- eat bark off trees until they die
- roses are another favorite
- the paint on your house
- lawn furniture
- wiring
- insulation
- they will poop and destroy your lawn if left permanently in a small yard
- I recommend identifying every plant/weed in your yard/pen
4. Do I have adequate fencing for goats?
- Baby goats are small, smart, and dinner for lots of animals. A good fence is essential.
- For babies I recommend chain link or woven field fence with chicken wire.
- For adults, I like cattle panel or hog panel with green stakes. It lasts forever. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/feedlot-panel-cattle-16-ft-l-x-50-in-h
5. What kind of shelter do I need?
- Goats need protection from rain, sun, and snow. They are small so it’s possible to use a dog house or calf hutch. But they will not come out if the weather is bad, so you want something they can stand up in and turn around.
-In the winter, straw for bedding (shavings could cause a blockage.)
-Dirt floors are easy to keep clean.
6. What do goats eat?
- They will eat weeds, but some are toxic or cause long-term problems. They will sort of eat your lawn.
- Primarily hay (especially in the winter): grass hay for wethers; alfalfa/grass mix for growing/milking.
- Grain is a supplement/treat for breeding/milking/growing animals. Too much can cause them to get fat or become thiamine deficient (goat polio.)
7. Do I have a goat-specific veterinarian? Currently we can't find any goat veterinarians in our area.
8. How long do goats live?
A breeding animal averages 8-13 years. Wethers and nonbreeding does may live 15-20 years.
9. What other equipment do I need?
- a hay feeder
-water bucket
-grass or grass/alfalfa hay
- loose minerals – Manna Pro Goat Minerals
- mineral feeder – DIY: http://www.swampyacresfarm.com/MineralFeeder.html
- thermometer (to see if they are sick)
- hoof trimmers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004S08R7G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-dewormer, after you have a fecal done with a vet to see if they have worms.
- I will provide a bottle nipple that will fit on a soda bottle. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/wide-mouth-lamb-n-kid-feeding-bottle
- whole cow’s milk (if not weaned yet)
- CD&T vaccine and syringes, if under 12 wks.
- goat chow (optional)- Purina All Lifestages Goat Feed
-halter (optional) – baby alpaca or make your own- https://www.jefferspet.com/products/baby-nyl-alpaca-hltr
- a hay feeder
-water bucket
-grass or grass/alfalfa hay
- loose minerals – Manna Pro Goat Minerals
- mineral feeder – DIY: http://www.swampyacresfarm.com/MineralFeeder.html
- thermometer (to see if they are sick)
- hoof trimmers:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004S08R7G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s04?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-dewormer, after you have a fecal done with a vet to see if they have worms.
- I will provide a bottle nipple that will fit on a soda bottle. https://www.premier1supplies.com/p/wide-mouth-lamb-n-kid-feeding-bottle
- whole cow’s milk (if not weaned yet)
- CD&T vaccine and syringes, if under 12 wks.
- goat chow (optional)- Purina All Lifestages Goat Feed
-halter (optional) – baby alpaca or make your own- https://www.jefferspet.com/products/baby-nyl-alpaca-hltr
Doe in milk supplies:
- teat spray (Fight Bac)
- wipes – unscented baby wipes
- grain- Purina goat chow and C.O.B.- Corn, Oats, and Barley
- bucket to hold grain that fits on the milkstand
- bucket or container to milk into
- milk filters and strainer https://www.caprinesupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=milk+strainer
- milkstand – makes milking so much easier! https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOAT-MILK-STAND-FITTING-STAND-COMBINATION-/302923677628
- teat spray (Fight Bac)
- wipes – unscented baby wipes
- grain- Purina goat chow and C.O.B.- Corn, Oats, and Barley
- bucket to hold grain that fits on the milkstand
- bucket or container to milk into
- milk filters and strainer https://www.caprinesupply.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=milk+strainer
- milkstand – makes milking so much easier! https://www.ebay.com/itm/GOAT-MILK-STAND-FITTING-STAND-COMBINATION-/302923677628